Britain bade its final farewell to the Queen Mother with a ceremony celebrating the “strength, dignity and laughter” of a life that spanned over a hundred years of epic change. The Queen Mother passed away in her sleep on March 30, aged 101.
More than 400,000 members of the public packed the streets of the capital, as the much loved royal matriarch’s coffin made its way from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey – the scene of her wedding, the coronation of her husband, and now her funeral. As the 2,000-strong congregation arrived at the Abbey, the tenor bell tolled once for each of the Queen Mother’s 101 years, counting down the minutes to the service. British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his four predecessors were among the guests taking their places amid the scent of the spring flowers the Queen Mother loved so much. Also present were 25 foreign royals and dignitaries – including seven heads of state.
Meanwhile, to the sound of 128 pipers, the Queen Mother’s coffin, draped in her standard and topped by her crown, was led on its way to the Abbey by the Irish Guards, borne on the same gun carriage that had carried her husband George VI’s coffin to his own funeral 50 years ago.
Nine senior members of the royal family walked in a solemn cortege, led by a visibly anguished Prince of Wales in naval uniform. He was flanked by the Duke of Edinburgh, and the Duke of York, also both in naval uniform. Charles’ sons Prince William and Harry followed with the Princess Royal and Viscount Linley. The chief mourner, Queen Elizabeth, made the journey to her mother’s funeral by car and was greeted by spontaneous applause as she arrived.
The route to the Abbey was crammed with thousands of members of the public, some of whom had camped for days to catch a glimpse of the proceedings. Loudspeakers were set up in the streets so that the crowds could follow the 50-minute service, and millions watched and listened around the world as it was broadcast on TV and radio.
The Archbishop of Canterbury led the readings, paying tribute to the Queen Mother’s gifts of “strength, dignity and laughter”. Dr George Carey said: “We come here to mourn but also to give thanks, to celebrate the person and her life – both filled with such a rich sense of fun and joy and the music of laughter.”
“There was about her the sweet presence of a good diffused,” Dr Carey told the mourners, quoting George Eliot.
After the service, the hearse carrying her coffin slowly made the journey to Windsor Castle, accompanied by police riders. As it made its way down the Mall and past the Queen Mother’s home, Clarence House, some of the crowds threw flowers while others made the sign of the cross.
The spirit of wartime London filled the air as two Spitfires and a Lancaster bomber from the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight saluted the woman Hitler once described as "the most dangerous woman in Europe" on her final journey with a fly-past.
Having specifically requested to accompany his grandmother’s coffin, Prince Charles followed behind the hearse in a limousine. Other members of the family made their way to Windsor separately for the private ceremony. The Queen Mother will be buried in the St George’s Chapel alongside her husband – her “beloved Bertie”.
The ashes of the her younger daughter Princess Margaret, who died eight weeks ago aged 71, will also be interred in the St George’s Chapel alongside her parents at the same ceremony.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
