Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Saffron Otter

Everything the Queen will be buried with as she is laid to rest in Windsor - special wreath and wand

The Queen made her final journey today from Westminster to Windsor with millions of mourners tuning in to watch the momentous state funeral. A service took place at Westminster Abbey with some 2,000 guests in attendance before Her Majesty's coffin travelled across London and then to St George's Chapel in Windsor for the committal service.

A wreath of flowers accompanied the Queen, draped over the late monarch's coffin, which will be buried with her in the King George VI Memorial inside St George's Chapel. But a number of other significant items with also be buried with Her Majesty.

The beautiful wreath holds much significance, with a special tribute to her late husband the Duke of Edinburgh, who she shared 73 years of marriage with.

Follow the Queen's funeral on the Mirror's live blog .

The Queen's casket adorned a beautiful wreath (BBC)

It included a sprig of flowers from their wedding and had been made completely sustainable, on request of the King.

Other flowers and foliage, made with cuts from the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Highgrove House, were chosen for their symbolism.

They include rosemary, for remembrance, and myrtle - an ancient symbol of a happy marriage - cut from a plant which was grown from a sprig of myrtle in the Queen's wedding bouquet.

Also included are English oak to symbolise the strength of love, pelargoniums, garden roses, autumnal hydrangea, sedum, dahlias and scabious.

These are in shades of gold, pink and deep burgundy, with touches of white, to reflect the Royal Standard.

The wreath also held a small card written by the new King, which simply read: "In loving and devoted memory. Charles R."

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 (Sky News)

While viewers have seen the Imperial State Crown, Orb and Sceptre travel on top of the coffin during the procession, they were removed from the casket and placed onto the altar of St George's Chapel by the Dean of Windsor.

However the Queen's Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards was added to the coffin, which will remain with Her Majesty during her burial.

The King draped it across the coffin as the final hymn was sung.

The flag is a smaller version of the Royal Standard of the Regiment flag - which represents the sovereign and the United Kingdom and has covered the Queen's coffin since Balmoral - and is made of silk and traditionally in the monarch's Company Colour of crimson.

It bears meaning as the Queen held the position of Company Commander of the Grenadier Guards.

Once this was 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 and to mark the end of service.

The ceremonial thin staff, originally used to discipline rowdy courtiers, was placed on top of the casket.

Lord Chamberlain's Wand of Office (Sky News)

The Queen's coffin was then lowered into the Royal Vault of St George's Chapel.

As the coffin was lowered, the Dean of Windsor recited Psalm 103, which includes the traditional line: "Go forth upon thy journey from this world, O Christian soul".

He also offered the commendation - a prayer in which the deceased is entrusted to God's mercy.

The Garter King of Arms then pronounced the styles and titles of the Queen.

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.

The Queen will finally be laid to rest during a private burial service with members of the royal family, set to begin at 7.30pm.

The Royal Family have not confirmed what outfit Her Majesty is dressed in, although experts have expected her to be buried with just two sentimental pieces of jewellery.

Lisa Levinson, head of communications at the Natural Diamond Council, told Metro: "Her Majesty is an incredibly humble woman at heart who is unlikely to be dressed in anything but her simple Welsh gold wedding band to rest and a pair of pearl earrings."

Her body will be placed alongside her husband's in the King George VI Memorial inside St George's Chapel.

When Prince Philip passed away in April 2021, it was confirmed that he would not be buried until the Queen's death.

The small chapel is home to the remains of the Queen’s father George VI, her mother the Queen Mother and sister Princess Margaret.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.