Farewell fit for a queen

THE HEARSE moves along the Long Walk as it heads towards Windsor Castle on the day of the state funeral and interment of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth in Windsor yesterday. Photo: Carl Recine/AP

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By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune journalist

[email protected]

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MEMBERS of the British Royal Family, various world leaders including Prime Minister Phillip ‘Brave’ Davis, onlookers and viewers around the world mourned Queen Elizabeth II at her funeral yesterday.

In the days leading up to the funeral, Mr Davis met the Queen’s son, King Charles III, at Buckingham Palace, where he conveyed his condolences and best wishes to the new monarch.

On Monday, the world bid farewell to Britain and the Commonwealth’s longest reigning monarch in a solemn ceremonial day that began with a funeral service at Westminster Abbey and ended with a service communal at St George’s Chapel.

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After a grim procession through London led by a military honor guard amid streets teeming with mourners, the late Queen’s coffin, atop the traditional gun carriage, was taken to Westminster Abbey for his state funeral with over 2,000 dignitaries in attendance.

There, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, during his sermon, remarked that the late monarch was a “joyful” presence in countless lives during her 70-year reign. The Archbishop also offered his personal condolences to the Queen’s family, praying for their comfort in their very public time of mourning.

“The grief on this day felt not only by the late Queen’s family, but across the country, the Commonwealth and the world, stems from her abundant life and loving service which has now left us. She was joyful, there for so many, touching a multitude of lives and we pray today especially for all of her grieving family like every family at a funeral, including so many families around the world who have Ourselves lost someone recently, but in the case of this family, bringing it into the brightest spotlight,” Bishop Welby said.

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“May God heal their grief, may the void left in their lives be marked with memories of joy and life. Her late Majesty’s broadcast during the COVID lockdown ended with ‘we’ll meet again’, words of hope.”

New British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who met the Queen days before her death, delivered a reading at the service.

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After the conclusion of that service, the proceedings moved to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle for the incarceration, where the Queen’s motorcade was greeted with a gun salute to mark their arrival.

Dean of Windsor David Conner led the engagement. He praised the late monarch for her unwavering devotion to duty, which inspired many.

“We have come together to place the soul of his handmaiden Queen Elizabeth into the hands of God. Here in St. George’s Chapel, where she so often worshipped, we can only remember someone whose faith simple but profound Christian has borne so much fruit. Fruit, in a life of unstinting service to the nation, the Commonwealth and the rest of the world, but also – and above all to be remembered here – in kindness, reassuring concern and care for family, friends and neighbours,” Mr Connor said. .

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“Amid our rapidly changing and often troubled world, her calm and dignified presence gave us confidence to face the future, as she did, with courage and hope.”

At the end of the public services, the Imperial State Crown, Sovereign Orb and Scepter were removed from the Queen’s coffin, still draped with the Royal Standard, symbolizing the end of her reign.

A stoic King Charles III then placed the Queen’s Company color on his mother’s coffin, a small military flag indicating where a commander is staying, who was laid to rest alongside Her Majesty.

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In a rare moment of intimacy, the British royal family said their final goodbyes to their matriarch in a private ceremony later that evening. The Queen was laid to rest in the King George VI Memorial Chapel alongside her husband, Prince Phillip, who died last year.

Queen Elizabeth II died at her summer residence in Scotland on September 8. She was 96 years old.

In a message on Sunday, Mr Davis said the Queen ‘lived by the same principle she urged us to do in her 2004 Christmas message, when she observed that ‘everyone is our neighbour, no matter race, creed or color. ‘”

He also said: “In these turbulent times, we have lost in Her Majesty, a beacon of constancy and stability. For those of us who are believers, we understand that the Queen’s life of service is part of God’s plan. And so, we give thanks to God for his life and his inheritance.

Monday was observed as a national holiday here at home in honor of the Queen.

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