On Wednesday, Queen Elizabeth II's coffin left Buckingham Palace in a procession to Westminster Hall for lying-in-state. It was a poignant sight as Buckingham Palace has been the Queen's home for 80 years, first as a daughter of the king, second as a reigning monarch.
She first resided in Buckingham Palace in December 1936, when her father, George VI, ascended the throne. She lived there until November 1947.Â
Following her marriage to Prince Philip on November 20, 1947, they moved to Clarence House, but on February 6, 1952, her father died, and she ascended the British throne as Elizabeth II, and the family of four, transferred to live in Buckingham Palace.Â
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| A moving scene. Queen left Buckingham Palace for good |
As the Queen's hearse began to move, and slowly made an exit out of the palace's gate. It was a final goodbye, a closed chapter of the story of the Queen's era as Buckingham Palace resident for 80 years.Â
As the gate clanked, and the hearse moved away from the palace, the chapter of an extraordinary reign also ended. It was a moving sight.
The procession to Westminster Hall
The Queen's hearse left Buckingham Palace at 2:22 in the afternoon. Her coffin was carried by a gun carriage of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, pulled by a team of horses bearing riders in ceremonial dress.
They passed down the Mall and unto the boulevard that cuts through the center of London. Thousands of mourners stood under the bright afternoon sun on each side of the road, silently watching, and then erupting into applause as the procession passed through.
The Queen's four children, King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward, walked behind the coffin followed by her grandsons, Prince William, Prince Harry, Peter Phillips, nephew - The 2nd Earl of Snowdon, David Armstrong-Jones, and cousin, Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester.
Prince Andrew and Prince Harry were not in military uniform because they were stripped of their military honors last year when they left public life, for different reasons. They were also forbidden to make a salute at the Queen's coffin.
However, on Friday, they are permitted to don their military uniform once more when they took part in the vigil at Westminster Hall, a rare exemption to pay tribute to Her Majesty.
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| The Prince of Wales and The Duke of Sussex |
It was a moving sight as the procession began to pass the Mall because just three months ago, this area was filled with thousands of royal fans, cheering her as she appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace at the Trooping the Colors Ceremony and Jubilee Pageant to mark her Platinum Jubilee.
On Wednesday, it was a heartbreaking sight, a conclusion of the Queen's 70 extraordinary years as a sovereign. Many fans shed tears as the slow-moving procession passed through. There, as the hot sun glistened, emotions and sorrow overflowed.
The coffin was draped in the Royal Standard, representing the Sovereign and the UK, with the Imperial State Crown resting on top.
The crown - placed on a purple cushion - features the St Edward's sapphire, Black Prince's Ruby and the Cullinan II diamond, cut from the largest diamond in the world. The coffin also bore a wreath of white roses and dahlias.
Up to 1,000 members of the armed forces took part in the procession, including the Household Cavalry - represented by the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals.
The procession moved along Horse Guards Parade and down Whitehall to arrive at Westminster Hall at 3:00 in the afternoon.
Eight young men from the Grenadier Guards were entrusted with the task of carrying the Queen's coffin into the Palace of Westminster.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to file past the coffin to pay their respects to the Queen over the next four days - with a huge policing operation in place.
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| Queen's coffin arrives at Westminster Hall |
Other members of the Royal Family traveled by car to Westminster Hall. Upon arrival, the Queen's coffin was placed on the hoisted platform in the center of Westminster Hall, followed by a short service conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury and Dean of Westminster.
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| King Charles III and Prince William |
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| Zara and Mike Tindall followed by Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank |
The Queen's body will remain at Westminster Hall until her state funeral on Monday. The public will be given a chance to pay their last respect to the Queen at Westminster Hall.
Members of the Royal Family who attended the service at Westminster Hall on Wednesday: Her four children and their spouses, her eight grandchildren, and the extended members of the House of Windsor.Â
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