As Queen Elizabeth II’s lying-in-state ends, the nation prepares for a final farewell.
Today marks a historical event. Monday 19th of September, Great Britain, and the world are silenced as they pay their final respects to Queen Elizabeth II. Hundreds of thousands of people have gathered together to say their goodbyes, walking by the Queen’s coffin inside Westminster Abbey, while those who were unable to queue, watched live on their TVs or streamed online.
On this historical day, Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch, will be laid to rest next to her late husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh today inside Windsor Castle which is the Queen’s final stop. The funeral will take place at 11 am, and will be very visionary, and an emotional time for the world as well as members of the royal family.
2000 guests have been invited to attend the funeral including Members of the Parliament, Government officials, and even charity groups supported by the royal family. When the time comes for the Queen to be buried at Windsor, the ceremony will become very private, including immediate family members and household staff who served the Queen.
Broadcasters who are prepared for the events today have interviewed members of the public who have said, “there is nowhere else we’d rather be today.” Camped overnight in cold conditions, people awaken wide-eyed to share their memories of the Queen and say their final goodbyes, and world leaders have come together to pay their respects to the royal family. The UK has not seen a state funeral since 1965 and therefore, this moment is not only a key part of history but also an incredible memory for everyone to remember forever.
The Queen’s first broadcast was made in 1940 when she was only a teenager, and on the 21st April 1947, on her 21st birthday, she said in a memorable speech, “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.” Now, 70 years and 7 decades later, Queen Elizabeth II has served her nation throughout her whole life, and can finally be put to rest by the world.
150 thousand people are expected to be at Windsor Castle to see the state hearse slowly go through the historic long walk at 3.10 pm. It was said that the Queen learned to ride her horse along the walk, and loved to take a stroll to and from the castle. Hundreds of military personals will guard the walk as crowds build up, and bow their head in silence when she makes her final journey inside Windsor to be reunited with her husband Prince Philip.
What is special and significant about Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, is that she had organised and planned every part of how she wanted the service to be with personalised touches.
There shall be a separation of the Queen from her crown today which will be emotional for many to watch having had her as our leader our entire lives. The Lord is my Shepherd from Psalm 23 will be played and sung, which is the same hymn that was also played at the Queen’s wedding. After this, there will be a 2-minute silence, before the nation together sings God Save the King, and the pipe major, Paul Burns will play the traditional Lament Sleep Dearie Sleep.
The Editor’s Note
Born and raised in England, I feel saddened not to be at home during this historical event and to say bye to my Queen. However, I am surrounded by millions of people who have come together to form a union, a union that is a representation of everything the Queen has built Great Britain and its people to be.
HM Queen Elizabeth II ruled for 70 years and 7 decades. Having been born in the Elizabethan era, I have only known to have a Queen as our leader. Queen Elizabeth II symbolised women’s equality, women empowerment, and women’s leadership. She was the embodiment of selfless duty and service.
Although I had never met the Queen, I commemorated her huge milestones whilst I studied at school, visited Buckingham Palace numerous times, and celebrated with crowds during the Queen’s Silver Jubilee as well as other events. The news of her passing felt to me like we had lost the Mother of the Nation, the Mother of England.
It will be sad to wake up on Christmas day not hearing the Queen’s speech, and our National Anthem changing, however, we are part of history witnessing a King as our new leader. Although I am not present in London to witness the Queen’s burial, as a writer, I share my thoughts and emotions here as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. HM died peacefully at age 96, and as King Charles III said in his speech to the Nation “May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”