The Final Farewell—Here Are Some Highlights Of Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral Service

A state funeral service was held on September 19 at the Buckingham Palace to honor the the longest-reigning royal lead of the British empire, Queen Elizabeth II, and send her off peacefully through a series of processions and traditional exercises. 

Born on April 21, 1926, the Queen died at the age of 96 at her Scottish residence on September 8, 2022. Following her passing, the public has been gathering around the palace to give their final farewell to Her Majesty. 

The funeral, which served as a state and religious service for the sovereign, was filled with the members of the royal kin, religious and political figures, prime ministers, presidents, princes and princesses, dignitaries, and diplomats from different sides of the globe. As the state mourned, citizens gathered around Buckingham Palace to bid goodbye to their Queen. They gathered at Hyde Park and partook in the rites and rituals as much as possible.

At the start of the service, the casket of the Queen was carried by the Grenadier Guards, a military unit of which the monarch was Company Commander. Her coffin was borne by the first battalion company at Westminster Abbey and Windsor Castle. Following the procession was the final committal service and burial set at St. George’s Chapel, where the culmination of ceremonies transpired. Archbishop Justin Welby took the lead in delivering the last holy speech and homily for Queen Elizabeth II.

In attendance at the congregation were the Crown’s successor and The Queen’s son, King Charles III, along with Queen Consort Camilla, Princes Edward and Andrew, Princess Anne, Prince William and Princess Catherine, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and Queen Elizabeth II’s great grandchildren. Prominent leaders and personalities who were present at Westminster Abbey to pay their respects to the royal paragon include President Joe Biden of the United States of America and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada. 

This momentous point of history is witnessed by a huge number of distinguished names and well-wishers alike. Later in the evening, The Queen was laid to rest alongside her royal pedigree—her late parents King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, late sister Princess Margaret, and late spouse and Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip at The King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle. The casket was lowered into the Royal Vault of the chapel, which is a burial chamber carved out between 1804 and 1810.

Lead photos from @theroyalfamily