In a country known for pomp and pageantry, the first state funeral since Winston Churchill’s was filled with spectacle: Before the service, a bell tolled 96 times — once a minute for each year of Elizabeth’s life. 142 Royal Navy sailors then used ropes to pull the carriage carrying her flag-draped coffin into Westminster Abbey before pallbearers carried it inside the church, where around 2,000 people, from world leaders to health workers , gathered to mourn her. Ornaments of state and monarchy abounded: the coffin was draped with the Royal Standard and topped by the imperial state crown, glittering with nearly 3,000 diamonds, and the sovereign’s orb and sceptre. But the staff were also present: the coffin was followed into the church by generations of Elizabeth’s descendants, including King Charles III, heir to the throne Prince William, and 9-year-old George, who is second in line. On a wreath above the casket, a handwritten note read, “In loving and devoted memory,” and was signed Charles R — for Rex, or the king. “Here, where Queen Elizabeth was married and crowned, we gather from all the nation, from the Commonwealth and from the nations of the world, to mourn our loss, to remember a long life of selfless service, and with sure confidence to pledge ourselves to mercy of God our creator and redeemer,” the dean of the medieval abbey, David Hoyle, told mourners as the funeral service opened. Get The Times of Israel Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories By signing up, you agree to the terms The service concluded with a two-minute silence across the UK, after which those present sang the national anthem, entitled ‘God Save the King’. The day began early when the doors of Parliament’s 900-year-old Westminster Hall were closed to mourners after hundreds of thousands had paid their respects in front of her coffin. Monday was declared a bank holiday in honor of Elizabeth, who died on September 8 — and hundreds of thousands of people descended on central London to take part in the historic moment. They blocked the pavements to watch the coffin pass through the streets of the capital after the service. As the procession passed Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s official residence in the city, staff stood outside, some bowing and retreating. Mark Elliott, a 53-year-old who traveled to London from the Lake District in northern England with his wife and two children to watch the procession, got up at 1.30am. to see a good site near the palace. “I know we don’t know the Queen, but she’s been our head of state for 70 years. You feel like you know her, you feel like she’s part of the family. It’s something touching,” he said. More people lined the hearse’s route from the capital to Windsor Castle and many threw flowers at the cortege as it passed, some resting on top of the vehicle. Millions more people tuned in to the funeral live on television and crowds flocked to parks and public spaces across the UK to watch it on screens. Even the Google Doodle became a respected black for the day. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said in his homily at the funeral that “few leaders accept the outpouring of love we have seen” for Elizabeth. As the Queen’s coffin enters Windsor Castle, the place she called home and where she spent most of her final years, Corgis Muick and Sandy await her. #QueenElizabethII #queensfuneral ???? @itvnews pic.twitter.com/yLmm2bHK9e — Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) September 19, 2022 Later, during the commitment ceremony at St George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle, the Imperial Crown and the sovereign’s orb and scepter were removed from the coffin and placed on the altar – separating the Queen from her crown for the last time . Her coffin was then lowered into the royal vault through an opening in the chapel floor. She will later be buried with her husband Prince Philip in a private family service. The funeral was attended by US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, all living former British Prime Ministers, as well as European royalty. In Japan, which was also attended by Emperor Naruhito, scores of people drank beer and watched the service at British pub The Aldgate in Tokyo’s trendy Shibuya district. The Lord Chamberlain symbolically breaks his wand of office and places it in Queen Elizabeth’s coffin. The stick will be buried with His Majesty. #queensfuneral #QueenElizabethII #QueenElizabeth pic.twitter.com/urdyLYkYQg — HRH Prince William, Prince of Wales ➐ (@HRH_William_) September 19, 2022 “The queen has had a particularly long history in a country that prides itself on a long history and therefore deserves deep respect,” said dentist Tomotaka Hosokawa. The night before the funeral, Charles sent a message of thanks to people in the UK and around the world, saying he and his wife Camilla, the Queen consort, had been “moved beyond measure” by the large number of people who returned. out to pay their respects to the queen. Jilly Fitzgerald, who was in Windsor, said there was a sense of community among mourners as they prepared to wait hours to see the procession carrying the Queen’s coffin. “It’s good to be with all the people who all feel the same way. It’s like a big family because everyone feels that … the Queen was part of their family,” he said. You are a devoted reader We are really glad that you read X Times of Israel articles last month. That’s why we started the Times of Israel ten years ago – to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world. So now we have a request. Unlike other media, we have not set up a paywall. 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