The Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

On Monday 19th September the Nation said goodbye to our late Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II

After four days of lying in State in Westminster, attended by 250,000 people, and a magnificent State Funeral in London, the late Queen was buried at Windsor Castle in the George VI Memorial Chapel.

CASTLE Point’s MP, Rebecca Harris,  had the honour of walking in front of the Queen’s coffin during her magnificent funeral procession.

Rebecca Harris MP is a Senior Government Whip and her role also involves being a ceremonially appointed officer of the Royal Household.  Early in 2022 Ms Harris was appointed ‘Comptroller of her Majesty’s Household’ by then Prime Minister Boris Johnson and was reappointed by the new Prime Minister Liz Truss a few days before Her Majesty’s death.  She is the first woman to hold the office in its 623-year history.

Rebecca Harris MP walks in the procession

On the day of the funeral our MP had the duty of walking in front of the sailors pulling the state gun carriage of the Royal Navy carrying Her Majesty’s coffin for the procession from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey. After the funeral service they processed from The Abbey to Wellington Arch at Hyde Park corner transferring the coffin to the State Hearse.  There followed a journey to Windsor and a smaller procession taking her Majesty to her final resting place in the Royal vault of St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

Several billion people worldwide were expected to watch the funeral service and processions on television and the internet and it was predicted to be the most watched televised and online event ever, 28 million people were said to have watched in the UK alone.

Whitehall, Ms Harris is centre of the picture                             Approaching Wellington Arch

Along the quieter roads of Windsor                                            Finally approaching the Castle

Ms Harris said: “Her Majesty was the one bright and shining constant in all of our lives and hearts.

“Her life was an example to everyone. From the day she ascended to the throne, her selflessness, her dedication to duty and her compassion for all, never faltered.

“I do not believe anyone the world over, was more respected, more admired, and more loved than our Queen.

“Her passing is felt by every one of us.

“Although we as her subjects and millions across the Commonwealth and elsewhere will be united in grief, we also give thanks for her life, for her long service and that she passed away surrounded by her loving family and with the adoration of a grateful nation.”