Queen Elizabeth II Funeral LIVE: Coffin lowered into royal vault at St George's Chapel

Queen Elizabeth II's coffin has been lowered into the royal vault at St George's Chapel, in Windsor Castle, at the conclusion of her committal service.

The Lord Chamberlain, the most senior official in the British royal household, broke a rod known as the “wand of office” as the royal family and hundreds of mourners bid a final farewell to the late monarch.

Andrew Parker, who is the former head of Britain's domestic secret service MI5, broke the white rod and placed it on the queen's coffin. The ritual symbolises the end of his service to the monarch.

Earlier David Conner, the Dean of Windsor, paid tribute to the queen, telling 800 mourners gathered at the chapel about the queen as “someone whose uncomplicated yet profound Christian faith bore so much fruit.” He said: “In the midst of our rapidly changing and frequently troubled world, her calm and dignified presence has given us confidence to face the future, as she did, with courage and with hope.”

(Source: PTI)

As Britain and the world bid farewell to Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, King Charles wrote a goodbye message for his beloved mother. A card placed on top of the Queen's coffin in Westminster Abbey carried a heartfelt final message from the King. Handwritten by King Charles III, the note read: "In loving and devoted memory. Charles R,"Sky News reported. 

Read full story 

The Committal Service for Queen Elizabeth II began today at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. It will end with the coffin being lowered into the Royal Vault.

The Committal service has begun in Windsor. It is being conducted by David Conner, the Dean of Windsor. Nearly 800 people are present in St George's Chapel. 

Queen's funeral procession has arrived at St George's Chapel in Windsor where she will be laid to rest. The state  Hearse is carrying the coffin to the West Steps of the chapel where the Queen's mother, father, and sister are all buried. 

Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine, paid tribute to the late Queen. "A great honor for me to be present at the farewell to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on behalf of all Ukrainians. Her attention to Ukraine was an important signal of support. She wished us better times and shared our desire for freedom. We will always remember it with deep gratitude," she wrote on Twitter. 

Queen Elizabeth will be laid to rest alongside her husband, Prince Philip. The late Duke's coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault under Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021, following his funeral service. In the aftermath of the committal service, the Queen will momentarily accompany him there. However, both will be transferred later this evening to King George VI Memorial Chapel for a private burial service, as per Sky News. 

As the world is saying goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II, a spider was spotted on top of a letter placed on the coffin of Britain's longest-reigning monarch. People watching Queen Elizabeth's funeral also noticed the spider during the ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London. The tiny creature was seen crawling across a piece of card placed on the Queen's coffin alongside the crown and a floral display.

Read more here. 

US President Joe Biden departed the United Kingdom hours after  Queen Elizabeth II's funeral ended at Westminster Abbey. He had travelled from Washington to London with First Lady Jill Biden to attend the funeral.

Former US President Barack Obama paid tribute to the late Queen and recalled her meeting with the United Kingdom's longest-serving monarch. "Michelle and I were lucky enough to know Her Majesty The Queen. Back when we were just beginning to navigate life as President and First Lady, she welcomed us to the world stage with extraordinary generosity. Our thoughts are with the Royal Family and those mourning her passing (sic)," he wrote in a Twitter post. 

As Britain and the world bid farewell to Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, King Charles wrote a goodbye message for her beloved mother. A card placed on top of the Queen's coffin in Westminster Abbey carried a heartfelt final message from the King. Handwritten by King Charles III, the note read: "In loving and devoted memory. Charles R," Sky News reported. 

The Queen's hearse, carrying the coffin, is on its way to Windsor Castle where Her Majesty will be laid to rest. In order to offer more people an opportunity to see the coffin, the hearse will presumably travel along major roads rather than on highways. The route has been closed for the procession.

The Queen's coffin has passed by Buckingham Palace for the very last time. The staff members of the palace paid tribute to her.  

In Northern Ireland's Belfast city, hundreds of people gathered to witness the state funeral of the late Queen on big screens. While watching the service, some mourners sat on blankets or folding chairs, while others stood in front of the civic building in the capital city. 

The late monarch's funeral has been completed, and the coffin is now being removed from Westminster Abbey. The Queen will then make her last journey through London to Wellington Arch, where she will be laid to rest.

Staff from Buckingham Palace have gathered in front of the building in a queue to pay their last respect to the Queen. The staff is gathered in front of the Queen's official palace, including chefs, butlers, and police officers. The procession will be passing by the palace on its way to Windsor. 

The Queen's funeral procession has set for Wellington Arch, where the coffin will be loaded into the state hearse and driven to Windsor for a committal service at St. George's Chapel. The Armed Forces are stationed along the path from Westminster Abbey to the top of Constitution Hill.

The sermon at the Queen's state funeral is currently being delivered by the Most Reverend and Right Honorable Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury. Rarely has such a commitment been so effectively kept, he said of the Queen's promise to devote her life to helping the UK and Commonwealth when she turned 21. 

"Rarely has such a promise been so well kept. People of loving service are rare in any walk of life. Leaders of loving service are still rarer. But in all cases, those who serve will be loved and remembered when those who cling to power and privileges are forgotten. The grief of this day - felt not only by the late Queen's family but all round the nation, Commonwealth and world - arises from her abundant life and loving service, now gone from us," he added.

The royal family is being led in a solemn procession behind the Queen's coffin by King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort. As the family passed, many mourners bowed their heads in respect.

The United Kingdom's national anthem, "God Save the King," has been sung inside Westminster Abbey as Queen's funeral comes to an end. The Queen's coffin will soon be taken out of the abbey. 

The Dean of Westminster, Dr David Hoyle, is pronouncing the blessing for the departed soul. He said, "God grant to the living grace; to the departed rest; to the Church, The King, the Commonwealth, and all people, peace and concord, and to us sinners, life everlasting; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen," as per CNN. 

The third hymn, 'Love divine, All loves excelling', which has a Welsh tune, was sung by the choir and congregation. It was also performed during the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in 2011. James O'Donnell, a former organist of the abbey, is credited for the composition.

More than 2000 mourners are in attendance at Queen Elizabeth's state funeral. They have gathered to pay their last respect to the UK's longest-serving monarch. 

Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, is now giving the commendation at the Queen's funeral. "Let us commend to the mercy of God, our maker and redeemer, the soul of Elizabeth, our late Queen," he stated, as per Sky News. 

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss read from the Gospel of John. She read the second lesson from John 14: 1–9.
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you," Truss reads.

"I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know."

"Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him."

"Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father," she read, as per CNN.

The members of the Royal Family are now following the Queen's coffin down the central aisle of Westminster Abbey. King Charles III is directly behind the Queen's coffin.

The Choir of Westminster Abbey sang lines, known as The Sentences, from Revelation 14:13 set to music written by William Croft and used at every state funeral since the early 18th century.

King Charles III and other royals are walking behind Queen Elizabeth II's coffin as it's pulled on a gun carriage by 142 sailors to Westminster Abbey for her state funeral.  Pallbearers formed by members of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards have taken Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin from Westminster Hall for a solemn procession to nearby Westminster Abbey, where her state funeral service is to be held.

 Queen Elizabeth II's coffin entered Westminster Abbey for the state funeral service.

 Queen Elizabeth II's coffin arrives outside Westminster Abbey for state funeral service.

A procession sets off from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey. Members of the Royal Family can be seen standing behind the Queen's coffin.  The Queen’s children – King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward – will follow her coffin as it makes its journey. 

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrived with Sophie, Queen's 'Second Daughter. Meanwhile, members of the Royal Family are now making their way down the aisle at Westminster Abbey.

King Charles III is now making his way down The Mall outside Buckingham Palace ahead of his mother Queen Elizabeth's funeral. 

International leaders including US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and Irish President Michael D. Higgins joined British politicians Sir Kier Starmer, Sadiq Khan, and Therese Coffey at London's Westminster Abbey for the funeral service of Queen Elizabeth II. Michael and Carole Middleton, the parents of the Princess of Wales, and Tom Parker Bowles, the son of the Queen Consort are also amongst those who have arrived at the abbey. They will be joined by international royalty and other political leaders from around the world.

After the American President, former UK prime minister Boris Johnson arrived at Westminster Abbey with his wife Carrie.

US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden have arrived at Westminster Abbey. His armoured limousine experienced some delays as it made its way through London traffic. 

British adventurer, writer, and television presenter Bear Grylls arrived at Westminster Abbey to join the funeral ceremony of the Queen. Besides, Belgium King Philippe and his wife Queen Mathilde arrived in Chelsea in a diplomatic vehicle ahead of the funeral. The ceremony will end with two minutes of silence followed by the national anthem and a piper’s lament, before the queen’s coffin is taken in a procession ringed by units of the armed forces in dress uniforms, with the queen’s children walking behind, to Wellington Arch near Hyde Park.

Mourners are arriving at Westminster Abbey to take their seats for Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral service. Guests began entering the Gothic medieval abbey shortly after 8 a.m. or 12 pm IST on Monday. Dignitaries were arriving later, with many heads of state gathering at a nearby hospital to be driven by bus to the abbey.

The queue to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in the state has been officially closed and the last person in the line to see Queen lying in the state said that it "means a lot" to pay her respects and called her a "constant" in her life, BBC News respected. Sarah Rogers travelled from Woodbridge in Suffolk along with her mother Christine to pay respects to the British monarch. Christine and Sarah were the last two people who were given wristbands to join the queue to pay tribute to the Queen in Westminster Hall ahead of her funeral. 

The Queen’s lying in state is now over. According to The Guardian, the last people to pay their respect passed through Westminster Hall just before 6.30 am. The closing of the hall marked the end of four full days of the coffin lying in state and the start of the U.K.’s first state funeral since the one held in 1965 for Winston Churchill. At 8 am Westminster Abbey will open to the congregation attending the funeral. Then, at 10.30 am, the coffin will be carried by the gun carriage from Westminster Hall.

Ahead of Queen Elizabeth II's funeral ceremony, her son and daughter-in-law expressed gratitude to the countrymen and the whole world for the love and affection shown to them following the passing of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch. In a statement released on Sunday, King Charles III and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, said they have been “deeply touched” by the global outpouring of support and messages.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte will be joining the UK Queen’s royal funeral in Westminster Abbey with over 2,000 guests attending the ceremony. The young royals will have a special task at their great-grandmother's funeral. As per the Order of Service for the state burial, 9-year-old George and 7-year-old Charlotte will accompany Queen Elizabeth's coffin during the procession at Westminster Abbey today, September 19. The children will walk after their parents, Prince William and Kate Middleton, and before their aunt Meghan Markle and uncle Prince Harry. 

United States President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden paid their respects to Queen Elizabeth II while visiting her casket lying in state at Westminster Hall in London on Sunday, September 18. They also signed the book of condolences at Lancaster House.  Biden and the first lady were among the thousands of mourners who offered their tributes at Westminster Hall, where tens of thousands of UK police, hundreds of British military soldiers, and an army of authorities have been making their final preparations for the Queen's royal funeral.  

The US President, First Lady, and US Ambassador Jane Hartley stood solemnly next to the coffin while Biden made the sign of the cross and placed his hand to his heart. While speaking about the signing of the condolence books, Biden wrote on Twitter, “We first met the Queen in 1982, and will always remember her kindness and hospitality. Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world.” 

Read more here

At 10.44 am, The Queen’s coffin will be moved from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey for the state funeral. Two thousand guests are expected to attend the service, which will begin at 11 am and be followed by a national two-minute silence at 11.55 am. A public procession will begin at 12.15 pm as Her Majesty’s coffin travels from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch in London. The procession, which will proceed in seven groups and be supported by a service band, will travel along Broad Sanctuary, Parliament Square, Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade, Horse Guards Road, The Mall, Constitution Hill and end at London’s Wellington Arch.

Read more here

According to the planning released by the UK government, big screens will be put up across the country, including in London’s Hyde Park, Sheffield’s Cathedral Square, Birmingham’s Centenary Square, Carlisle’s Bitts Park, Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park and Coleraine Town Hall in Northern Ireland. Cinemas across the UK are also opening their screens to show the funeral - bringing together local communities to commemorate. The funeral service and processions will be shown live on BBC One, ITV and Sky for those who wish to watch at home in the United Kingdom. Viewers can also tune into Republic World's YouTube channel to watch the funeral live. 

The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern said that the UK Queen has provided her with the best advice on balancing the responsibilities of being a new mother and the leader of her country. When asked for guidance on how to be a leader and a new mother at the same time, PM Ardern noted that Queen Elizabeth II advised her to "just get on with it." The Prime Minister, who is in London for the late monarch's funeral, said that she first met Queen Elizabeth II in the year 2018, shortly after being elected and while she was expecting her daughter Neve. 

During an interview with the BBC, Ardern also reaffirmed her opinion that her nation would one day become a republic. Prior to the Queen's funeral, Ardern is one of the hundreds of world leaders present in London. 

Read more here

King Charles III and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, said they have been “deeply touched” by the global outpouring of support and messages. "Over the last ten days, my wife and I have been so deeply touched by the many messages of condolence and support we have received from this country and across the world," he said in the statement. "In London, Edinburgh, Hillsborough and Cardiff, we were moved beyond measure by everyone who took the trouble to come and pay their respects to the lifelong service of my dear mother, the late Queen,” said King.

The message from the King came on the day when world leaders including US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden paid tribute to the departed soul. Notably, the Queen, who was a symbol of stability in a turbulent era that saw the decline of the British empire and disarray in her own family, died after 70 years on the throne on September 8. She was 96. "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow," Buckingham Palace announced on social media. Prince Charles, 73, who served and dedicated his life to his "beloved mother", Queen Elizabeth II until she left for her heavenly abode, became the successor immediately on the same day. 

Read more here

Queen Elizabeth II, who was a symbol of stability in a turbulent era that saw the decline of the British empire and disarray in her own family, died after 70 years on the throne on September 8. She was 96. According to Buckingham Palace, the State Funeral of the monarch will take place at Westminster Abbey in London on Monday, September 19, at 11 AM local time. It is expected that the funeral ceremony of the Queen will be the biggest gathering in decades as several world leaders, and celebrities will arrive in London next week. According to BBC, nearly 2000 heads of state and foreign dignitaries were invited to the grand event.

As of now, the procession has already passed at least eight crucial locations including Queen’s Gardens, The Mall, Horse Guards and Horse Guards Arch, Whitehall, Parliament Street, Parliament Square and New Palace Yard. During the Lying-in-State, members of the public have the opportunity to visit Westminster Hall to pay their respects to The Queen. On Monday, the Coffin will be taken in Procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey, where the State Funeral Service will take place. As per the planning announced by the Royal Family, a private burial service, attended by the family, will take place in The King George VI Memorial Chapel, where the queen will be buried by the side of her husband, Prince Philip.

President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday visited UK's King Charles III at a reception hosted at Buckingham Palace, before Queen Elizabeth's official funeral. The President of India was invited to the reception which was hosted by King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla. President Murmu paid her respects at the Palace of Westminster in London, where the Queen's coffin is lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall. 

In addition to this, on behalf of the Indian government, President Murmu signed a book of condolences while on a three-day trip to London for Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral, which will take place at Westminster Abbey today, September 19. The President was accompanied by acting high commissioner Sujit Ghosh at Lancaster House in London, where international leaders are coming by to sign the condolence book in remembrance of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away at the age of 96 in Scotland on September 8.  

Read more here

British officials said late Sunday that the queue for people to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state had reached “final capacity” and had to be closed to new entrants.

“Please do not attempt to join the queue,” the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said in a tweet.

Hundreds of thousands of people have waited for up to 12 hours in a miles-long line through central London in the past four days for a chance to file past the queen’s coffin, which is lying in state at Westminster Hall in the Houses of Parliament.

The lying in state ends Monday morning, when the queen’s coffin will be taken to nearby Westminster Abbey for her state funeral service.

(AP)