Camilla says goodbye to her beloved mother-in-law: Queen consort looks emotional in full mourning dress as she supports King Charles at Westminster Abbey
- Queen consort Camilla cut a sombre figure today as she joined the Princess of Wales at Queen’s funeral
- Her Royal Highness, 75, sported all black as she entered Westminster Abbey with her stepdaughter-in-law
- Camilla shared a sweet relationship with the Queen and shared her wishes to be known as Queen consort
The new Queen consort Camilla cut a sombre figure today as she joined the Princess of Wales to attend her mother-in-law’s funeral.
Her Royal Highness, 75, sported all black ensemble as she entered Westminster Abbey alongside Kate Middleton, Prince George, nine and Princess Charlotte, seven.
Camilla’s husband, King Charles III, led the funeral procession walking behind the coffin with his brothers Princes Edward and Andrew, sister Princess Anne and sons Princes William and Harry.
The supportive Queen Consort Camilla, 75, sported all black as she entered Westminster Abbey alongside King Charles III, 73, ahead of his mother’s funeral
Camilla was greeted by the members of the Church, on the steps of Westminster Abbey ahead of today’s historical ceremony
King Charles III and his grief-stricken family have surrounded the Queen’s coffin at her state funeral in Westminster Abbey in a moving and majestic farewell to the late monarch today.
Her Majesty made her final and saddest journey to Westminster Abbey from Westminster Hall as Britain mourned its longest-serving monarch and the royals bade goodbye to a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Her coffin was placed close to the altar with her crown, orb and sceptre on its top surrounded by flowers chosen by the King from gardens she loved. The Archbishop of Canterbury then hailed the Queen’s ‘abundant life and loving service’ as he delivered the sermon at her state funeral, adding: ‘She was joyful, present to so many, touching a multitude of lives.’
Prince Charles looked tearful while his sister looked at him with concern and care before fixing her own stare on her mother’s coffin and crown.
The King, who looked somber during the ceremony, could count on his wife’s unwavering support, and on his sister, The Princess Royal
King Charles III was seen holding on to his sword as he listened to the Bible reading during his mother’s funeral at Westminster
The UK’s most important church, packed with 2,000 VIPs including prime ministers, presidents and the Queen’s family, was serene aside from the sound of hymns and prayers in a funeral service Her Majesty has curated herself before she died.
On an highly emotional occasion for Britain and the world, the Queen was carried in her oak coffin to the gun carriage used by her parents and was followed through Parliament Square by her son, the King, and her relatives including the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex. Andrew, the Duke of York, appeared to be crying. Outside the Abbey an estimated 2million people are in central London along procession routes and watching on big screens.
The State Gun Carriage carrying the Queen’s coffin began its funeral procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey at around 10.45am, arriving just before 11am. A single toll from Big Ben signalled the start of the service at Westminster Abbey, where kings and queens have been crowned and buried since 1066. Her Majesty will be laid to rest at Windsor next to her beloved husband Prince Philip and her parents, George VI and the Queen Mother.
Despite the huge crowds, there was absolute silence as around 200 pipers and drummers of Scottish and Irish Regiments, the Brigade of Gurkhas and RAF played as the procession went through Parliament Square. The Queen’s own piper played a lament that echoed through the heart of London.
Walking behind the carriage were the King and his siblings, followed by the Prince of Wales, Duke of Sussex and Peter Phillips. The State Gun Carriage has also been previously used for the funerals of King Edward VII, King George V, King George VI, Winston Churchill, and Lord Mountbatten.
There was complete silence from the crowd close to Parliament Square, as the State Gun Carriage carrying the Queen’s coffin slowly moved past. The crowd, momentarily still and with phones held aloft to capture the moment, was around 10-people thick in places, as tens of thousands thronged the streets to say goodbye to the monarch and witness a moment of history.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte travelled to Westminster Abbey in the same car as the Queen Consort, with the Princess of Wales arriving with them. They arrived at the church shortly after some of the Queen’s grandchildren including Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
World leaders including Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron arrived at Westminster Abbey around an hour before the service began. The congregation of 2,000 sat in solemn silence as Her Majesty arrived.
Senior members of the royal family united as they sang together to honour the memory of their matriarch during the emotional ceremony
The Queen Consort stood by King’s side during the emotional service at Westminster Abbey today as they started the ceremony by singing hymns
The Queen Consort, sat to the left of the King, sang the royal hymn with the other members of the royal family attending the late Monarch’s funeral
Newly elected Prime Minister Liz Truss addressed the congregation during the Queen’s state funeral at Westminster Abbey this morning
The view in Westminster Abbey above the Queen – where she married and was crowned more than 70 years ago
King Charles III and members of the royal family follow behind the coffin
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard, is carried inside Westminster Abbey
King Charles III, Camilla, the Queen Consort, Princess Anne, and her husband Vice Admiral Tim Laurence, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince William, and Kate, Princess of Wales with their children Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince George of Wales, Britain’s Prince Harry, and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, David Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowden, Peter Phillips, The Duke of Gloucester, Prince Michael of Kent and the Duke of Kent follow the coffin
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II with the Imperial State Crown resting on top is carried by the Bearer Party into Westminster Abbey past the grave of the Unknown Soldier
Last night, Camilla paid a tribute to the late Queen, recalling her ‘wonderful blue eyes’ and saying: ‘I will always remember her smile.’
She spoke warmly of her admiration for her mother-in-law, and for the way she carved out a role while being in the difficult position of a ‘solitary woman’ in a man’s world in a pre-recorded BBC broadcast.
‘She has been part of our lives for ever. I’m 75 now and I can’t remember anyone except the Queen being there,’ she said.
‘It must have been so difficult for her being a solitary woman. There weren’t women Prime Ministers or Presidents. She was the only one, so I think she carved her own role.’
Remembering her personal connection to the Queen, Camilla added: ‘She’s got those wonderful blue eyes… when she smiles they light up her whole face. I will always remember her smile. That smile is unforgettable.’
The Queen gave Camilla her strongest sign of support when, on the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne in February, she expressed her ‘sincere wish’ that once Charles became King, his wife should be known as Queen Consort.
The intervention ended years of debate over what Camilla – Charles’s mistress before they married in 2005 – would eventually be called. It also made clear that any criticism of Camilla, who had been blamed for the breakdown of Charles’s marriage to Diana, was firmly in the past.
Camilla was made a Privy Counsellor in 2016 ahead of the Queen’s official 90th birthday. This meant that she was by her husband’s side when he was officially declared King.
The royal family were sat directly facing the Queen’s coffin in the nave as they bid a final farewell to their Matriarch this morning
King Charles III and the Queen Consort looked grave as they walked in unison to the front row, to take their seat ahead of the ceremony
Camilla arrived at Westminster Abbey with her daughter-in-law the Princess of Wales, as well as two of her oldest children today
Camilla, who was wearing a black coat dress, spoke a moment with members of the church grouped outside, ahead of the funeral
Camilla, holding her bag and gloves, spoke some time outside the church ahead of today’s ceremony, which was attended by 2,000 people
The Queen Consort arrived at Westminster Abbey with the Princess of Wales Kate Middleton, Prince George, nine, and Princess Charlotte, seven
The Princess of Wales looked pensive as she drove to the Abbey with her two oldest children and her mother-in-law Camilla today
The Queen Consort was a comforting presence for Prince George and Princess Charlotte as they drove to their great-grandmother’s funeral
Prince William, Prince Harry, Peter Phillips, King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Prince Andrew followed on foot behind the Monarch’s coffin as it made its way to Westminster Abbey
As Camilla arrived at the Abbey in a car with two of the grand-children, King Charles three, his siblings and his two sons were walking behind the Queen’s coffin
Her Royal Highness has joined the King on a tour of the UK this week, with the couple visiting England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the wake of the Queen’s death.
Crowds lined the streets of the UK’s nations during the new monarchs visit on the run-up to his late mother’s state funeral at Westminster Abbey and burial at St George’s Chapel in Windsor on Monday- following her death at Balmoral on Thursday aged 96.
Her Majesty’s coffin will travelled ceremonial procession along a detailed route through London and then Windsor before she is laid to rest.
King Charles III lead his family members – including Princes William and Harry – walking behind the Queen’s coffin as it was moved Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey for the funeral service.
Hundreds of thousands of Brits have queued to see the Queen lying in state this week, as the official period of mourning ends today.
Well-wishers waited for up to thirty hours to pay tribute as people from around the world sent their condolences to the longest running head of state .
Dignitaries from the commonwealth including Australia, New Zealand and Canada will join the Firm in mourning today, as well as monarchs from across Europe and the world.
The Queen begins her final journey from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey
Pallbearers gently carried the late monarch’s oak coffin, carrying her crown, orb and sceptre
The King and the royal family march to Westminster Abbey from Westminster Hall
King Charles III is seen on The Mall ahead of The State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales, and his children arrive at Westminster Hall. Charlotte was next to her father. George was in the back
The Queen’s state funeral today will end with a two-minute national silence in a ‘fitting tribute to an extraordinary reign’ before she is laid to rest beside her late husband.
Police have also been granted a no-fly zone order over London on today, which will follow 10 days of mourning.
As well as thousands of uniformed Metropolitan Police bobbies drafted into action, plain-clothes officers will also mingle among crowds to monitor any threats.
It is expected that other forces will be asked to provide officers under ‘mutual aid’.
The Queen’s Coffin was today carried from Westminster Hall to the State Gun Carriage, and then positioned outside the building’s North Door.
The procession then went from New Palace Yard through Parliament Square, Broad Sanctuary and the Sanctuary before arriving at Westminster Abbey just before 11am.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive
A packed Westminster Abbey prepares for the Queen to arrive
U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive, on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth
A long line of mourners walk into the UK’s most important church
The congregation were in place several hours before the Queen’s coffin arrived
After the State Funeral Service finishes at around midday, the coffin will be placed on the State Gun Carriage outside the Abbey.
At 12.15pm, the procession will set off for Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner.
The route will go from the Abbey via Broad Sanctuary, Parliament Square (south and east sides), Parliament Street, Whitehall, Horse Guards including Horse Guards Arch, Horse Guards Road, The Mall, Queen’s Gardens (south and west sides), Constitution Hill and Apsley Way
At Wellington Arch, the Queen’s coffin will be transferred from the State Gun Carriage to the State Hearse just after 1pm, ahead of the journey to Windsor.
Prime Minister Liz Truss arrives at Westminster Abbey for the service this morning
Former prime minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson arrive at Westminster Abbey this morning
It then will travel from central London to Windsor, on a route that has not been disclosed by the Palace. When the hearse arrives in Windsor, the procession will begin just after 3pm at Shaw Farm Gate on Albert Road.
The state hearse will join the procession, which will have been formed up and in position, at Shaw Farm Gate before travelling to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
The procession will follow the route of Albert Road, Long Walk, Cambridge Gate, Cambridge Drive, George IV Gate, Quadrangle (south and west sides), Engine Court, Norman Arch, Chapel Hill, Parade Ground and Horseshoe Cloister Arch.
Just before 4pm, the procession will halt at the bottom of the West Steps of St George’s Chapel in Horseshoe Cloister. Here, the bearer party will carry the coffin in procession up the steps into the chapel.
The Queen will be interred during a private burial at King George VI Memorial Chapel in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle at 7.30pm.
Tom Parker-Bowles, the son of Queen Consort, Camilla, is among the 2,000 people invited today. Pictured with his wife Sara
Michael and Carole Middleton – the parents of the Princess of Wales, Kate, arrived two hours early for the state funeral
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro (right) and his wife Michelle Bolsonaro arrive at Westminster Abbey this morning
President of Ireland Michael D Higgins spoke to clergy as he arrived at the funeral
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon arrives for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey today
Former prime minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha outside Westminster Abbey this morning
Source: Read Full Article
