The United Kingdom bid farewell to its queen with a solemn funeral and in front of 2,000 guests

Posted On: September 19, 2022

Elizabeth II lifetime service award marks sermon at Westminster Abbey

MADRID, Sept. 19. (EUROPA PRESS TELEVISION) –

Britain gave Queen Elizabeth II a final farewell on Monday with a state funeral which was attended by 2,000 guests and has brought together hundreds of representatives from some of the world’s main poles.

Strict protocol laid down before the death of Elizabeth II, who died on September 8 at Balmoral Castle (Scotland), had stipulated that the funeral should be held on the tenth day, and so it has.

Over the past four days, the seat of Parliament has hosted a burning chapel that has been passed by hundreds of thousands of people and which has ended this Monday, just hours before the start of the final funeral procession in the presence of the king, Carlos III, and members of the royal family. other.

The coffin had entered the monastery supported by members of the royal guard and, after him, the rest of the procession had done so. The heir to the crown, Prince William, has walked down the aisle with his eldest son, George, who is second in line to the throne.

The dean of Westminster, David Hoyle, had highlighted at the start of the mass a “grief” but also a “profound thank you” to Elizabeth II, at the venue which, he recalled, had seen the late king married and, in 1953, crowned queen.

In his opening remarks, he underlined the “long life of altruistic ministry” Elizabeth II, who completes seven decades on the throne this year. “With admiration, let us remember his sense of duty and lifelong dedication to his people,” he said.

Readings were conducted by the British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, and the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, while various religious representatives from across the UK have also participated, presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. .

In his sermon, Welby recalled the Queen’s famous speech on her twenty-first birthday, when she promised that she would dedicate her life to the service of the country and the entire Commonwealth. “It’s rare for promises to be kept well,” he said.

“People who render services of love are rare in all areas of life. Leaders who provide services of love are even rarer,” stressed the archbishop, who has placed Elizabeth II as a symbol of politics as well as faith. Not surprisingly, the English crown is also associated with the leadership of the Anglican church.

“All of us who have followed the queen’s example, inspiration and belief in God can tell her: ‘We will meet again,'” Welby froze.

TWO MINUTES OF SILENCE

The ceremony has been laden with other symbols of the queen’s life and hymns have been sung which have been heard at some of the most important momentous moments, such as her wedding to Prince Felipe – who died in 2021 – or her coronation.

The ceremony concludes with a two-minute silence that can be extended throughout the country. On foot, 2,000 guests paid their respects to the man who had seen 15 prime ministers pass Downing Street and who is considered a symbol of the monarchy globally.

The national anthem, renamed ‘God save the King’, and music played by the piper queen have become the culmination of the act followed by a new funeral procession, to Wellington Arch, from where the car will leave the remains of Elizabeth II for Windsor Castle. The body of the late queen will be buried in the chapel of San Jorge.

MORE THAN 500 INTERNATIONAL LEADERS

The abbey opens its doors early in the morning to allow some 2,000 guests to enter the interior of the temple, including half a thousand international dignitaries before the funeral begins, at 11:00 am (another hour in mainland Spain).

The event has brought together political leaders from around the world under one roof, including America’s Joe Biden, France’s Emmanuel Macron, as well as representatives from the royal house, including King Felipe and Queen Letizia.

Truss, as acting prime minister, has an important role during mass, but protocol also gives special treatment to all former heads of government, who have entered the temple together and in chronological order, depending on their respective mandates.

Representatives of Commonwealth countries who have the British monarchy as a reference and that, with the death of Elizabeth II, also lost their own head of state, have also been distinguished in some way.