In pics| From 'special' music to royal burial: Queen Elizabeth II’s State funeral explained
The State funeral
The Queen's State Funeral has been compared to a military funeral in many ways. She was in charge of the military, after all.
The two-and-a-half tonne State Ceremonial Gun Carriage carrying the Queen's Coffin was hauled by Royal Navy personnel from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey. Others followed the carriage while carrying ropes that served as brakes.
The coffin
The Royal Standard is draped over the Queen's coffin, which also has the Orb, the Sceptre, and the Imperial State Crown on a velvet cushion.
The cross atop the golden Orb, a symbol of Christianity, serves as a reminder to the king that their authority comes from God. The sceptre represents fairness, justice, and authority. The monarch dons the State Crown after the conclusion of the coronation ritual and during official events like the State Opening of Parliament.
The service at Westminster Abbey
To commemorate the years of Queen Elizabeth II's reign, Westminster Abbey's tenor bell rang once every minute for 96 minutes before to the service. It is the largest of the 10 bells at the Abbey and is customarily rung to mark the passing of a king.
The late Queen served as the company commander of the Queen's Company of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, which was carrying the coffin into Westminster Abbey.
The sermon
On Monday, the sermon was delivered by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
“Her late Majesty famously declared on her 21st birthday broadcast that her whole life would be dedicated to serving the nation and commonwealth, rarely has such a promise been so well kept,” he told the congregation. “Few leaders receive the outpouring of love that we have seen.”
The music
The Household Cavalry's State Trumpeters played the Cavalry Last Post toward the close of the service, and then the country paused for two minutes in memory of the Queen.
The majority of the music played at the funeral was chosen for its "special significance" to the Queen, according to Westminster Abbey, which also noted that several of the selections have a lengthy history with the church.
To St George’s chapel, Windsor
As Big Ben tolled, the Queen's coffin made its final trip from the ceremony at Westminster Abbey through the heart of London to Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner. Then, as mourners lined the streets along its route and many of them threw flowers, the corpse was driven to Windsor in the state hearse.
The Committal Service at St George’s Chapel
The committal service at St George’s chapel
Many people who worked on the Queen's estates attended the smaller, more private Committal Service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor. The Royal Victorian Order, a private gift from the late Queen, was visible to some of the attendees.
The Queen attended her husband Prince Philip's burial in this Chapel alone just one year ago.
The burial
The Dean of Windsor recited Psalm 103 as the coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault. 17. The Queen's Piper then performed a lament as the Garter King of Arms announced the styles and titles of Queen Elizabeth II.
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