The Queen’s life-long sense of duty has been remembered in her state funeral service at Westminster Abbey.
The Dean of Westminster, who led the service, expressed gratitude to a congregation of 2,000 people including world leaders and royalty.
King Charles III led a sombre procession behind his mother’s coffin from Westminster Hall to the abbey.
The Queen’s coffin is now being taken to Wellington Arch, at London’s Hyde Park Corner, to the toll of Big Ben.
From there the coffin will be placed in a state hearse and driven to Windsor Castle, where there will be a smaller committal ceremony.
As the abbey service came towards its end the Last Post was played – by the same musicians who performed it at the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral – before the nation came to a standstill for two minutes’ silence.
The King stood silently as the national anthem was then sung.
Among the personal touches was a handwritten message from the King, which was placed on top of the coffin in a wreath of flowers cut from the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Highgrove House and Clarence House at his request. It read: “In loving and devoted memory. Charles R.”
The Dean, the Very Rev David Hoyle, began the service by speaking of the Queen’s “unswerving commitment to a high calling over so many years as Queen and Head of the Commonwealth”.
“With admiration we recall her life-long sense of duty and dedication to her people,” he said.
The congregation sang The Lord’s My Shepherd – a hymn sung at the wedding of the Queen to the late Duke of Edinburgh which was also held at the abbey.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, gave the sermon and quoted the singer Dame Vera Lynn – saying “we will meet again”.
The phrase was used by the Queen in a rare address to the nation at the beginning of the Covid pandemic.
The archbishop said: “The grief of this day – felt not only by the late Queen’s family but all round the nation, Commonwealth and world – arises from her abundant life and loving service, now gone from us.”
Before the service, the Queen’s coffin was conveyed – in the first of three processions throughout the day – from Westminster Hall where she had been lying in state since Wednesday.
The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex walked side-by-side behind their father, the King. The King walked alongside his siblings, the Queen’s children.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte – Prince William’s eldest two children – entered the abbey behind the procession.
The procession to the abbey saw the State Gun Carriage carry the coffin, drawn by 142 sailors, while the sound of pipes and drums rang out.
Some 2,000 mourners bid farewell to the Queen at the state funeral, with presidents, prime ministers and foreign royalty among the guests.
US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron were two of those who had travelled to the UK to pay their respects.
Members of many European royal families were present, along with six former British prime ministers and about 200 members of the public who were recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours.
The event was expected to be watched by millions of people across the country and around the world.
For those not invited big screens were put up in cities across the UK, while some cinemas, pubs and other venues are also showing the once-in-a-generation event.
Thousands lined streets and gathered in parks around the capital to listen to the service, with many moved to tears.
This was the first state funeral since Sir Winston Churchill’s in 1965 and was the biggest ceremonial event since World War Two.
As the coffin heads towards Hyde Park Corner gun salutes are being fired every minute during the procession and people can watch in person from designated viewing areas along the route.
The procession passed through Horse Guards Parade. where the Queen presided over scores of Trooping the Colour ceremonies, and down the Mall – where it was greeted with cheers and applause.
The Queen’s coffin was then taken past Buckingham Palace for the final time.
Once the hearse arrives at Windsor there will be a committal service at St George’s Chapel.
Attended by a smaller congregation of about 800 guests, it will be conducted by Dean of Windsor David Conner, with a blessing from the Archbishop of Canterbury.
At a private family service later, the Queen will be buried alongside her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, at the King George VI memorial chapel, located inside St George’s Chapel.
-BBC
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