To honor The Queen’s magnificent reign and Her Majesty’s incredible life of service, hundreds of thousands of mourners lined the streets of London this morning in advance of The Queen’s State Funeral and the related ceremonial events. It is indeed a time filled with immense grief for the royal family, having lost not just the longest reigning monarch but also the matriarch of their family. As the King, 73, led his family into Westminster Abbey this morning, he was clearly overcome with emotion, per The Sun. At 11 a.m., Charles accompanied his mother’s casket. He was spotted wiping away tears in a moving scene as everyone else in the family behind him got emotional too. In one of the most emotional moments of his life, the monarch was simply a grieving son.
Her Majesty’s coffin laid on the blue catafalque draped in the Royal Standard flag with the Imperial State Crown, orb, and scepter placed on top. The King was seen breaking down in grief, and his wife, the Queen Consort Camilla, stood by his side. Atop the coffin, flowers with a card from Charles that read “In loving and devoted memory” were also placed, per The Mirror.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate Middleton were sitting across from the King and Queen, while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were behind them. George and Charlotte, William’s two oldest children, arrived to say their final goodbyes to their great-grandmother. The children, the youngest mourners at the funeral joined the 2,000 other attendees in singing hymns.
Over 2,000 individuals, including heads of state, prime ministers, presidents, and European royals assembled at Westminster Abbey to honor the late monarch. From French President Emmanuel Macron to Japanese Emperor Naruhito to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, many important individuals have joined in to celebrate the life of the Queen. The King thanked people last night for their outpouring of affection following the demise of his mother. Since the unfortunate passing, he has traveled more than 2,000 miles to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to meet with large throngs of well-wishers. And during the course of the previous 11 days, he has attended at least 54 events, including a Friday quiet vigil at Westminster Hall with his three siblings at the monarch’s casket.
Charles expressed gratitude for all the love and support the family is receiving at a time of such poignant grief in the family. He wrote in a statement, “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. 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. As we all prepare to say our last farewell, I wanted simply to take this opportunity to say thank you to all those countless people who have been such a support and comfort to my Family and myself in this time of grief.”