The nation says goodbye to Her Majesty the Queen as billions watch around the globe

By Paul Brackley and PA reporters.

The nation has said a final goodbye to its longest-serving monarch on a day that will be forever etched in the memory.

With billions watching around the globe, the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II was an extraordinary spectacle, unprecedented in its scale and grandeur, yet also a day in which the personal heartache of her family was evident.

“Grief is the price we pay for love,” as the Queen once said.

The world’s kings, queens, presidents and prime ministers flocked to Westminster Abbey, travelling thousands of miles to bear witness to the seismic change taking place in the UK.

King Charles III, stricken with sorrow, led his country, his siblings, his children and young grandchildren in honouring the Queen.

Visibly moved, he seemed close to tears as the national anthem was sung – for him, in rousing tribute to his new reign.

His words of tribute, handwritten on a message on the Queen’s coffin, were a poignant touch from her son and heir: “In loving and devoted memory. Charles R.”

Among the 2,000 gathered inside was Julie Spence, Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, who afterwards told the Cambridge Independent: “It was an appropriately solemn state funeral. We were all seated by 9am and then watched the world come by - dignitaries from other countries, people from the armed forces, royal families from other countries and our own royal family.

“It was the state sharing Her Majesty with the family, and it was very poignant, and you felt part of an important moment in history, but also part of a family’s grief.

“It was a really fitting finale for someone who served the country for so many years.

“Inside it was very calm, but we were very aware that outside there were hundreds of thousands of people.”

Mrs Spence said she felt “very privileged” to be present.

“I felt personally that I was representing the people of Cambridgeshire,” she said, praising the Archbishop of Canterbury’s sermon as “personal but inclusive, and wide-reaching”.

The coffin was a blaze of colour, a striking sight against the black-and-white chequered stone floor of the gothic abbey.

The funeral wreath contained glorious gold, light and bright pink and deep burgundy, with touches of white, to reflect colours of the Royal Standard draped beneath.

It was a moving gesture from the King to his mother, with the flowers and foliage cut from the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Highgrove and chosen by him for their symbolism.

There was rosemary for remembrance, myrtle, the ancient symbol of a happy marriage and from a plant grown from a sprig in the Queen’s wedding bouquet, English oak to symbolise the strength of love, as well as pelargoniums, garden roses, autumnal hydrangea, sedum, dahlias and scabious.

Sparkling beneath the lights were the Crown Jewels – the Imperial state crown, the orb and the sceptre – the historic symbols of the monarchy.

In a daunting task, Prince George, a nine-year-old future king, and Princess Charlotte – a mini me of her mother in her smart black hat – were there to see first-hand the respect and admiration their great-grandmother inspired.

So young, they were barely visible, flanked by their parents, in the procession as it moved through the abbey.

In a change to the originally suggested formation, the Prince and Princess of Wales walked protectively either side of their children, rather than in front of them, with Kate holding Charlotte’s hand – after William openly acknowledged in recent days that his own experience at Diana, Princess of Wales’s funeral was fresh in his mind.

The bulk of the 2,000-strong congregation were in their seats almost two hours before the deeply religious service began.

Some checked their black coats for marks or adjusted their hats as they sat, while others leafed through the order of service, emblazoned on the front with the Royal Coat of Arms, in a frame of mourning black.

Others gazed up at the ancient church’s intricate stone lantern as the abbey’s one-and-a-half tonne tenor bell could just be heard in the distance every minute for 96 minutes, reflecting each year of the Queen’s long life.

With the rise and fall of the organ echoing around, visiting clergy in their long sweeping robes, and many multi-faith representatives, moved through the nave and ornate quire to take their seats.

As the coffin procession making its way through the streets of London neared the Great West Door, the approaching regimental stomp of the naval ratings pulling the gun carriage on ropes grew louder and louder and guests fell silent within the walls.

It was the first time in 262 years that the abbey had staged a monarch’s funeral.

But George II’s last goodbye in 1760 descended into a scrum of chaos when his coffin was moved into the Lady Chapel.

No one knew what they were meant to be doing, and the Yeoman Guards struggled with the weight of the coffin, crying out for help.

This time there were no such disasters and Britain did what it does best, setting the stage amid military pomp and splendour and traditional refined dignity for the final curtain on the Queen’s reign.

No chances were taken this time, and the movements were choreographed to the letter.

Even just over an hour before the service began, the abbey’s falconer took his dark brown Harris falcon, Rufus, to the roof to check for pigeons.

The 15-year-old majestic, hooded bird has been patrolling the church for the past five days in a bid to scare away London’s famous pests for fear they cause a disruption.

The day of the funeral though, Rufus’s bells were removed so as not to disturb the solemnity of the occasion.

In his sermon, the Archbishop of Canterbury took the congregation back to a time when the Queen at the age of 21 pledged to devote her whole life to service. “Rarely has a promise been so well kept,” he remarked.

And as he pointed just behind to his left, he spoke of when the Queen was crowned in the hallowed surroundings in 1953, telling how she “began her Commonwealth silent prayer, just there at the High Altar”.

He told how she joyously touched a multitude of lives and how the royals were “grieving as every family at a funeral” but in the “brightest spotlight”.

As world leaders listened, the Archbishop offered a reminder that those who serve will be loved but those “who cling to power and privileges are forgotten”.

Some 500 dignitaries were there witnessing the scenes but there was a protocol to be kept to – something to which the Queen always adhered.

US President Joe Biden was 14 rows back on the south transept, with Realm governor generals and Commonwealth countries taking precedent in front.

Mr Biden was behind the Polish leader and in front of the Czech Republic. The First Lady Jill Biden was next to Switzerland.

Directly across the aisle from Mr Biden’s place, the seat was labelled the Republic of Korea.

All six of the Queen’s surviving former prime ministers – Sir John Major, Sir Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson – were there, a stark remind of the many PMs who had come and gone during the Queen’s time on the throne, with Liz Truss now at the helm as the 15th.

Rousing traditional hymns were sung, with the choir lifting the melodies with their soaring harmonies.

After the Last Post came the two minutes’ silence, with all in the abbey frozen for a moment in time, save for an occasional cough or shuffling of feet, before the revival with the Reveille and the triumphant national anthem.

The Queen symbolised the stability of the nation, and most people had known no other monarch on the British throne.

At the centre of national life, Elizabeth II was head of state, head of the armed forces, head of the Commonwealth, and supreme governor of the Church of England.

But many felt they knew her personally – her tightly curled hair, beaming smile and ever-waving white gloved hand – a lover of marmalade sandwiches, corgis and studying the form in The Racing Post.

She was the country’s leading lady for so long.

And, in the abbey, it finished with a wandering, sorrowful goodbye – a nod to the Scottish Highlands where she loved to live and where she died.

Her lone personal piper – whose time playing the bagpipes outside her window each morning to wake her is at an end – performed the traditional sweetly titled lament Sleep, Dearie, Sleep.

Following the service, the bearer party carried the Queen’s coffin carefully and slowly back through Westminster Abbey and out of the Great West Door, where it was placed on to the State Gun Carriage for the procession to Wellington Arch, passing many monuments that reflected her role as head of the Commonwealth and statues that were unveiled by the Queen in honour of both her parents.

The procession was led by mounties of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, followed by four representatives from the NHS, including May Parsons, who was the first person to administer a Covid-19 vaccine in the UK in 2020.

Drawn by 142 members of the Navy, the carriage headed along Horse Guards Parade and the Mall to Buckingham Palace before reaching Wellington Arch.

Committal service at Windsor

After the 45-minute procession, the coffin was transferred to the State Hearse, which headed to Windsor for the committal service, at which the Queen was laid to rest.

Cheered and applauded by mourners along the route, the hearse arrived strewn with flowers.

The Queen’s fell pony Emma, held by her stud groom and manager, stood a few feet from the coffin as the procession entered the grounds of Windsor Castle.

And waiting in the royal residence’s quadrangle were her two corgis Muick and Sandy – gifts from her son the Duke of York – as the funeral procession passed.

Mourners at the committal service in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle included the late Queen’s nearest and dearest, her household staff past and present, and foreign royals.

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern were among leaders arriving through the West Door before 3.30pm ahead of the service at 4pm.

At 3.28pm, the Queen’s granddaughter Zara Tindall arrived with her husband Mike, soon followed by Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, and their mother Sarah, Duchess of York.

By 4pm the organ music began to swell, but within a few minutes the sound of the pipers and drummers outside was overwhelming the music inside the chapel.

For those facing the aisle with the West Door to their left, the sound of the organ could be heard coming towards them from the right while the outside band’s music was making its way in on the left.

At 4.09pm, the Queen Consort, the Princess of Wales, Countess of Wessex and Duchess of Sussex made their way to the side of the West Door in preparation for joining the procession.

Prince George’s fair hair could be seen just over Camilla’s shoulder as the royals watched the procession enter.

At 4.12pm the coffin was carried in, and briefly paused at the door.

The Imperial State Crown, Orb and Sceptre all twinkled as the lights inside the chapel danced off the dazzling jewels.

Then the procession continued up the aisle as the waiting royals joined.

Outside, bunches of flowers created a floral carpet, while a rainbow of colours came from bouquets of red roses, pink lilies, potted plants and wreaths.

Inside one of the main entrances a decadent floral arrangement of white blossoms sat in full bloom.

Among the flowers inside the chapel were lilies, dahlias, roses and greenery including eucalyptus picked from Home Park.

A wreath from Number 10, signed by Prime Minister Ms Truss, was placed close to the door of the chapel, and said: “For a lifetime of devotion and duty we offer our deep and sincere gratitude.”

As the 800 mourners sat and waited for the state hearse to arrive, daylight streamed in through the West Door and through the many windows around the nave.

Bright lights rigged up along the sides shone upon the congregation towards the aisle.

Waiting for the service to begin, the congregation may have reflected on the fact that in this gothic chapel, steeped in history, the Queen experienced some of life’s happiest and saddest moments.

And the castle, just a short walk up the hill, is where she spent most of her time in her later years.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Queen was ensconced in the ancient royal fortress with her late husband, her “strength and stay”, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Philip’s funeral was held when coronavirus restrictions were in place in April 2021 with the numbers strictly limited and the final farewell taking place entirely within the confines of the castle.

The image of the Queen sitting alone in St George’s Chapel, socially distanced from her family as she mourned, became one of the defining images of the pandemic.

Funerals such as those of Princess Margaret and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, have also taken place in the chapel which is situated in the lower ward of Windsor Castle’s precincts and is already the resting place of 10 monarchs.

The funeral of the Queen’s father, King George VI, took place in St George’s Chapel on February 15, 1952.

But there have been joyful times too.

In May 2018, Prince Harry married Meghan Markle – now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – in a glittering ceremony.

Later that year, in October, the Queen’s granddaughter Princess Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank in another royal wedding showstopper.

Before the turn of the century, the Earl and Countess of Wessex tied the knot in St George’s in June 1999.

A few years later, in 2005, a service of dedication and prayer was held in the Chapel following the marriage of the King and the Queen Consort.

It was where Harry was baptised and where his brother William, now the Prince of Wales, was confirmed.

But on this third Monday of September 2022, it was time for the Queen’s family to say goodbye to a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Before 4.15pm, the coffin proceeded through the nave, passing over the vaults of Henry VIII and Charles I.

Tradition ran through the service, with perhaps the Queen’s reputation for constancy and consistency prevailing until the very end.

The service was discussed with the Queen over a number of years and all the prayers and hymns were chosen by her – apart from one.

She left one hymn to be chosen at the time, and after a discussion between the King and the Dean of Windsor David Conner, the hymn chosen was Westminster Abbey adapted from the Alleluyas in Purcell’s O God, Thou art my God.

Much of the service had a feel of looking back, repeating what has gone before, and of coming full circle.

Prior to the final hymn, the Imperial State Crown, the Orb and the Sceptre were removed from the coffin by the Crown Jeweller and, with the Bargemaster and Serjeants-at-Arms, were passed to the Dean who placed them on the altar.

The removal of the crown from the coffin to the altar was a poignant moment, because in 1953 the crown was taken from the altar in Westminster Abbey and placed on the Queen’s head at her coronation, marking the start of a 70-year reign.

At the end of the final hymn, the King placed the Queen’s Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on the coffin.

At the same time, The Lord Chamberlain broke his Wand of Office and placed it on the coffin.

This was to create a symmetry with the three Instruments of State that had been removed.

The coffin, which was placed on a catafalque draped in purple velvet, was slowly lowered down into the royal vault as the Dean of Windsor said: “Go forth upon thy journey from this world, O Christian soul.”

The chapel was completely silent as the Sovereign’s Piper played a lament, A Salute To The Royal Fendersmith, from the doorway between the chapel and the Dean’s Cloister.

As he played, he walked slowly towards the Deanery in the Cloister and the sound of the music gradually faded away.

During the service, the King sat in the seat which was occupied by the Queen on the occasions when she came to the chapel, positioned closest to the altar.

Tradition ran through the service in its music too as it featured several pieces that were also heard at Philip’s funeral and other major royal events.

JS Bach’s Schmucke Dich, O Liebe Seele – Adorn Yourself, O Dear Soul – (BWV 654) a piece for organ, was played as the mourners waited for the service to begin.

Another was Vaughan Williams’ Rhosymedre, a firm favourite with the royal family with the music being performed at the wedding of Charles and Diana, and at Philip’s funeral.

Nimrod by Sir Edward Elgar was heard at the Queen’s coronation in 1953 and was also played before the committal began.

The service ended with Bach’s Prelude And Fugue In C Minor (BWV 546) played after the national anthem, which was also heard at the end of Philip’s funeral.

Prayers were said by the Rector of Sandringham, the Minister of Crathie Kirk and the Chaplain of Windsor Great Park, and by the Dean of Windsor.

The Choir of St George’s Chapel – made up of 11 men, one woman and 13 boys – was conducted by James Vivian, director of music, and the organ was played by Luke Bond, assistant director of music.

Much of the music at the service was composed by Sir William Harris, who served as the organist at St George’s Chapel between 1933 and 1961, taking in much of the Queen’s childhood.

The young Princess Elizabeth would often visit the organ loft to watch Sir William play, and it is believed he taught her to play the piano.

The Dean of Windsor’s bidding, which was written after the Queen’s death, included the words: “Here, in St George’s Chapel, where she so often worshipped, we are bound to call to mind someone whose uncomplicated yet profound Christian faith bore so much fruit.

“Fruit, in a life of unstinting service to the nation, the Commonwealth and the wider world, but also (and especially to be remembered in this place) in kindness, concern and reassuring care for her family and friends and neighbours.

“In the midst of our rapidly changing and frequently troubled world, her calm and dignified presence has given us confidence to face the future, as she did, with courage and with hope.”

The Queen will be buried with her late husband Philip in the King George VI Memorial Chapel – an annex to the main chapel where her mother and father were buried, along with the ashes of Princess Margaret.

A private burial service, attended by the King and other members of the royal family, is taking place on Monday evening.

Philip’s coffin will move from the royal vault to the memorial chapel to join the Queen’s.

The private service brings to an end an historic day, witnessed by billions around the globe, and representing a fitting farewell to the nation’s longest-serving monarch.