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Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest on September 19 in a ceremony on a scale not seen in Britain in some 70 years. Her Majesty’s state funeral – the first held in the country since the death of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965 – saw an estimated 2,000 mourners congregate in Westminster Abbey, thousands of members of the public line the streets of London, and millions of viewers around the world tune in to live television coverage.
From estranged brothers the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex walking shoulder to shoulder behind their grandmother’s coffin, to a solemn Princess Charlotte wearing a tiny horseshoe-shaped brooch in tribute to her “Gan Gan”, see the most moving images from the ceremony below.
Buckingham Palace household staff line up outside the gates to pay their respects on the morning of the state funeral.
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The Prince of Wales and his brother, the Duke of Sussex, walk shoulder to shoulder behind their grandmother’s coffin.
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Sophie, Countess of Wessex, who was particularly close to the Queen, looks solemn as she arrives at Westminster Abbey with the Duchess of Sussex.
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The Duchess of Sussex, the Queen Consort, the Princess of Wales and the Countess of Wessex stand with Prince George and Princess Charlotte outside Westminster Abbey as the coffin arrives.
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The Queen’s granddaughter, Princess Beatrice, arrives to say goodbye to her grandmother. The Queen was one of very few guests at Beatrice’s 2020 wedding, which took place during lockdown, and for which she wore a vintage Norman Hartnell dress borrowed from Her Majesty.
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James, Viscount Severn, 14, glances back at photographers as he accompanies his cousins making their way into the funeral.
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The Queen’s grandchildren Zara Tindall, Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, file into Westminster Abbey.
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The Princess of Wales arrives at Westminster Abbey with her two eldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
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Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, appears moved at the Queen’s funeral.
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Princess Charlotte, seven, makes her way into Westminster Abbey.
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Sophie, Countess of Wessex, places a reassuring hand on Prince George’s shoulder.
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Princess Charlotte, seven, wears a tiny horseshoe-shaped diamond brooch, a sweet nod to her “Gan Gan”, who was famously passionate about horses.
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A piper plays a lament at the state funeral.
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A sombre Prince Charles behind his mother’s coffin, topped with a wreath that includes myrtle cut from a plant grown using the myrtle from the Queen’s own wedding bouquet.
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The Queen’s coffin is borne out of Westminster Abbey following the funeral service.
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Royal Navy sailors accompany the Queen’s coffin, which was borne on the State Gun Carriage – the same one that carried the coffin of her father, King George VI, in 1952.
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Prince Harry walks behind his aunt, the Princess Royal, in the funeral procession.
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The Princess of Wales, sitting beside the Queen Consort, bows her head.
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Buckingham Palace household staff make their way back through the gates after paying their respects to the Queen.
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Union Flags flutter in the breeze as the funeral procession makes its way along the Mall.
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The King, his siblings, and Princes William and Harry walked behind the coffin in the procession.
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A sea of naval officers surrounds the Queen’s coffin.
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Senior royals leave their cars at Wellington Arch as the Queen’s coffin is moved into the State Hearse, ahead of her final journey to Windsor.
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The day appears to get the better of Princess Charlotte at the state funeral.
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The Queen’s corgis, Muick and Sandy, are walked at Windsor Castle ahead of the committal service.
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A lone member of the Coldstream Guards walks past a sea of floral tributes to the Queen.
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The Coldstream Guards line the route outside the Garter Tower at Windsor Castle, where the Queen will be laid to rest where her late husband, sister and parents are buried.
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Flowers thrown by members of the public can be seen on the roof of the State Hearse, as it arrives at the Long Walk in Windsor.
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Crowds line the Long Walk in their thousands, as the Queen makes the journey towards Windsor Castle one final time.
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The Queen’s personal fell pony, Emma, stood watch as the cortège made its way up the Long Walk to the castle.
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Prince Harry closes his eyes for a moment outside St George’s Chapel, the scene of his wedding to Meghan Markle four years ago, with both of his grandparents in attendance.
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King Charles and his sister, Princess Anne, share a moment ahead of the committal service at St George’s Chapel.
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The chief mourners, including King Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry, walk up the steps to St George’s Chapel behind the Queen’s coffin.
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King Charles III places the the Queen’s Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on his mother’s coffin, as the Queen’s grandchildren look on.
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The Lord Chamberlain ceremonially breaks his wand of office on the Queen’s coffin – formally ending her 70-year reign. The wand was buried with the Queen.
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Originally published in Vogue.co.uk
