The world said goodbye to the Queen on Monday with one of the largest state funerals in history. Millions of TV viewers around the world watched a grieving nation pay its last respects to Queen Elizabeth II in London and Windsor. The royal family was unusually emotional, even the new King Charles continued to fight back tears. On the other hand, an Australian television team committed a faux pas by failing to recognize the current Prime Minister, Liz Truss…
When Liz Truss arrived at Westminster Abbey with her husband Hugh O’Leary on Monday, Channel Nine’s Peter Overton and Tracy Grimshaw were initially surprised at who she was. The duo suspected in the TV broadcast that Truss and her husband could be “minor royals” – that is, minor members of the royal family or local dignitaries. However, a few seconds later, the moderators were notified of their mistake and corrected themselves.
Tears at the Royals
The real royals were unusually emotional during the ceremony. While the Queen had always practiced stoic restraint as the head of the family, her eldest son fought and now Charles rains several times against the tears. The Queen’s granddaughter, Princess Beatrice, left the church in tears after the funeral service in Windsor, and Duchess Meghan, Prince Harry’s wife, also had tears on her face. Seven-year-old Princess Charlotte burst into tears after the memorial service at Westminster Abbey, but mother Kate, now Princess of Wales, was on hand to comfort the little one.
Sympathy was great on the street. United in mourning, dozens of people threw flowers at the hearse as the vehicle took the Queen from the British capital for the last time to her beloved residence at Windsor Castle. Also waiting there were the Queen’s beloved corgis, now cared for by her second eldest son, Prince Andrew, and her favorite horse.
“We will meet again”
The Archbishop of Canterbury also recalled the Queen’s acclaimed address to the nation during the coronavirus pandemic. Elizabeth II at the time encouraged her subjects, saying, “We will meet again.” At the end of the service, the signal “The Last Post” sounded. After two minutes of silence, the Queen’s personal bagpiper performed “Sleep, Dearie, Sleep.” Finally, the national anthem “God Save the King” was sung.
The state funeral was a huge challenge for the authorities: the police, secret services and counter-terrorist units coordinated what is probably the largest security operation the city has ever witnessed. Meanwhile, the country stood still – schools and universities and shops remained closed almost everywhere. The event also had an impact on many people’s travel plans. More than 100 flights have been canceled at London’s Heathrow airport to allow for silence during the ceremonies.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
