Almost every detail of the day had been decided in advance by the queen herself, but she left a gap in the schedule for her son and heir to fill. He wanted the King to choose one of the hymns to be sung at the ceremony and after discussing the matter with the Dean of Windsor, David Conner, the King chose Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation, sung to the music of Westminster Abbey, which in The turn was adapted from the Hallelujahs in Purcell’s O God You Are My God. The words of the hymn, which date to 7th century Latin, describe Jesus as “the precious cornerstone”, a sentiment that echoed the Queen’s own deep religious convictions. She regarded Christ as the cornerstone of her own life and kingdom, pledging allegiance to God at her coronation before any of her subjects had pledged allegiance to her. The King, who according to tradition did not speak at any of the services, thought deeply about his personal contribution to the ceremonies, using such symbols to express his love and sorrow. As well as being a king, Charles is also a father and grandfather, and by giving his blessing to Prince George and Princess Charlotte to join the coffin procession at Westminster Abbey, he was not only showing his confidence in his family but also sending a reassuring and strong message to the people: that the future of the monarchy is secure. By the time the ceremony was almost over, the most powerful symbols of the monarchy – the imperial state crown, orb and scepter – had remained in the Queen’s coffin, giving the impression that they even belonged to her and that the King, though formally proclaimed, remained . in a period of constitutional vacuum.
