End of Elizabeth II era in Britain
Funeral complete with formalities
London: The era of Elizabeth II, who emerged as the undisputed queen on the British imperial throne for more than seven decades, has come to an end. The funeral of the Queen of Great Britain was completed on Monday night at St. George’s Chapel in London’s Windsor Castle amid a dazzling array of British royal etiquette, traditions, official insignia, salutes and military parades.
Hundreds of world heads of state and guests, including kings and queens, attended the event like never before. The citizens who came in lakhs bade farewell with tears and sad voices. In a private last rites held in the presence of her son, King Charles-III, and other royals, Elizabeth’s body was buried next to the tomb of Philip, the queen’s husband who passed away last year.
Start at 11 am
Elizabeth-2’s funeral procession began on Monday at 11 am (local time) with formalities. The royal flag draped over the coffin containing the Queen’s remains. A wreath was placed on it. A diamond encrusted crown (Imperial State Crown), scepter and golden orb are kept. The Queen’s coffin was carried from Westminster Hall into the Royal Navy State Gun Carriage, accompanied by the Queen’s eldest son, King Charles III, as the British national anthem ‘God Save the King’ was played. From there, the coffin was escorted by a 6,000-strong military parade to Westminster Abbey, surrounded by soldiers waving British national flags on both sides of the road. On the Queen’s final journey here, London’s Big Ben chimed 96 times a minute to mark Elizabeth II’s 96th birthday.
Liz Truss recites the Bible verses
In Abe, US President Joe Biden, Indian President Draupadi Murmu and 500 heads of state from various countries attended special prayers and paid tributes in the presence of 2,000 guests. Commonwealth Chief Secretary Baroness Patricia and British Prime Minister Liz Truss recited Bible verses and sang hymns. At the end of the formal funeral procession at Westminster Abbey, the people of Britain observed two minutes of silence as a final farewell to Elizabeth II.
Citizens in jail
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth-2 was carried in a special Jaguar vehicle and the heads of the Queen’s family, including Charles-3, were escorted by the police in other vehicles for about 40 km. Off to Windsor Castle in the distance. Lakhs of people who arrived on the left side of the motorcade in the morning watched the last journey of their beloved leader with heavy hearts and wet eyes. Some showered flowers on the vehicle carrying the Queen’s coffin. The procession reached the King George VI Memorial Chapel where Elizabeth II’s casket was laid to rest in royal style. Elizabeth’s funeral was watched live by millions of people around the world. It is known that Queen Elizabeth passed away on the 8th of this month at Balmoral Castle in Scotland at the age of 96.
* President Draupadi Murmu, who came to London to participate in the funeral of Elizabeth II, met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana on Monday.
