After a final procession to Windsor Castle and a televised service of committal at St George’s Chapel, the Queen’s coffin has been seen by the public for the final time as it was lowered into the Royal Vault.
Members of the royal family, along with a congregation of 800 including realm prime ministers, governors-general and mourners from the Queen’s household past and present, gathered for the service of committal. In the final stage of the Queen’s funeral, the late monarch will be laid to rest alongside Prince Philip at a private ceremony.
While 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.
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Earlier in the service the Imperial State Crown, Orb and Sceptre, were 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.
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 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.
The King, accompanied by the Queen Consort, was driven from St George’s Chapel after thanking those who had conducted the service.
They were followed in stages by other members of the royal family, who also paused for conversation with the dean and archbishop, before being driven to join Charles and Camilla inside the castle.
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