Queen's funeral: World's final goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II in state funeral at Westminster Abbey
and live on Freeview channel 276
Queen Elizabeth II ruled over the UK and Commonwealth for more than 70 years, celebrating her Platinum Jubilee earlier in 2022. She was Britain's longest-serving monarch, ascending the throne in 1952 and remaining dedicated to her duty until her death on Thursday, September 8 at the age of 96.
Tributes were paid to her lifetime of service at the state funeral on Monday, September 19 with some of the world's most prestigious leaders and politicians joining the Royal Family in paying their respects.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe nation fell quiet as a two-minute silence was held to mark the end of the funeral service, followed by a burst of applause and emotion as the national anthem, now God Save the King, rang out across the Abbey and elsewhere.
Mourners lined the streets in London and surrounded Windsor Castle in an incredible show of respect for the Queen and all she represented to so many.
Her final resting place is the King George VI memorial chapel, in Windsor, alongside her late husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He died in April 2021, at the age of 99.
With well-wishers from across the globe present in London to play a part in the landmark occasion, we brought you coverage from our reporter Georgina Cutler in the capital as well as from across the North East with the rest of our team.
See our coverage from Queen Elizabeth II’s final journey below
Queen Elizabeth II: World’s final goodbye to the Queen in state funeral at Westminster Abbey - updates
Key Events
- History is made as the state funeral for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II took place at Westminster Abbey in London on Monday, September 19.
- Thousands of well-wishers are in London to pay their respects, as world leaders and global politicians visit for the service.
- The service marks the last day of national mourning following the death of the Queen. The period of Royal Mourning will continue until seven days after the funeral.
St George’s Chapel
‘A life of unstinting service'
Giving the Bidding, the Dean of Windsor, the Rev David Conner, said: “We have come together to commit into the hands of God the soul of his servant Queen Elizabeth.
“Here, in St George’s Chapel, where she so often worshipped, we are bound to call to mind someone whose uncomplicated yet profound Christian Faith bore so much fruit. Fruit, in a life of unstinting service to the Nation, the Commonwealth and the wider world, but also (and especially to be remembered in this place) in kindness, concern and reassuring care for her family and friends and neighbours.”
Referring to a “rapidly changing and frequently troubled world”, the Dean praised the late Queen’s “calm and dignified presence”.
He said the monarch’s disposition “has given us confidence to face the future, as she did, with courage and with hope”.
Concluding the Bidding, he said: “As, with grateful hearts, we reflect on these and all the many other ways in which her long life has been a blessing to us, we pray that God will give us grace to honour her memory by following her example, and that, with our sister Elizabeth, at the last, we shall know the joys of life eternal.”
A family united in mourning
The Royal Family and other guests watch on as the committal service takes place in St George’s Chapel, Windsor, for Queen Elizabeth II.
The service follows a state funeral earlier today at Westminster Abbey.
The final hymn
The Imperial State Crown, Orb and Sceptre, have been removed from the Queen’s coffin and placed onto the altar of St George’s Chapel by the Dean of Windsor.
The final hymn was sung as the King prepared to drape the Queen’s Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on the coffin.
Once in place, the colour was then accompanied by the Lord Chamberlain’s Wand of Office, which he symbolically broke.
The purpose of breaking the wand is to create a symmetry with the three Instruments of State that had been removed from the coffin.
A Salute to the Royal Fendersmith
The service ended with the Sovereign Piper playing the lament A Salute to the Royal Fendersmith from the doorway between the chapel and the dean’s cloister, with the music gradually fading away as he walked towards the deanery.
The Archbishop of Canterbury then concluded the service with a blessing before the congregation sang the national anthem.
God Save the King
The King appeared emotional as those in attendance at St George’s Chapel sang the national anthem.
Charles sat in the same seat the Queen had sat in for the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Silence in South Tyneside as state funeral takes place
The hustle and bustle of the South Shields market place was replaced with tranquil calm, with not a car or pedestrian in sight with the only sound the occasional seagull passing overhead.
Our photographers were out and about earlier today to capture the quiet scenes. See more here.
A heartfelt thank you for your lifetime of service
Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin arrives in Windsor after a procession from London.
She is to be laid to rest at the King George VI memorial chapel, inside St George’s Chapel at Windsor, together with her husband of more than 70 years.
The Duke of Edinburgh died in April 2021, just months away from his 100th birthday.
The couple will be reunited once more.