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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Adam May

Nine emotional moments from the Queen's funeral from corgis to tearful tributes

Queen Elizabeth II has been laid to rest after 70 years on the throne as thousands of mourners lined the streets for a final farewell.

As the late monarch's coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault, it also signalled the last time the public would see Her Majesty and brought an end to a memorable, sombre and poignant day.

Around 2,000 mourners - which included world leaders, royals and NHS staff - gathered inside Westminster Abbey for the state funeral, the like of which the country hasn't seen for some seven decades.

The Queen's coffin was then marched by gun carriage from Westminster and past Buckingham Palace before departing London on her last journey.

A tearful King Charles, still publicly grieving the loss of his beloved mother, as well as other royals including young Prince George and Princess Charlotte, then paid their respects in a smaller ceremony at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

King Charles III places the the Queen's Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on the coffin (PA)

The monarch's coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault and away from the public's gaze for the final time before a private burial ceremony takes place later this evening.

As cries of God Save The King echoed around the Chapel, it was a solemn reminder of what the nation has lost while also looking ahead to the future and the reign of Charles who struggled to keep his tears at bay.

When Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne at the age of 25, she made a promise: regardless of whether her life was long or short, it would be devoted to our service.

Her life was undoubtedly one of unwavering devotion - and thousands turned out today to say their thanks for a promise well kept.

Here are nine emotional moments from today's state funeral that you may have missed.

Corgis and horse saying final goodbye

Muick and Sandy waited for the Queen's coffin to arrive at Windsor Castle (Jonathan Buckmaster)

The Queen adored corgis and had 30 over the course of her lifetime.

Her last two corgis, the beloved Muick and Sandy, waited for her coffin to arrive at Windsor Castle before this afternoon's committal service, leaving viewers in tears as they were brought out into the quadrangle by two pages in red tailcoats.

The two corgis are direct descendants of Susan, the Queen's very first Corgi - she was a gift to mark the monarch's 18th birthday.

Emma, the Queen’s Fell Pony, had also greeted the procession, standing on grass in a gap in the floral tributes along the Long Walk in honour of her late owner.

The Fell Pony was described in 2020 by the Queen's head groom Terry Pendry as "a wonderful servant to Her Majesty and is still going strong at the age of 24 as one of The Queen’s riding ponies".

Piper’s last lament at Windsor

The Queen's piper who woke the late monarch every morning with the sound of his bagpipes carried out his final duty by playing her beautiful goodbye.

Pipe Major Paul Burns of The Royal Regiment of Scotland played a moving lament in St George's Chapel in Windsor as the Queen's coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault as her funeral drew to a close today.

It was one of the most poignant moments of the day, and he was the lone musician at the committal service.

As he played the pipes, he walked between the chapel and the Dean's Cloister so that the music during the ceremony slowly faded away.

The piper also brought the ceremony at Westminster Abbey earlier today to a close with a lament before the Queen 's coffin was brought to Windsor for the final time.

Charles tearing up at God Save the King

An emotional King Charles struggled to hold back tears during the final moment of Queen's public funeral (SKY NEWS / TV GRABS)

An emotional King Charles struggled to hold back the tears during the final moment of the Queen's public funeral.

As a committal service at St George's Chapel in Windsor came to a close, the Imperial State Crown, the Orb and the Sceptre was removed from the late monarch's coffin before the final hymn.

The Archbishop of Canterbury then concluded the service with a blessing before the congregation sang the national anthem.

As Charles listened to God Save the King for the last time at Windsor, he bit his lip and closed his eyes as he tried to fight back the tears following a sombre and moving service.

King Charles sat in the same seat the Queen had sat in for the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The lowering of the coffin into the Royal Vault is usually a private affair, and this was just the second time it was witnessed on television.

Wand breaking marks the end of the Elizabethan era

At the close of the service, the Imperial State Crown, the orb and the sceptre were lifted from the Queen’s coffin by the Crown Jeweller, separating the Queen from her crown for the final time.

With the help of the Bargemaster and Serjeants-at-Arms, the priceless Crown Jewels were passed to the Dean who will place them on the High Altar.

Shortly after, former MI5 spy chief Baron Parker – the Lord Chamberlain and the most senior official in the late Queen’s royal household – broke his "Wand of Office" and placed it on the coffin.

The ceremonial breaking of the white staff signified the end of his service to the Queen as sovereign.

Buckingham Palace staff line up outside to say farewell

Buckingham Palace staff stand outside its gates for a final farewell (via REUTERS)

Queen Elizabeth touched the lives of millions across the world, not least those who worked closely for her.

Members of staff at Buckingham Palace lined up in front of the building to pay their respects to the Queen as thousands descended on the capital to offer their own condolences.

Chefs, butlers and police officers were among the staff standing in front of the Queen's main residence as the late monarch's coffin left London for the final time.

Queen’s coffin lowered into Royal Vault

In one of the most moving parts of today's events, the Queen's coffin was slowly lowered into the Royal Vault as the Dean of Windsor recited Psalm 103 and pronounced all of the styles and titles of the Queen.

The psalm includes the traditional line: "Go forth upon thy journey from this world, O Christian soul".

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.

Later this evening, a private burial service will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor, attended by the King and members of the royal family.

The Queen is to be buried together with the Duke of Edinburgh at the King George VI Memorial Chapel with her mother and father, George VI.

Charlotte and George walking beside coffin to say goodbye to Gan Gan

Charlotte and George walked beside the coffin to say goodbye to Gan Gan (SKY NEWS)

The Prince and Princess of Wales' eldest children, aged nine and seven, went to pay their respects to their beloved 'Gan Gan' while youngest son Prince Louis, four, was kept at home.

Charlotte and George walked beside their parents as they followed the Queen's coffin into Westminster Abbey.

Before the coffin was transferred to Windsor, Charlotte could be seen whispering to her big brother "you need to bow".

George did follow his sister's advice as he was seen bowing his head as a sign of respect to Her Majesty when her coffin began to drive off.

Charles' heartfelt message on flowers

The beautiful note written by King Charles (James Whatling)

The colourful funeral wreath placed on top of the Queen's coffin included a poignant connection to the Queen's late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, and a sprig of flowers from her wedding to her late husband, who she shared more than 73 years of marriage with.

A message left in the flowers was written by her son King Charles and simply read: "In loving and devoted memory. Charles R."

The wreath has been made completely sustainable, on request of the King, and will be buried with her at Windsor. It contains plants from the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Highgrove House.

It comes as a team of nearly 100 Royal Navy sailors carried Her Majesty's coffin for the service, which was being attended by all members of the royal family and leaders from around the world. .

Kate and Meghan’s moving tribute to Queen

Meghan shed a tear during the funeral service (REUTERS)

The Princess of Wales and her sister-in-law Meghan were united in grief as they walked behind the Queen's coffin at her state funeral.

Both were dressed all in black and wore hats, in keeping with royal tradition. Kate wore a necklace which belonged to her husband's grandmother, which she last wore for the Queen and Prince Philip's 70th wedding anniversary celebrations.

Meghan, meanwhile, opted for pared back jewellery with a pair of pearl and diamond stud earrings which were given to her by the Queen as a gift when she joined the Royal Family.

Meghan wore the earrings on her first joint engagement alongside the Queen in June 2018, when they marked the opening of a new bridge in Cheshire.

Pearls are often referred to as mourning jewellery, a tradition said to date back to Queen Victoria’s era.

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