People observed a 60-second moment of silence at Westminster Hall, where the body of Queen Elizabeth II, who died on September 8, was laid to rest. Security is said to be outside Windsor Castle, where the Queen will be laid to rest this evening (Monday evening) (UK time) after the Queen’s funeral at Westminster Abbey. Camps with chairs are set up for this. It is said to protect the Queen’s coffin.
Queen Elizabeth’s funeral is set to become the world’s biggest event this century. Leaders and guests from all over the world have come to attend the funeral today. It has been announced that the Queen’s coffin will be buried alongside her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, in the Royal Vault at Windsor Castle.
Queen Elizabeth’s body arrived in Britain on the 13th by air from Scotland. King Charles and Queen Camilla received the Queen’s body in London. Queen Elizabeth’s body was taken by car from the airport to Buckingham Palace. Lakhs of people paid tribute to the body of Queen Elizabeth for more than 4 consecutive days.
World leaders including US President Joe Biden have come to Britain to attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral today. Hence the security has been strengthened. The Queen’s body is placed on stage in Westminster Hall in London, crowned with royal honours. The Queen’s body will be laid to rest in Westminster Abbey next to where her husband King Philip, who died last year, was buried. In this situation, President Draupathi Murmu, who left by plane last night to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth of England and express his condolences on behalf of the Government of India, reached London early yesterday morning. Murmu also met King Charles III, who paid his last respects to the Queen.
Special arrangements have been made for the broadcast of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral. Around 125 cinemas across the UK have screens set up in places including parks and live broadcasts. Queen Elizabeth’s funeral will join the list of major events in recent UK history, including the funeral of Princess Diana in 1997, the 2012 London Olympics and royal weddings.
The Royal Vault is the altar of St George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle. It is about 16 feet (five meters) below the ground. Here the coffins of the British royal family are buried. Although it is a palace, the bodies of most of the royal family are buried here. The palace belonged to the monarchy for almost 1000 years. It remained the main residence of Elizabeth II until her death.
The vault itself is a stone chamber. It is 70 feet (21 m) long and 28 feet (eight meters) wide. The entrance is closed by an iron gate. The chamber has enough space to accommodate 44 bodies. 32 coffins are arranged in shelves built into the stone walls, and the remaining 12 bodies are in the center of the room. During the funeral a layer of the floor is removed to give access to the underground mortuary at St George’s Church. The coffin is lowered through a hole in the floor by an electric lift.
St. George’s Church has housed the remains of the royal family since the 15th century. Royals buried include Henry VIII, Charles I and Edward VII.
The Royal Vault currently holds the remains of 25 members of the Royal Family. This includes British monarchs, their wives and children.
Princess Amelia, daughter of King George III, died in 1810 aged 27.
George III’s sister Princess Augusta was buried in 181.
In 1817 Princess Charlotte, daughter of King George IV, and her dead son were interred here.
Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III, was buried in 1818.
The deceased daughter of Prince Ernest Augustus, son of King George III, was buried in 1818.
In 1820, George III and Prince Edward, Duke of Kent were buried here.
The sons of King George III – Prince Alfred (who died in 1782) and Prince Octavius (who died in 1783) – were brought here to rest with their father in 1820.
Princess Elizabeth, daughter of King William IV, was buried here in 1821.
Prince Frederick, Duke of York and son of King George III was buried here in 1827.
George IV (1830) and William IV (1837) were placed in the Royal Vault after their deaths.
Princess Sophia was placed here in 1840.
Queen Adelaide, wife of King William IV, was brought here in 1849.
Queen Victoria’s grandson Friedrich of Schleswig (Prince of Holstein) was placed here in 1876.
George V, the grandson of King George III (King-in-Exile of Hanover) was placed here after his death in 1878.
Victoria von Powell Ramingen, granddaughter of King George V, was buried here in 1881.
Princess Frederica of Hanover was installed in 1927.
Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck and granddaughter of King George III was buried here in 1897.
Prince Francis (Tek Duke) was placed here in 1900.
Prince Adolphus (Duke of Cambridge) and his wife Princess Augusta (Duchess of Cambridge) were buried here in 1930.
Prince Philip (Queen’s husband) was brought here on April 17, 2021 and buried.
Queen Elizabeth’s funeral is broadcast live to millions of people around the world. Around 6,000 representatives of the three armies participate in this procession. 98 Royal Navy sailors are involved in towing the 123-year-old cannon carriage. They are the ones who carry the coffin to Westminster Abbey. A pipe band, a regiment of Gurkhas, numerous Scottish and Irish regiments, the Royal Air Force and 200 musicians carry the coffin from Westminster Abbey.
Last Updated Sep 19, 2022, 1:24 PM IST