POIGNANT PASS
Queen’s coffin passes Buckingham Palace in moving farewell on final journey before being laid to rest
THE Queen's coffin today poignantly passed Buckingham Palace on its final journey through streets lined with thousands of mourners.
Her Majesty was then laid to rest at the end of the emotional day that saw her son King Charles lead a touching service at Westminster Abbey in front of 2,000 mourners.
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The Queen, who passed away peacefully at 96, was reunited with her husband Prince Philip after a committal service at St George's Chapel.
But the day began this morning when huge crowds of well-wishers gathered outside Westminster Abbey for the Queen's state funeral.
It comes as...
- The Queen’s coffin was taken to St George’s Chapel to be laid to rest with Prince Philip
- Princess Charlotte cried after The Queen’s emotional funeral in a heartbreaking moment
- King Charles led his family in an outpouring of grief at his mother's funeral
- Meghan Markle was teary-eyed as she watched the Queen's coffin be placed into a hearse
- Princess Kate paid a touching tribute wearing Her Majesty's pearl choker
In moving scenes, her coffin was taken into the abbey in a procession led by Charles and his siblings Andrew, Edward and Anne.
The march also saw Princes William and Harry put aside their differences after months of rumoured feuds - with the brothers standing side-by-side as they followed their grandmother.
READ MORE ON THE QUEEN'S DEATH
William, who is now next in line to the throne, comforted his wife Kate and two eldest children, Prince George, nine, and Charlotte, seven.
The kids wore black as they joined the Royal Family and leaders from across the globe to pay their respects to the Queen - who they sweetly knew as "Gan Gan".
Outside, thousands of mourners waited to be a part of the historic event that saw the monarch holding back tears.
Many caught a last glimpse of the Queen's coffin as it was carried to Wellington Arch via a procession of seven groups, each with a military band, past Parliament Square, Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade, The Mall, Buckingham Palace and Constitution Hill.
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One thousand armed forces from the UK and Commonwealth lined the mile-long route, British Legion standard bearers flanked the Cenotaph and King’s Life Guards turned out on Horse Guards Parade.
As the casket was taken along the route in front of her old home Buckingham Palace, well-wishers spontaneously erupted into rounds of applause and shouts of "hip, hip hooray".
Once the Royal Family arrived at Wellington Arch, the bearer party lifted the coffin from the State Gun Carriage into the glass-backed State Hearse, which Her Majesty helped design.
Bands of the Scots and Grenadier Guards played a medley of the Queen’s favourites, including Jerusalem and I Vow To Thee My Country.
As the hearse left the monument for Windsor, the parade gave a Royal Salute, led by the King, and National Anthem played out.
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The King, the Queen Consort, the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with other Royal Family members, made their way to Windsor car, on the M4.
Thousands of mourners packed all available space along the A4, A30 and A308 to see the State Hearse make the 25-mile journey.
The coffin then arrived at Windsor Great Park where tens of thousands of people said their final farewells.
At the head of the procession, the hearse travelled up the Long Walk, through Cambridge Gate and George IV Gate to the Quadrangle.
It was then taken to St George's Chapel, where a televised committal service was aired from 4pm.
Some 800 mourners filed into the gothic chapel - where the Queen stood little more than a year ago to bury her husband.
The service was conducted by the Dean of Windsor, with prayers said by the Rector of Sandringham, the Minister of Crathie Kirk and the Chaplain of Windsor Great Park.
Following the penultimate hymn, the imperial state crown, the orb and the sceptre were moved from the Queen's coffin to the altar.
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The King then draped the Queen's Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on the coffin before the Lord Chamberlain broke his Wand of Office, marking the end of his service to the sovereign.
As the service finished, the royals filed out, with Her Majesty to be privately buried tonight.
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All you need to know after Queen Elizabeth II dies aged 96
THE nation is in mourning after beloved Queen Elizabeth dies aged 96 - here is all you need to know about Her Majesty's glorious life and what's next.
- When is the Queen's funeral?
- What happens now the Queen has died?
- How old was the Queen when she died?
- What is the mourning period for the Queen?
- What is the new line of succession?
- Will there be a bank holiday on the day of the Queen's funeral?
- When can royal fans visit the Queen's coffin?
- Where will the Queen be buried?
- Why is 'London Bridge is down' the secret code?
- What is D-Day?
- Who are the Queen's grandchildren?
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