The Queen of England, Elizabeth 11, occasionally wiped out tears in obvours mourning of her husband, Philips, the Duke of Edinburgh, who died last week and is being buried this Saturday, according to reports by Daily Mail.
Queen Elizabeth
The Queen arrived as the national anthem played and the royal Bentley stopped next to her beloved husband’s coffin, where she poignantly paused for a moment of reflection as cannons fired and bells tolled in remembrance of the duke.
Her Majesty was then driven to St George’s Chapel with a lady in waiting, before being sat alone at the front of the church where she stood alone and bowed her head during the national minute’s silence.
Following behind the coffin was the royal procession, led by Philip’s children Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. The grandchildren, including Prince William and Prince Harry, followed but the feiding brother by their cousin Peter Phillips.
The Queen had decided that no royals should wear military uniform after Prince Andrew demanded to dress as an Admiral and Prince Harry was stripped of his titles.
Prince Charles and Prince William arrived first with their wives to support the Queen today as she says her final farewell to her ‘strength and stay’ after their extraordinary 73-year life together.
The grieving Prince of Wales, who shed tears for his late father when viewing tributes left at Buckingham Palace this week, looked sombre in a black mask as he was driven into his mother’s Berkshire home.
His wife Camilla arrived separately just as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who was wearing the Queen’s pearls, left Kensington Palace. Zara Tindall and his husband Mike arrived at the castle shortly afterwards followed by other grandchildren including Princess Beatrice and spouse Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, was among the last royals to arrive at the castle – but Harry was not seen arriving and may have stayed at the castle after leaving quarantine at Frogmore Cottage after his five days of self-isolation ended yesterday.
At a sunny Windsor Castle, deserted with no crowds allowed, the quadrangle was packed with bands playing the prince’s favourite songs and hymns including Jerusalem as his extraordinary Land Rover hearse arrived flanked by senior officers from the duke’s regiments.
Troops stood with their heads bowed as the Land Rover, upon which the coffin will be placed, was driven into the quadrangle while military bands played music selected by the duke.
The Cambridges are set to see Prince Harry for the first time in a year after the brothers fell out over Megxit and the Sussexes extraordinary and damaging Oprah interview.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s insignia, Field Marshal’s baton, RAF wings and decorations from Denmark and Greece resting on cushions have been placed on the altar of St George’s Chapel to mark the passing of the ‘grandfather of the nation’.
At 11am his coffin, covered with Philip’s personal standard along with his sword, naval cap and a wreath of flowers, was moved from Her Majesty’s private chapel to the Inner Hall of Windsor Castle by members of The Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.
Minutes later a convoy of funeral cars swept the first mourners into the main gates as a single Queen’s Guard stood to attention, as soldiers on horses trotted into the grounds where 700 armed forces personnel will gather. The early guests arriving included The Countess Mountbatten of Burma, Lady Penny Brabourne, Philip’s close friend and confidante, and Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The castle has a ‘ring of steel’ protecting it led by armed units from the Metropolitan Police. Tens of millions of people in Britain and around the world will be watching the most important royal funeral since the Queen Mother died in 2002. The event, pared back because of the pandemic, was overseen by Philip for at least 20 years before his death.
Her Majesty is determined to ensure it reflects his ‘unwavering loyalty’ to her during their 73-year marriage and her 68-year reign on the throne as well his lifetime of service to the UK and the Commonwealth in his 99-year life. Philip was the longest serving consort to a monarch in history, a record unlikely to be ever broken.
In pre-pandemic times thousands of mourners would have travelled to the Berkshire town to pay their respects, but the Royal Family, the Government and police are asking the public to stay away. However, it appears hundreds have defied the warnings and gathered to pay their respects in Windsor despite the risk of fines or even arrest.
People who knew Philip best have said he would be pleased about the smaller crowds because he always demanded ‘no fuss’ in the event of his death. People staying at home for the funeral decked their homes in Union Flags and pictures of the duke and his wife, with many enjoying traditional full English breakfasts or afternoon teas as they watched on TV.
As Her Majesty begins life without her beloved Philip after 73 years of marriage, it also emerged:
Source Culled from Daily Mail
