UK falls silent as Queen Elizabeth II laid to rest
| Date :20-Sep-2022 |
By Aditi Khanna
LONDON,
KINGS and queens, world leaders, tearful mourners lining the streets and gathered around screens bid a final farewell to Queen Elizabeth II on Monday, as Britain’s longest-serving monarch was laid to rest in a historic funeral ceremony conducted to military precision at a scale never seen before.
The UK observed a two-minute silence in a poignant nationwide tribute at the conclusion of a majestic state funeral ceremony at Westminster Abbey here, attended by thousands and witnessed by millions on screens worldwide.
The UK’s National Anthem, ‘God Save the King’, rang out as the coffin was lifted out for the last leg of the journey to the late monarch’s final resting place at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, where a Committal Service will conclude the public-facing aspect of the funeral before a private burial ceremony on Monday evening.
The Queen’s final resting place will be by the side of her late husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, in an enclave of the historic chapel on her South-East England estate of Windsor. The state funeral began as chimes of the Big Ben fell silent and hymns rang out as the coffin of the late monarch was carried into Westminster Abbey on Monday morning.
In the congregation of around 2,000 made up of world leaders, royalty from the UK and overseas and community leaders, India was represented by President Draupadi Murmu and Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra.
The Big Ben, the iconic London landmark housed in the Elizabeth Tower named after the late Queen, tolled every minute 96 times to mark each year of the late sovereign’s life as a procession led by King Charles III entered the historic 11th century Abbey.
The coffin, draped with the Royal Standard, was adorned with flowers from the King’s royal homes and a personal note “in loving and devoted memory” from him and the Instruments of State – made up of the diamond-encrusted Imperial State Crown and the orb and sceptre which were gifted to the Queen at her coronation in the same Abbey in 1953. “Here, where Queen Elizabeth was married and crowned, we gather from across the nation, from the Commonwealth, and from the nations of the world, to mourn our loss, to remember her long life of selfless service, and in sure confidence to commit her to the mercy of God our maker and redeemer,” said Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, the Dean of Westminster who led the service.
The hour-long service included a collection of traditional hymns and new pieces of choral music, created especially for the occasion. Lessons from the Bible were read by Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Patricia Scotland and British Prime Minister Liz Truss, following which came the hymn, ‘The Lord’s My Shepherd’ which had also been sung at the wedding of the then Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in 1947.
William’s children, 9-year-old Prince George and 7-year-old Princess Charlotte were among the youngest members of the royal procession, who walked between their parents – the Prince and Princess of Wales.