LONDON — The United Kingdom and the world bade goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II on Monday with a state funeralservice that drew presidents and kings, princes and prime ministers — and crowds in the streets of London and at Windsor Castle — to honor a king whose 70-year reign specified an age.
In a nation recognized for pomp and pageantry, the veryfirst state funeralservice because Winston Churchill’s was filled with phenomenon: Before the service, a bell tolled 96 times — assoonas a minute for each year of Elizabeth’s life. Then, 142 Royal Navy sailors utilized ropes to draw the weapon carriage bring her flag-draped casket to Westminster Abbey, where pallbearers bore it inside and about 2,000 individuals varying from world leaders to health care employees collected to grieve.
The features of state and monarchy wasplentiful: The casket was curtained with the Royal Standard and atop it sat the Imperial State Crown, gleaming with nearly 3,000 diamonds, and the sovereign’s orb and scepter.
But the individual was likewise present: The casket was followed into the church by generations of Elizabeth’s descendants, consistingof King Charles III, beneficiary to the throne Prince William and 9-year-old George, who is 2nd in line. On a wreath atop the casket, a handwritten note checkout, “In caring and dedicated memory,” and was signed Charles R — for Rex, or king.
“Here, where Queen Elizabeth was married and crowned, we collect from throughout the country, from the Commonwealth, and from the countries of the world, to mourn our loss, to keepinmind her long life of generous service, and in sure self-confidence to devote her to the grace of God our maker and redeemer,” the dean of the middleages abbey, David Hoyle, informed the mourners.
The service ended with 2 minutes of silence observed throughout the United Kingdom, after which the participants sang the nationwide anthem, now entitled “God Save the King.”
The day started early when the doors of Parliament’s 900-year-old Westminster Hall were closed to mourners after hundreds of thousands had submitted in front of her casket.
Monday was stated a public vacation in honor of Elizabeth, who passedaway Sept. 8 — and hundreds of thousands