As the sounds of the Scottish dirge, “Sleep, Dearie, Sleep,” faded into the silence of Westminster Abbey, it finally dawned on me that Queen Elizabeth II was truly gone. The Queen loved bagpipes so much that a bagpiper played under her window for 15 minutes every morning, so those notes fading into the ether had a sense of finality, in a grand, show-stopping way. Monday’s state funeral was full of such moments as Britain bid farewell to its longest-serving monarch with all the pomp for which the nation is known. Black-clad mourners included the royal family, seven British prime ministers and hundreds of dignitaries from around the world, including US President Joe Biden. But it was the colors that caught my attention. The dark clothes were just a backdrop for decorations of all kinds. Military medals flashed from the chests of old soldiers and civilians wore ribbons denoting civilian honors bestowed by the Queen. There were Knights of the Garter in blue velvet capes. Trumpets with long silver instruments adorned with banners. Soldiers in glittering plumed helmets and the army veterans known as Chelsea Pensioners, resplendent in their traditional red tunics. “It was like something out of a fairy tale,” said Bertram Leon, who was recently awarded a British Empire Medal for service to the St Lucian community. “You know, it was amazing, beautifully done — orchestrated, what you’d expect.” I watched the spectacle from a seat in the north part of the abbey, my view blocked by a large stone pillar. That’s partly why I couldn’t see the piper. But so what? It didn’t matter. It was enough to be part of the crowd. Watching the world leaders testify, I wished I had a scorecard with little photos to tell who was who. There were so many – who could keep track? Next came the royals, led by King Charles III in full military uniform, a sword at his hip. But behind the pomp and circumstance, this was about honoring the late Queen and her life in Britain and the Commonwealth. And it was the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who captured it better than any parade or procession. Welby reminded the congregation of the Queen’s speech during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic – when fearful Britons were stuck at home unable to see friends and family. Elizabeth, a symbol of constancy for 70 years, echoed the words of a WWII-era Vera Lynn song – and assured the nation that “We shall meet again”. Welby’s words reminded me of the night I heard that speech and I wondered what the future held. I was scared too — wasn’t everyone? So somehow this huge state funeral suddenly became very personal. Amidst all the pomp and pageantry, we were all called to think that night – about what the Queen meant to us in that awful, pandemic time. So whatever the words or the guards or the choirs, I can tell you one thing: At the end of the service, the congregation stood and sang “God Save the King” with such gusto that it almost felt like the walls of the monastery were shaking. If anything, the nation’s longtime leader was leaving center stage. I can’t say for sure, of course. But I think it will take some time for this country to remember that the first line of the national anthem is no longer “God save our gracious queen.” —Danica Kirka, The Associated Press RELATED: Victoria Parade, ceremony, as B.C. pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II RELATED: Celebrating the Queen today: Her life in pictures United Kingdom Royal Family
