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Queen Elizabeth II's funeral: Best historic photos

The service began at 11am

queen funeral
Gemma Strong
Online Digital News Director
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The country came to a standstill on Monday in honour of Her Majesty the Queen's state funeral.

MORE: The Queen beams in poignant final portrait released ahead of state funeral

Eleven days after she passed away, great throngs of people took to the streets of London around Westminster Abbey – the same place the Queen had married her beloved husband Prince Philip some 75 years ago.

WATCH: Prince William, Princess Kate,& Prince George & Princess Charlotte leave with the Queen's coffin

At 11am, the Queen arrived for the very last time at Westminster Abbey. She was carried by soldiers from the Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.

WATCH: Prince George and Princess Charlotte sing God Save the King for the first time at Queen's funeral

MORE: The Princess of Wales holds Charlotte's hand at the Queen's funeral

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King Charles III led his family in their grief

Her grieving family, led by son King Charles, processed silently behind her to the sounds of the choir. A handwritten note from Charles had been placed on her wreath. It read: "In loving and devoted memory, Charles R."

READ: King Charles' last words to the Queen revealed

MORE: World leaders and European royals pay their respects at Queen's funeral - all the photos

king charles anne funeral

King Charles was visibly emotional as she said goobye to his 'beloved mama'

The new King was visibly emotional throughout the ceremony, as was his wife, Queen Consort Camilla.

READ: The Queen's very specific request for her state funeral revealed

MORE: All the photos of Prince George and Princess Charlotte at Queen's funeral

They sat at the front of the Abbey on the front row, alongside his siblings, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Next to them were Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall and her husband Mike Tindall.

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The Queen's coffin is carried inside with the royal family walking behind

Princess Charlotte, seven, could be seen looking around from under the brim of her black hat while the mourners sang, The Lord's My Shepherd.

READ: Why Prince George wore navy and Princess Charlotte was in black at Queen's funeral

MORE: Prince William and Prince Harry's outfits for joint appearance leave fans asking questions

Prince George, meanwhile, was pictured reading the order of service during the Archbishop of Canterbury's sermon, while his younger sister quietly whispered something to her mother.

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Prince George and Princess Charlotte with their mother, Camilla and Sophie

George was later seen singing The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended as he stood between his parents. At one point, Kate could be seen comforting her son by placing a hand on his knee.

READ: Why the Queen was advised NOT to marry Prince Philip

MORE: Revealed: Where the royal family were seated at the Queen's funeral

The siblings attended the funeral to bid farewell to their beloved "Gan Gan", and were the youngest members of the royal family to follow the Queen's coffin through Westminster Abbey.

queen coffin

A handwritten note from Charles was placed on her coffin

As the funeral came to a close, there was a two-minute silence - one that echoed around the world - before Reveille was sounded by the trumpeters. The congregation then came together to sing, God Save the King.

READ: Princess Charlotte's major milestones at Queen's funeral

WATCH: Prince George and Princess Charlotte walk behind their great-grandmother's coffin

The sounds of a lone bagpipe filled the air immediately afterwards as the mourners sat in quiet contemplation.

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The Prince and Princess of Wales were sat on the front row

The family's grief and great sense of personal loss was evident throughout the service. They walked in solemn silence, remembering their beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother as they left the Abbey in procession.

READ: The Queen's close bond with her grandson Prince William

MORE: The Queen's life in pictures: Remembering the best moments from her 70-year reign

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Prince George looks on in quiet reflection

They departed in the same formation that they had entered, with the King and the Queen Consort at the front, followed by the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of York, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, and the Prince and Princess of Wales.

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George and Charlotte walked side-by-side with their parents

Prince George and Princess Charlotte walked with their parents in a side-by-side formation, followed by their uncle and aunt, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Ahead of the Queen's service, the late monarch had been escorted on a gun carriage to the Abbey in a poignant procession from Westminster Hall.

princess wales charlotte© Photo: Getty Images

Princess Kate with her two eldest children

Her son, King Charles III, walked on foot behind her coffin, joined by his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, as well as Prince Edward, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew.

One by one, her heartbroken family and friends had begun to gather at the Abbey ahead of the 11am service, including Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Lady Louise Windsor and her brother, James, Viscount Severn, and Lady Gabriella Windsor.

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The Wales family wait inside the Abbey

Duchess Meghan, Countess Sophie and Sarah Ferguson were also photographed arriving at Westminster.

The doors to the Abbey were opened at 8am to allow members of the 2,000-strong congregation to take their seats ahead of the service.

queen consort car arrival© Photo: Getty Images

The Queen Consort arriving ahead of the service

A short time later, the first mourners began to arrive and were seen solemnly making their way inside Westminster.

Among the VIP guests at the ceremony were US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden, who made their way inside Westminster at 10.10am having travelled over from America to pay their respects.

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Duchess Meghan at the entrance to Westminster

The Queen Consort's family were also in attendance; her son Tom Parker Bowles, daughter Laura Lopes, and their own children - Lola Parker Bowles, 14, Freddy Parker Bowles, 12, Eliza Lopes, also 14, and fraternal twins, Gus and Louis Lopes, 12.

Princess Kate's family arrived at around 9.20am with both Carole and Michael Middleton seen entering the Abbey.

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Sarah Ferguson was also among the guests

They were later followed by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte.

Outside, meanwhile, members of the public continued to gather in their droves.

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Mike Tindall places a comforting arm around James, Viscount Severn

The Queen's coffin was taken in a military procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey for the funeral at 11am.

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Princess Beatrice with her husband, Edoardo

Before the service, conducted by the Very Rev David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster, the tenor bell tolled every minute for 96 minutes, reflecting the years of the Queen's remarkable life.

The service itself began at 11am and lasted for one hour before a procession set off at 12.15pm to Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, arriving at 1pm.

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US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden

The state hearse and royal family then travelled to St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle via the Long Walk, after which a televised committal service took place in St George's Chapel.

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Crowds gathered for Her Majesty

As Her Majesty's coffin was drawn down to Windsor, some members in the crowd that had assembled applauded her as she passed.

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Sarah Ferguson arriving for the committal service

Guests began arriving at 15:23 pm for the committal service.

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As the procession entered the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle, away from the public, members of the royal family, including King Charles and Prince William joined.

the queen corgis

The Queen's love of animals was present during the ceremony, as the state hearse passed by her beloved horse Emma and two of her corgis, Sandy and Muick.

the queen coffin windsor

After the state hearse concluded its journey at the Horseshoe Cloister, the coffin was taken inside by the bearer party.

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The service was led by the Dean of Windsor, who started the ceremony by giving the Bidding.

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Queen Camilla's family arrive at Westminster

After the final hymn, the King placed the Queen's Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on the coffin, while the Lord Chamberlain broke his Wand of Office and placed it on the coffin.

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The Imperial Crown was also taken from the coffin and laid on the high altar.

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Princess Kate's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton

A private burial service will then take place at 7.30pm to allow members of the royal family to mourn in private and say their final goodbyes.

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Angela Kelly, the Queen's dressmaker and trusted confidante

The Queen's final resting place will be the King George VI memorial chapel, an annex to the main chapel where her mother and father were buried, along with the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret.

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The Queen with her beloved husband, Philip

Prince Philip's coffin will move from the royal vault to the memorial chapel to join his beloved wife, reunited at last.

MORE: The Queen's very specific request for her state funeral revealed

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