The Royal Family shared a poignant tribute to the late Queen on Monday night alongside a Shakespearean quote from the King's first public address.
The family's official Twitter account published a never before seen photo of the Queen, taken at Balmoral in 1971, with the words: "May flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest. In loving memory of Her Majesty The Queen." The photo sees Her Majesty hiking through the heathlands at her beloved Aberdeenshire estate.
The quote is from Shakespeare's Hamlet, and was said by King Charles in his first address to the nation on the day after the Queen's death. In Act 5 Scene 2 of William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet’s best friend, Horatio, holds his dying friend in his arms and pays tribute to the Prince of Denmark, saying: “Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet prince, And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!”
The photograph is believed to have been taken by Lord Lichfield, the late Queen's cousin. Lord Patrick took the official photographs of the King's wedding to Diana Spencer.
The day after the Queen's death, King Charles used the same quote to end his first public address to the nation. He had said: "To my darling Mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late Papa, I want simply to say this: thank you.
"Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years. May 'flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest'."
The late Queen was on Monday night buried in a private family service at St George's Chapel in Windsor after billions of people around the world watched her state funeral. The Royal family is observing another week of mourning for the Queen after the emotional state funeral.
King Charles III decreed on September 9, the day after the Queen died following her 70-year reign, that a period of mourning would be observed until seven days after the funeral.
Buckingham Palace said: "Following the death of Her Majesty the Queen, it is His Majesty the King's wish that a period of royal mourning be observed from now until seven days after the Queen's Funeral. Royal mourning will be observed by members of the royal family, Royal Household staff and representatives of the Royal Household on official duties, together with troops committed to ceremonial duties."
The King and members of the royal family gathered together after a difficult day in the world’s spotlight at the state funeral and committal service. When Prince Philip died 17 months ago, his coffin was placed in the Royal Vault of St George’s Chapel ready to be moved to the memorial chapel when the Queen died.
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