With pomp and sorrow, world bids final farewell to Queen Elizabeth II

Today, Britain’s former Sovereign Queen Elizabeth II is finally laid to rest amid scenes of matchless pageantry, a fitting end for Britain’s longest-serving monarch who won respect the world over for her 70 years on the throne.

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in Bruton Street, Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926. She married Prince Philip in 1947 and ascended the throne of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth on 6 February 1952. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III, the new Sovereign.

The Queen’s funeral cortege borne on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy travels along The Mall on September 19, 2022 in London, England. 

The Queen’s son, now King Charles and his three younger siblings, Princess Royal Anne, Duke of York Prince Andrew and Earl of Wessex Prince Edward, made up the first line behind the gun carriage pulled by 142 Royal Navy sailors that bore the Queen’s coffin from nearby Westminster Hall to the abbey.

King Charles III, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex followed by the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex

Behind them came King Charles’s sons, Prince of Wales William and Harry the Duke of Sussex, and other senior members of the royal family, their faces showing the emotional impact of the solemn moment.

Prince Richard Duke of Gloucester, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Lawrence, William Prince of Wales and Prince Harry Duke of Sussex walked behind The Queen’s funeral cortege.

King Charles and Prince William had travelled to the hall together in a royal car, cheered and applauded by crowds of mourners who lined the streets of central London to witness a day of sombre ceremony.

But from the moment the Queen’s coffin began to emerge, carried by pall bearers, everyone fell silent and the royals marched to the sound of bagpipes and the tolling of a bell.

The Duke of York Prince Andrew and the Duke of Susssex Prince Harry arrive at the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth .

Waiting just inside were King Charles’s wife, the Queen Consort Camilla, as well as William’s wife Kate and their children George, 9, and Charlotte, 7, and Harry’s wife Meghan.

Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales at the state funeral and burial of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth.

Britain’s Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Queen Camilla and King Charles at the state funeral and burial of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth.

Britain’s Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Britain’s Sophie, Countess of Wessex with Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales and Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales at the State Funeral Service for Britain’s Queen Elizabeth.

King Charles III, Camilla the Queen Consort, the Princess Royal Anne, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Prince Andrew the Duke of York, Prince Edward the Earl of Wessex, Sophie Countess of Wessex, William the Prince of Wales, Kate the Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Harry the Duke of Sussex, Meghan Duchess of Sussex at the State funeral of Queen Elizabeth.

Arthur Chatto and Daniel Chatto, Mike Tindall and Princess Zara , Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank , Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn arriving at the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth.

The royals walked behind the coffin up the aisle, with grief showing on their faces.

Britain’s William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince George and Princess Charlotte at the state funeral and burial of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, at Westminster Abbey in London, Britain, September 19, 2022.

The hearse carrying the coffin of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth is escorted along the Long Walk towards Windsor castle (her final resting place) in the funeral procession.

The hearse travels along the Long Walk as it makes its way to Windsor Castle.

The State Hearse carries the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign’s Orb and Sceptre, during the Ceremonial Procession through Windsor Castle to a Committal Service at St George’s Chapel.

The hearse transporting the coffin of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth drives near Royal Guards along Albert Road on the day of her state funeral and burial, in Windsor, Britain.

The hearse transporting the coffin of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth drives along Albert Road on the day of her state funeral and burial, in Windsor, Britain, September 19, 2022.

The coffin of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, is seen here entering St George VI Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Pall bearers carry the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II with the Imperial State Crown resting on top into St. George’s Chapel on September 19, 2022 in Windsor, England. The committal service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, took place following the state funeral at Westminster Abbey. A private burial in The King George VI Memorial Chapel followed.

King Charles III, the Queen Consort, the Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex, the Countess of Wessex, the Prince of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, the Princess of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, the Duchess of Sussex, Peter Phillips, the Earl of Snowdon, the Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, and Prince Michael of Kent at the Committal Service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, Berkshire. Monday September 19, 2022

The Orb and Sceptre are removed from the coffin at the Committal Service for Queen Elizabeth II, held at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, Berkshire. Monday September 19, 2022.

King Charles III places the Queen’s Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on the coffin at the Committal Service for Queen Elizabeth II, held at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, Berkshire. Monday September 19, 2022.