Going Spare: can Prince Harry ever reconcile with the royals? | The ...

Prince Harry’s final round of TV interviews ahead of the release of his autobiography Spare tomorrow may have ended any hope of a future royal reconciliation as he “once again twisted the knife on his closest family members”, said the Daily Mail.

In pre-recorded interviews on ITV and CBS, which aired last night, along with another on Good Morning America (ABC) today, the Duke of Sussex tried to row back on claims his family is racist while still suggesting the institution needs to do more to address unconscious bias within palace walls. At the same time he doubled down on previous allegations, accusing his brother and sister-in-law of “stereotyping” his wife, Meghan, because of portrayals in the British media, and stating that “certain members” of his family had been cosying up to journalists, or as he put it “getting in bed with the devil”.

Since copies of his tell-all memoir were accidentally leaked early by a Spanish retailer last week, Harry has faced a huge backlash from the British press and public, with polling showing that he and his wife are now the least popular senior royals apart from Prince Andrew, according to the Financial Times.

What did the papers say?

“Harry had time to decide his message, and again it was his family who took the direct hit,” wrote Sky News’s royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills.

Speaking to ITV’s Tom Bradby, Harry said his family had “shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile up until this point. And I’m not sure how honesty is burning bridges. You know, silence only allows the abuser to abuse.”

Mills said: “For all his efforts to say how much he still loves them, it felt like another huge betrayal as he compared them to abusers.”

Prince Harry insisted he is “100%” confident he can reconcile with his family and multiple news outlets have reported that King Charles is also keen to mend relations with his youngest son. The King reportedly wants to extend an invitation to the Sussexes to his coronation, which will take place in May.

“Charles wants to project an image of unity for the royal family and would like a genuine rapprochement with his youngest son,” reported Vanity Fair. However, the magazine cited “sources close to the King” who have also said that Charles “will not tolerate Harry attacking his wife and that Harry may have crossed a line by speaking about Camilla”, whom he accused of planting stories in the press and being a “villain” who “needed to rehabilitate her image”.

What next?

A source told The Daily Telegraph that King Charles “has never given up hope of reconciling with the Duke of Sussex”. The paper said that “despite all of the recent revelations and allegations fired from California, Charles believes he will one day be reunited with his son and they will move forward”.

Ten Things You Need to Know Today: 11 January 2023 | The Week ...

‘Murky’ Johnson may be investigated

There are calls for a Commons investigation into Boris Johnson after it was reported that he is living in a Tory donor’s £20m home on one of UK’s most expensive streets. The Mirror reported that the “shameless Johnson” could face a complaint to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over whether he has fully declared the true value of the gift. Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said: “The disgraced former PM is up to his old tricks once again and has questions to answer over whether he has properly declared his murky financial affairs.”

There are more than 4.7 million banknotes in the UK with the ...

London CNN Business —

Billions of banknotes and coins around the world featuring the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II are set to be replaced following her death.

For almost 70 years, the Queen’s image has appeared on the United Kingdom’s coins, with different portraits of her profile as she aged. She was featured on the nation’s banknotes for more than 60 years, the first British monarch to do so. Her portrait also features on the currency of several countries that were formerly under British rule.

Since 1953, one year after the Queen took the throne, UK coins have borne five different versions of her portrait. She appeared on the country’s banknotes starting in 1960.

But now, the Bank of England, which prints the country’s banknotes, and the Royal Mint, which makes its coins, face the sizeable task of withdrawing that currency from circulation and replacing it with money bearing the portrait of King Charles III.

There are more than 4.7 million banknotes in circulation in the UK, worth a collective £82 billion ($95 billion), according to the central bank. There are also around 29 billion coins circulating, the Royal Mint said.

The new money is likely to introduced gradually, and coexist as legal tender with the old notes and coins for a period of time.

A similar phase-in happened in 2017, when the Royal Mint began issuing a new 12-sided £1 coin. The new coin circulated at the same time as the old round-shaped £1 for six months before the latter lost its status as legal tender.

But it’s not just cash that will require a makeover. The UK faces a mammoth operation to change the royal insignia on thousands of post boxes and newly issued passports.

No changes yet

The Royal Mint said in a statement on its website that coins bearing the image of the Queen “remain legal tender and in circulation,” and that their production would continue as usual during “this period of respectful mourning.”

The Bank of England said that the Queen’s “iconic portraits [were] synonymous” with some of its most important work.

“Current banknotes featuring the image of Her Majesty The Queen will continue to be legal tender,” it said in a Thursday statement. (At one point Friday, so many people were attempting to access the Royal Mint’s website that there was a virtual queue to get in.)

The central bank said it would lay out its plans to replace existing banknotes once the period of mourning ends. The Royal Mint also said that it would make an announcement in due course.

The Queen’s image is also emblazoned on some banknotes and coins across the Commonwealth — an association of 54 countries, almost all of which were formerly colonized by the UK.

In Canada, where the Queen remains the head of state, her image features on plastic $20 banknotes.

“The current polymer $20 bank note is intended to circulate for years to come. There is no legislative requirement to change the design within a prescribed period when the Monarch changes,” Amélie Ferron-Craig, a spokesperson for the Bank of Canada, said in a statement to CNN Business.

Canada’s finance minster is responsible for approving the design of new banknotes, Ferron-Craig added, and issuing those notes usually takes a few years.

In Australia, too, the Queen’s portrait features on the $5 note. The Reserve Bank of Australia said on Friday that there would be no “immediate change” to its banknotes.

It added that its $5 notes would “not be withdrawn” and would likely stay in circulation for years.

The Orders of Service for Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral and ...

London CNN —

The funeral service for Queen Elizabeth II will be conducted by the Dean of Westminster at Westminster Abbey, starting at 11 a.m. (6 a.m. ET), with the Archbishop of Canterbury giving the Sermon and Commendation.

The Queen’s great-grandchildren Prince George and Princess Charlotte will form part of the royal family procession behind the Queen’s coffin as it is carried into Westminster Abbey

During the service, the choir will sing a specially commissioned piece, “Like as the hart,” a setting of Psalm 42 by the Master of the King’s Music, Judith Weir.

Other music selected for the state funeral include the hymn “The Lord’s my shepherd,” which was also sung at the then-Princess Elizabeth’s wedding to Prince Philip in 1947, and the anthem “O Taste and see how gracious the Lord is,” which was composed for the Queen’s coronation in 1953 by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

The nation will observe a two-minute silence towards the end of the hour-long service after which the Sovereign’s Piper of the Royal Regiment of Scotland will play the traditional lament, “Sleep, dearie, sleep.”

Full order of service

Music before the service

Matthew Jorysz, Assistant Organist, Westminster Abbey, plays:

Fantasia of four parts, Orlando Gibbons (1583–1625)

Romanza (Symphony no 5 in D), Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958) arranged by Robert Quinney (b 1976)

Reliqui domum meum Peter Maxwell Davies (1934–2016)

Meditation on ‘Brother James’s Air’ Harold Darke (1888–1976)

Prelude on ‘Ecce jam noctis’ Op 157 no 3 Healey Willan (1880–1968)

Psalm Prelude Set 1 no 2, Herbert Howells (1892–1983)

In the Country Op 194 no 2, Charles Villiers Stanford (1852–1924)

Fantasy on ‘O Paradise,’ Malcolm Williamson (1931–2003)

Elegy Op 58 Edward Elgar (1857–1934) arranged by Matthew Jorysz (b 1992)

The Sub-Organist plays:

Andante espressivo (Sonata in G Op 28), Edward Elgar Sospiri Op 70, Edward Elgar, arranged by Peter Holder (b 1990)

The Choir of Westminster Abbey sings the Sentences, during which the Procession of the Coffin moves through the Abbey

I AM the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

John 11: 25–26

I KNOW that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another. Job 19: 25–27

HE brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

1 Timothy 6: 7; Job 1: 21

William Croft (1678–1727)

The Choir of Westminster Abbey and the Choir of the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, sing:

Thou knowsest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts

THOU knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts; shut not thy merciful ears unto our prayer; but spare us, Lord most holy, O God most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, thou most worthy Judge eternal, suffer us not, at our last hour, for any pains of death, to fall from thee. Amen.

Henry Purcell (1659-95)

I HEARD a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, From henceforth blessed are the dead which die in the Lord: even so saith the Spirit; for they rest from their labours. Amen.

William Croft

The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle MBE, Dean of Westminster, gives the Bidding

IN grief and also in profound thanksgiving we come to this House of God, to a place of prayer, to a church where remembrance and hope are sacred duties. Here, where Queen Elizabeth was married and crowned, we gather from across the nation, from the Commonwealth, and from the nations of the world, to mourn our loss, to remember her long life of selfless service, and in sure confidence to commit her to the mercy of God our maker and redeemer.

With gratitude we remember her unswerving commitment to a high calling over so many years as Queen and Head of the Commonwealth. With admiration we recall her life-long sense of duty and dedication to her people. With thanksgiving we praise God for her constant example of Christian faith and devotion. With affection we recall her love for her family and her commitment to the causes she held dear.

Now, in silence, let us in our hearts and minds recall our many reasons for thanksgiving, pray for all members of her family, and commend Queen Elizabeth to the care and keeping of almighty God.

A brief silence is kept.

O MERCIFUL God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life; in whom whosoever believeth shall live, though he die; and whosoever liveth, and believeth in him, shall not die eternally; who hast taught us, by his holy Apostle Saint Paul, not to be sorry, as men without hope, for them that sleep in him: We meekly beseech thee, O Father, to raise us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness; that, when we shall depart this life, we may rest in him, as our hope is this our sister doth; and that, at the general Resurrection in the last day, we may be found acceptable in thy sight; and receive that blessing, which thy well-beloved Son shall then pronounce to all that love and fear thee, saying, Come, ye blessed children of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. Grant this, we beseech thee, O merciful Father, through Jesus Christ, our mediator and redeemer. Amen.

Hymn: The Day Thou Gavest, Lord Is Ended

THE day thou gavest, Lord, is ended

the darkness falls at thy behest,

to thee our morning hymns ascended,

thy praise shall sanctify our rest.

We thank thee that thy Church unsleeping,

while earth rolls onward into light,

through all the world her watch is keeping,

and rests not now by day or night.

As o’er each continent and island

the dawn leads on another day,

the voice of prayer is never silent,

nor dies the strain of praise away,

The sun that bids us rest is waking

our brethren ‘neath the western sky,

and hour by hour fresh lips are making

thy wondrous doings heard on high.

So be it, Lord; thy throne shall never,

like earth’s proud empires, pass away;

thy kingdom stands, and grows for ever,

till all thy creatures own thy sway.

Tune: St Clement

The Right Honourable the Baroness Scotland of Asthal KC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, reads the First Lesson.

NOW is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 Corinthians 15: 20–26, 53–end

The choir sings The Psalm

LIKE as the hart desireth the water-brooks : so longeth my soul after thee, O God.

My soul is athirst for God, yea, even for the living God :

when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?

My tears have been my meat day and night : while they daily say unto me, Where is now thy God?

Now when I think thereupon, I pour out my heart by myself : for I went with the multitude, and brought them forth into the house of God;

In the voice of praise and thanksgiving : among such as keep holy-day.

Why art thou so full of heaviness, O my soul : and why art thou so disquieted within me?

Put thy trust in God : for I will yet give him thanks for the help of his countenance.

Words: Psalm 42: 1–7

Music :Judith Weir CBE, Master of the Queen’s Music (b 1954)

composed for this Service

The Right Honourable Elizabeth Truss MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, reads the Second Lesson

LET not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.

Thanks be to God.

John 14: 1–9a

Hymn: The Lord’s my shepherd

THE Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;

he makes me down to lie

in pastures green; he leadeth me

the quiet waters by.

My soul he doth restore again,

and me to walk doth make

within the paths of righteousness,

e’en for his own name’s sake.

Choir only: Yea, though I walk through death’s dark vale,

yet will I fear none ill;

for thou art with me, and thy rod

and staff me comfort still.

My table thou hast furnishèd

in presence of my foes;

my head thou dost with oil anoint,

and my cup overflows.

Goodness and mercy all my life

shall surely follow me;

and in God’s house for evermore

my dwelling place shall be.

Words: Psalm 23 in Scottish Psalter 1650

Tune: Crimond, attributed to Jessie Seymour Irvine (1836–87)

Harmony by David Grant (1833–93)

Descant by William Baird Ross (1871–1950)

The Sermon

The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan

The choir sings the anthem: My soul, there is a country

My soul, there is a country,

Far beyond the stars,

Where stands a wingèd sentry

All skilful in the wars:

There above noise, and danger,

Sweet Peace sits crowned with smiles,

And One born in a manger

Commands the beauteous files.

He is thy gracious friend,

And (O my soul, awake!)

Did in pure love descend,

To die here for thy sake.

If thou canst get but thither,

There grows the flower of Peace,

The Rose that cannot wither,

Thy fortress, and thy ease.

Leave then thy foolish ranges,

For none can thee secure,

But One who never changes,

Thy God, thy Life, thy Cure.

Words: From Songs of Farewell Henry Vaughan (1621–95)

Music: Hubert Parry (1848–1918)

The Prayers

The Reverend Mark Birch, Minor Canon and Precentor, says:

In confidence and trust, let us pray to the Father.

The Reverend Dr Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, says:

Let us give thanks to God for Queen Elizabeth’s long life and reign, recalling with gratitude her gifts of wisdom, diligence, and service.

GOD, from whom cometh everything that is upright and true: accept our thanks for the gifts of heart and mind that thou didst bestow upon thy daughter Elizabeth, and which she showed forth among us in her words and deeds; and grant that we may have grace to live our lives in accordance with thy will, to seek the good of others, and to remain faithful servants unto our lives’ end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Ms Shermara Fletcher, Principal Officer for Pentecostal and Charismatic Relations, Churches Together in England, says:

Confident in God’s love and compassion, let us pray for all those whose hearts are heavy with grief and sorrow.

Almighty God, Father of all mercies and giver of all comfort: deal graciously, we pray thee, with those who mourn, that casting every care on thee, they may know the consolation of thy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, Bishop of London and Dean of His Majesty’s Chapels Royal, says:

Let us pray for His Majesty The King and all the Royal Family; that they may know the sustaining power of God’s love and the prayerful fellowship of God’s people.

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless our most gracious Sovereign Lord King Charles, Camilla The Queen Consort, William Prince of Wales, and all the Royal Family: endue them with thy Holy Spirit, enrich them with thy heavenly grace; prosper them with all happiness; and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Reverend Canon Helen Cameron, Moderator of the Free Churches Group, says:

In recognition of Queen Elizabeth’s service to this United Kingdom, let us rejoice in her unstinting devotion to duty, her compassion for her subjects, and her counsel to her ministers; and we pray for the continued health and prosperity of this Nation.

Almighty God, whose will it is that all thy children should serve thee in serving one another: look with love, we pray thee, on this Nation. Grant to its citizens grace to work together with honest and faithful hearts, each caring for the good of all; that, seeking first thy kingdom and its righteousness, they may possess all things needful for their daily sustenance and the common good; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, says:

Let us give thanks for Queen Elizabeth’s commitment to the Commonwealth throughout her reign, for her service and dedication to its peoples, and for the rich bonds of unity and mutual support she sustained.

Almighty and everlasting God, hear our prayer for the Commonwealth, and grant it the guidance of thy wisdom. Inspire those in authority, that they may promote justice and the common good; give to all its citizens the spirit of mutual honour and respect; and grant to us all grace to strive for the establishment of righteousness and peace; for the honour of thy name. Amen.

The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, Primate of England and Metropolitan, says:

We give thanks to God for Queen Elizabeth’s loyalty to the faith she inherited through her baptism and confirmation, and affirmed at her coronation; for her unswerving devotion to the Gospel; and for her steadfast service as Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

Lord, we beseech thee to keep thy household the Church in continual godliness; that through thy protection she may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve thee in all good works, to the glory of thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Precentor says:

Let us pray that we may be given grace to live as those who believe in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection to eternal life.

Bring us, O Lord God, at our last awakening into the house and gate of heaven, to enter into that gate and dwell in that house, where there shall be no darkness nor dazzling, but one equal light; no noise nor silence, but one equal music; no fears nor hopes, but one equal possession; no ends nor beginnings, but one equal eternity; in the habitation of thy glory and dominion, world without end. Amen.

John Donne (1572-1631)

The choir sings: O taste and see

O Taste and see how gracious the Lord is:

blest is the man that trusteth in him.

Words: Psalm 34: 8

Music Ralph Vaughan Williams, composed for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, 1953

The Precentor concludes:

In confidence and hope, let us pray to the Father in the words our Saviour taught us,

All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The choir sings the Anthem:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Alleluia! Amen.

Words: Romans 8: 35a, 38b-end

Music: Sir James MacMillan CBE (b 1959)

composed for this Service

The Dean pronounces the Blessing:

God grant to the living grace; to the departed rest; to the Church, The King, the Commonwealth, and all people, peace and concord, and to us sinners, life everlasting; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Reveille

The Last Post

The National Anthem

GOD save our gracious King,

long live our noble King,

God save The King.

Send him victorious,

happy and glorious,

long to reign over us:

God save The King.

Thy choicest gifts in store

on him be pleased to pour,

long may he reign.

May he defend our laws,

and ever give us cause

to sing with heart and voice:

God save The King!

Arranged by Gordon Jacob (1895–1984)

The Queen’s Piper, Warrant Officer Class 1 (Pipe Major) Paul Burns, plays:

Sleep, dearie, sleep

(traditional)

The Coffin and Processions leave the church.

The Sub-Organist plays:

Fantasia in C minor BWV 562

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)

Following the funeral, the Queen’s coffin will travel in procession through central London to Wellington Arch, where it will be placed in the state hearse and depart for Windsor, where a committal service will take place at St. George’s Chapel at 4 p.m. (11 a.m. ET).

The second service of the day will be a more intimate occasion, conducted by the Dean of Windsor, who will deliver the Bidding. Prayers will be said by the Rector of Sandringham, the Minister of Crathie Kirk, where the family worship when they are in residence at Balmoral, and the Chaplain of the Royal Chapel of All Saints in Windsor Great Park.

The royal family will gather along with a congregation made up of members of the Royal Household, past and present, as well as personal staff who have worked on the private estates.

Some of the musical selections for the committal service were composed by William Henry Harris, a former organist of St. George’s between 1933 and 1961. It is thought that the young princess was taught to play piano by Harris, according to the palace.

The service will also feature several nods to the the Queen’s family, with the choir singing “The Russian Contakion of the Departed,” which was also sung during Prince Philip’s funeral at St. George’s last April. Meanwhile, the Dean will read Revelation 21, verses 1-7, which were read at the funerals of the Queen’s grandparents King George V and Queen Mary in 1936 and 1953. They were also read at the Queen’s father’s funeral in 1952.

As the committal service draws to a close, the Queen’s coffin will be lowered into the Royal Vault, set beneath St. Georges, as the Dean reads Psalm 103, which concludes with the words, “Go forth upon thy journey from this world, O Christian soul.”

The Garter King of Arms will then proclaim the Queen’s styles and titles before her piper plays for her one last time.

Order of service for committal

Music before service

Before the service, the organ will be played by Miriam Reveley, the Organ Scholar. Afterwards, Luke Bond, Assistant Director of Music, plays:

Schmücke dich, O liebe Seele (BWV 654), Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)

OTraurigkeit, O Herzeleid, Dame Ethel Smyth (1858–1944)

Master Tallis’s Testament, Herbert Howells (1892–1983)

Psalm Prelude Set 1, No. 1, Herbert Howells (1892–1983)

Psalm Prelude Set 1, No. 2, Herbert Howells (1892–1983)

Melody (Three Pieces), Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875–1912)

Andante Sostenuto (Symphonie Gothique, Op. 70), Charles-Marie Widor (1844–1937)

The Tree of Peace, Judith Weir (b. 1954)

Nimrod (Variations On An Original Theme, Op.36), Edward Elgar (1857–1934) arranged by William H. Harris

Prelude, William H. Harris (1883–1973)

Sheep May Safely Graze (BWV 208), Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) arranged by Stainton de B.Taylor

Rhosymedre, Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)

During the Service the Choir of St. George’s Chapel will be conducted by James Vivian, Director of Music and the organ will be played by Luke Bond, Assistant Director of Music.

The Service is led by The Right Reverend David Conner, KCVO, Dean of Windsor. The Blessing will be pronounced by The Most Reverend and The Right Honourable Justin Welby, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan.

As the Procession of the Coffin enters St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, the Choir sings Psalm 121.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills: from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh even from the Lord: who hath made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: and he that keepeth thee will not sleep.

Behold, he that keepeth Israel: shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord himself is thy keeper: the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand;

So that the sun shall not burn thee by day: neither the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.

The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in: from this time forth for evermore.

Glory be to the Father: and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen

Muisc: Henry Walford Davies (1869-1941)

All sit as the Choir sings The Russian Contakion of the Departed.

Give rest, O Christ, to thy servant with thy Saints:

where sorrow and pain are no more; neither sighing but life everlasting.

Thou only art immortal, the Creator and Maker of man:

And we are mortal, formed of the earth, and unto earth shall we return:

For so thou didst ordain, when thou createdst me, saying,

Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

All we go down to the dust; and, weeping o’er the grave we make our song:

Alleluya, alleluya, alleluya.

Give rest, O Christ, to thy servant with thy Saints:

Where sorrow and pain are no more; neither sighing but life everlasting.

Words: Translated William J. Birkbeck (1869–1916)

Music: Kiev Melody edited by Walter Parratt, KCVO (1841–1924)

The Dean of Windsor then gives the Bidding.

We have come together to commit into the hands of God the soul of his servant Queen Elizabeth. Here, in St George’s Chapel, where she so often worshipped, we are bound to call to mind someone whose uncomplicated yet profound Christian Faith bore so much fruit. Fruit, in a life of unstinting service to the Nation, the Commonwealth and the wider world, but also (and especially to be remembered in this place) in kindness,concern and reassuring care for her family and friends and neighbours. In the midst of our rapidly changing and frequently troubled world, her calm and dignified presence has given us confidence to face the future, as she did, with courage and with hope. As, with grateful hearts, we reflect on these and all the many other ways in which her long life has been a blessing to us, we pray that God will give us grace to honour her memory by following her example, and that, with our sister Elizabeth, at the last, we shall know the joys of life eternal.

All remain standing for the Hymn:

All my hope on God is founded;

He doth still my trust renew.

Me through change and chance he guideth,

Only good and only true.

God unknown,

He alone

Calls my heart to be his own.

God’s great goodness aye endureth,

Deep his wisdom, passing thought:

Splendour, light and life attend him,

Beauty springeth out of naught.

Evermore

From his store

New-born worlds rise and adore.

Daily doth th’Almighty giver

Bounteous gifts on us bestow;

His desire our soul delighteth,

Pleasure leads us where we go.

Love doth stand

At his hand;

Joy doth wait on his command.

Still from man to God eternal

Sacrifice of praise be done,

High above all praises praising

For the gift of Christ his Son.

Christ doth call

One and all:

Ye who follow shall not fall.

Words: Robert Bridges, OM (1844-1930) based on the German of Joachim Neander (1650-80)

Music: ‘MICHAEL’ Herbert Howells, CH, CBE (1892-1983)

The Dean of Windsor gives The Reading.

I SAW a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things;and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Revelation 21.1–7

The Rector of Sandringham, the Minister of Crathie Kirk and the Chaplain of the Royal Chapel, Windsor Great Park read the Prayers.

Remember, O Lord, thy servant Elizabeth who has gone before us with the sign of faith, and now rests in sleep. According to thy promises, grant unto her, and

to all who repose in Christ, refreshment, light and peace; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Merciful Father and Lord of all life, we praise thee that thou hast made us in thine image and that we reflect thy truth and light.We give special thanks for the life of thy daughter Elizabeth, for the mercy she received from thee, and for the example that through her life of service, love and faith, she has set before our eyes. Above all, we rejoice at thy gracious promise to all thy servants, living and departed, that we shall rise again at the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ.We pray that, in due time, we may share with our sister that clearer vision when we shall see thy face in the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Father of all, we pray to thee for those whom we love, but see no longer. Grant them peace; let light perpetual shine upon them; and, in thy loving wisdom and almighty power, work in them the good purposes of thy perfect will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Lord, support us all the day long of this troublous life, until the shades lengthen and the evening comes, the busy world is hushed, the fever of life is over and our work is done; then Lord, in thy mercy, grant us safe lodging,a holy rest, and peace at the last; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord God Almighty, King of creation, bless our King and all Members of the Royal Family. May godliness be their guidance, may sanctity be their strength, may peace on earth be the fruit of their labours, and their joy in heaven thine eternal gift; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God save our gracious Sovereign and all the Companions, living and departed, of the Most Honourable and Noble Order of the Garter. Amen.

All say together The Lord’s Prayer.

Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done; In earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

The Choir sings the Motet.

Bring us, O Lord God, at our last awakening

into the house and gate of heaven,

to enter into that gate and dwell in that house,

where there shall be no darkness nor dazzling,

but one equal light;

no noise nor silence, but one equal music;

no fears nor hopes, but one equal possession;

no ends nor beginnings, but one equal eternity;

in the habitation of thy glory and dominion,

world without end. Amen.

Words: John Donne (1572–1631)

Music: William Henry Harris, KCVO (1883–1973)

All stand for the presentation of the Instruments of State, to be received by the Dean of Windsor, from the Queen’s Bargemaster and a Serjeant of Arms, who places them on the High Altar.

All stand for the Hymn.

Christ is made the sure foundation,

And the precious corner-stone,

Who, the two walls underlying,

Bound in each, binds both in one,

Holy Sion’s help for ever,

And her confidence alone.

To this temple, where we call thee,

Come, O Lord of hosts, today

With thy wonted loving-kindness,

Hear thy people as they pray;

And thy fullest benediction

Shed within its walls for ay.

Here vouchsafe to all thy servants

Gifts of grace by prayer to gain;

Here to have and hold for ever,

Those good things their prayers obtain,

And hereafter, in thy glory,

With thy blessèd ones to reign.

Laud and honour to the Father,

Laud and honour to the Son,

Laud and honour to the Spirit,

Ever Three and ever One,

One in love, and One in splendour,

While unending ages run. Amen.

Words: Latin 7th century

Music: ‘WESTMINSTER ABBEY’ Adapted from the Alleluyas in Purcell’s ‘0 God,Thou art my God’ for BELVILLE in The Psalmist 1843

Translated: John M.Neale (1818-66)

The Queen’s Company Camp Colour is placed on the Coffin by The King having received it from the Regimental Lieutenant Colonel Grenadier Guards.

The Lord Chamberlain breaks his Wand which is placed upon the Coffin.

All remain standing for The Committal. As the Coffin is lowered, the Dean of Windsor says the Psalm.

Like as a father pitieth his own children: even so is the Lord merciful unto them that fear him. For he knoweth whereof we are made: he remembereth that we are but dust. The days of man are but as grass: for he flourisheth as a flower of the field. For as soon as the wind goeth over it, it is gone: and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the merciful goodness of the Lord endureth for ever and ever upon them that fear him: and his righteousness upon children’s children.

Go forth upon thy journey from this world, O Christian soul; In the name of God the Father Almighty who created thee; In the name of Jesus Christ who suffered for thee; In the name of the Holy Spirit who strengtheneth thee. In communion with the blessèd saints, and aided by Angels and Archangels, and all the armies of the heavenly host, may thy portion this day be in peace, and thy dwelling in the heavenly Jerusalem. Amen.

Psalm: 103. 13–17

The Garter King of Arms says the Styles and Titles of Queen Elizabeth II.

Thus it hath pleased Almighty God to take out of this transitory life unto His Divine Mercy the late Most High, Most Mighty, and Most Excellent Monarch, Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, and Sovereign of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

The Queen’s Piper plays a lament from the North Quire Aisle. A Salute to the Royal Fendersmith by Pipe Major James M. Banks (b. 1946)

Let us humbly beseech Almighty God to bless with long life, health and honour, and all worldly happiness the Most High, Most Mighty and Most Excellent Monarch, our Sovereign Lord, now, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of His other Realms and Territories King, Head of the Commonwealth,Defender of the Faith,and Sovereign of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. GOD SAVE THE KING.

The Archbishop of Canterbury says the Blessing.

Go forth into the world in peace; Be of good courage, hold fast that which is good, render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted, support the weak, help the afflicted, honour all people, love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

All remain standing for the National Anthem.

God save our gracious King,

Long live our noble King,

God save The King!

Send him victorious,

Happy and glorious,

Long to reign over us;

God save The King!

All remain standing for the Voluntary.

Prelude and Fugue in C minor (BWV 546)

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)

Lauren Said-Moorhouse Max Foster
Lauren Said-Moorhouse
Max Foster

A timeline of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's legal action against ...

In a statement made to the press after the ruling, Markle described the court’s decision as “precedent setting”. But, she added, “what matters most is that we are now collectively brave enough to reshape a tabloid industry that conditions people to be cruel, and profits from the lies and pain that they create”.

Associated Newspapers appealed the High Court’s decision, arguing that Markle had written the letter with the knowledge that it could be leaked and pushed for the case to go to trial. However, the appeal was dismissed, with judges ruling that the Duchess of Sussex had a “reasonable expectation of privacy” in regards to the contents of the letter.

In 2021, a High Court judge issued a ruling in favour of Markle, saying the Mail on Sunday and Mail Online had violated the Duchess of Sussex’s privacy by publishing excerpts of the private letter. The judge said Markle had a “reasonable expectation that the contents of the letter would remain private”.

Back in 2019, Markle sued Associated Newspapers over five articles published in 2019 that reproduced parts of a handwritten letter she had sent to her father, Thomas Markle, in August 2018.

The number of lawsuits the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have launched against the UK press now total five in the past three years. Here’s what you need to know about each of them.

The news of Prince Harry’s claim against Associated Newspapers comes weeks after the closure of Meghan Markle’s three-year battle against the same publisher for printing a “personal and private” letter she sent to her father three months after her wedding.

Reports suggest his claim related to a Mail on Sunday article published on 20 February with the headline: “Revealed: How Harry tried to keep his legal fight over bodyguards secret.” The story referenced a separate legal battle the prince is having with the Home Office over his family’s private police protection.

Court documents show the Duke of Sussex launched a libel complaint against Associated Newspapers Limited on Wednesday afternoon.

The long-standing battle between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the British media ratcheted up this week, with Prince Harry now taking on the publisher of the Daily Mail, the Mail on Sunday and Mail Online.

The Duchess of Sussex was awarded a nominal sum of £1, but the publisher also agreed to pay a “confidential sum in damages for copyright infringement” and a “substantial part of Meghan’s legal costs”, said The Guardian.

Prince Harry vs. News Group Newspapers and Reach

The same week in 2019 that Markle began legal action against Associated Newspapers, the Duke of Sussex launched a legal action against the owners of The Sun, the defunct News of the World and the Daily Mirror.

The Duke of Sussex’s claim related to alleged phone-hacking dating back to between January 1996 and December 2010, with Prince Harry claiming damages of more than £200,000, according to The Guardian.

Court papers said the illegal interception of Prince Harry’s voicemail messages by journalists “affected his relationships with friends and family” and impacted his relationship with Chelsy Davy, which ended in 2010.

In 2021, journalists at Newsweek obtained a court filing by lawyers for News Group Newspapers, the Rupert Murdoch-owned publisher of The Sun and formerly News of the World, which claimed that Prince Harry was “too late to sue” over alleged phone-hacking.

“These [stories] were first published over 6 years prior to the issue of these proceedings and this claim is therefore statute-barred and it is denied that [Prince Harry] is entitled to any relief in relation to it,” the document read.

A spokesperson for News Group Newspapers refused to comment on what it described as “historical allegations… many of which have been firmly rejected in proceedings over a number of years”. Reach, the owner of the Daily Mirror, has not commented on the allegations.

The Guardian expects this legal dispute to come to court this year, describing it as “another case that would pit one half of the Sussexes against powerful players in the tabloid press”.

Prince Harry vs. the BBC

Prince Harry complained to the BBC over the corporation’s decision to broadcast and publish online an image from a neo-Nazi social media site that called him a “race traitor” and depicted the royal with a gun pointed at his head.

A spokesperson for Prince Harry told The Guardian in September 2019 that the image, first shared in August 2018, had “caused his family great distress specifically while his wife was nearly five months pregnant”.

The BBC internally and the broadcasting watchdog Ofcom rejected the complaint, ruling that the image’s use was clearly in the public interest. But the BBC did apologise for failing to warn the Duke of Sussex ahead of broadcasting and publishing the image.

Prince Harry vs. Associated Newspapers

In 2020, Prince Harry sued Associated Newspapers for libel over two “almost identical” articles published in the Mail on Sunday and on Mail Online which claimed he had “turned his back” on the Royal Marines after stepping away from frontline royal duties earlier that year.

The articles, published in October 2020, claimed he had “not been in touch by phone, letter nor email since his last appearance as an honorary Marine” in March, said the BBC.

A remote hearing at the High Court in London on 1 February 2021 accepted the claims were “false”. The Duke of Sussex accepted an apology and “substantial damages” from the publisher. Jenny Afia, his lawyer, said he would donate the money to his Invictus Games Foundation for wounded warriors.

“The baseless, false and defamatory stories published in the Mail on Sunday and on the website Mail Online constituted not only a personal attack upon the Duke’s character but also wrongly brought into question his service to this country,” said Afia.

Duke and Duchess of Sussex vs. the BBC

In June 2021, the law firm Schillings issued a legal letter to some news broadcasters and publishers on behalf of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, accusing the BBC of “false and defamatory” reporting.

The accusation related to a June 2021 article by the BBC’s royal correspondent Jonny Dymond, which claimed that the couple had not asked the Queen about naming their daughter Lilibet.

Dymond quoted an unnamed Buckingham Palace source who “disputed reports in the wake of the announcement of the name that Prince Harry and Meghan had spoken to the Queen before the birth”.

The letter said the BBC report was “false and defamatory and should not be repeated”.

Queen Elizabeth II uses Platinum Jubilee message to elevate ...

London CNN —

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II has used the historic milestone of her Platinum Jubilee to redefine the future of the monarchy, calling for the Duchess of Cornwall to be known as Queen Camilla when Charles becomes King.

When Charles married Camilla in 2005, the couple announced she intended to be known as “Princess Consort” despite having a right to the title of Queen. It was seen as a recognition of the sensitivities around a title that was destined for Charles’ first wife, Diana.

It’s the same reason Camilla doesn’t use the title of Princess of Wales.

The Queen would be expected to consult her direct heirs Charles and William before making such a significant announcement about titles, which suggests they both agreed and felt the British public is ready to accept Camilla as Queen.

The 95-year-old monarch laid out her vision for institution’s transition in an extraordinary message released as she reached the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne.

“I would like to express my thanks to you all for your support. I remain eternally grateful for, and humbled by, the loyalty and affection that you continue to give me,” the Queen said.

“And when, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.”

When her father died in 1952, Elizabeth II — then just 25 years old — became the Queen of England. AFP/Getty Images King George VI, left, is joined by his wife, Elizabeth, and Princess Margaret as he leaves an airport in London on January 31, 1952. They had waved farewell to Princess Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, who were heading on a royal tour. Fox Photos/Getty Images During her royal tour, Princess Elizabeth attends a polo match in Nyeri, Kenya, on February 3, 1952. Chris Ware/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip wave to Kenyans from the balcony of Nairobi's City Hall on February 4, 1952. Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Londoners read the news of King George's death on February 6, 1952. He was 56 years old when he died in his sleep from a coronary thrombosis. Bettmann/Getty Images The flag flies at half-staff at Windsor Castle following the King's death. Mirrorpix/Getty Images Prime Minister Winston Churchill leaves St. James's Palace after attending a meeting of the Accession Council, which is automatically summoned on the death of the sovereign. PA Images/Getty Images Elizabeth, now the new Queen, returns from Kenya on February 7, 1952. Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Elizabeth and Philip are greeted on their arrival in London. AP Gerald Wollaston, the Norroy and Ulster King of Arms, reads the proclamation of the Queen's accession on February 8, 1952. PA Images/Getty Images A ceremony for the proclamation is held on February 8, 1952. AFP/Getty Images The Queen and her family arrives for her father's funeral procession on February 15, 1952. PA Images/Getty Images King George's coffin is guarded at Westminster Hall in London. Hulton Archive/Getty Images Crowds line the route of the King's funeral procession. Hulton Deutsch/Corbis/Getty Images Foreign heads of state and their representatives march in the King's funeral procession. Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images The funeral procession of King George makes its way through London. Stroud/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images 70 years ago, Queen Elizabeth II took the throne Prev Next

It’s a hugely significant intervention from the monarch, who is the only person who can define royal titles.

Camilla became something of a public pariah following the breakdown of Charles and Diana’s union in the mid-90s.

Diana had blamed Camilla for ruining her marriage, saying in a 1995 television interview, “There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.” A year earlier, Charles had also appeared on television and confessed his infidelity, but maintained he had only been unfaithful once his marriage had crumbled.

Positive public sentiment for the Princess of Wales was only further cemented when she was killed in a Paris car crash in 1997.

In the intervening years, Camilla retreated to the shadows, supporting Charles quietly from a distance.

But as time has gone by, sentiment toward the Duchess of Cornwall has softened. And the Queen’s moves to future-proof the monarchy reflects Camilla is no longer viewed as the royal mistress but a central figure in “the firm.”

On Saturday, Prince Charles and Camilla announced they were “touched and honoured by Her Majesty’s words” according to a spokesperson.

Elizabeth ascended to the throne on February 6, 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI, at the age of 56.

Throughout her reign, Elizabeth has often used landmark moments to reaffirm her devotion to her duties, and did so once more in her message on Saturday, despite the fact she is nearing her 96th birthday.

“As we mark this anniversary, it gives me pleasure to renew to you the pledge I gave in 1947 that my life will always be devoted to your service,” she said.

The Queen also expressed “a sense of hope and optimism” for the year ahead, before conveying her gratitude to her family for their support and paying tribute to her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.

“I was blessed that in Prince Philip I had a partner willing to carry out the role of consort and unselfishly make the sacrifices that go with it. It is a role I saw my own mother perform during my father’s reign,” she shared.

The monarch ended her message by restating she looked forward “to continuing to serve you with all my heart” and shared her hope her jubilee would provide an opportunity for people to come together after the difficulties of recent years.

Traditionally, the Queen marks her Accession Day at her countryside retreat of Sandringham in Norfolk, about 100 miles north of London. It’s a chance for her to reflect upon the death of her father away from the glare of the public. In keeping with previous years, no public engagements are expected on Sunday.

The nation will have the chance to honor the monarch’s historic reign in a series of jubilee-themed festivities set to take place throughout the year, culminating in a blockbuster, four-day public holiday in June.

Over the long weekend, beacons will be lit across the United Kingdom; Buckingham Palace will host a music concert; street parties are being encouraged; and a pageant will bring together more than 5,000 personnel, performers, key workers and volunteers from the UK and the Commonwealth.

Video Ad Feedback Queen Elizabeth's history with US Presidents 02:00 - Source: CNN

However, the Queen did host a special reception earlier Saturday for some Sandringham community members on the eve of her Platinum Jubilee.

She welcomed pensioners and representatives from several local charities to the Sandringham House ballroom to celebrate her historic milestone with cake.

One of those in attendance was former cookery student Angela Wood, who helped develop a recipe intrinsically linked to the start of her reign – Coronation Chicken, a dish of cold chicken in a curry cream sauce served with a side salad.

The Queen appeared to be in great spirits during the engagement, according to Britain’s PA Media news agency. She held a wooden walking stick and carried her trademark black handbag as she made her way around the room, joking and laughing with guests.

It was the largest gathering the sovereign has attended since October, when she hosted a reception to mark the Global Investment Summit at Windsor Castle.

Sign up for CNN’s Royal News, a weekly dispatch bringing you the inside track on the royal family, what they are up to in public and what’s happening behind palace walls.

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Inside Westminster Hall, where the Queen is lying in state | CNN

A version of this story appeared in a special September 16 edition of CNN’s Royal News, a weekly dispatch bringing you the inside track on Britain’s royal family. Sign up here.

London CNN —

The tapping of a sword echoes through Westminster Hall. Here, in the oldest part of the Houses of Parliament, it reverberates instantly around the space, stopping people in their tracks and capturing their attention.

Moments later, footfalls on ancient steps resound as soldiers from units serving the Royal Household march into the room to relieve the guard around the Queen’s coffin.

Members of the public watch as the new guard makes its way in perfect synchronicity to the central platform, mesmerized by the jingling of medals as the soldiers move.

With another tap, the old guard troops out and its replacement takes up position, standing perfectly still beneath the 11th-century hall’s medieval roof.

The crowd reanimates once more and the lines streaming past the catafalque resume. Here, beneath these ancient timber beams, ancient traditions are playing out in present day.

The Queen has been lying in state since Wednesday, when her coffin was conveyed to Westminster Hall in a somber procession that saw King Charles III, Princes William and Harry and other senior royals follow behind on foot. It will remain here until the morning of the Queen’s state funeral on Monday.

The Queen’s mother and father both lay in state here before her: King George VI in 1952, and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother in 2002. So did her grandfather George V in 1936 and her great-grandfather Edward VII in 1910 – the first royal to lie in state.

To maintain a continuous vigil, each watch lasts for 20 minutes. Lauren Said-Moorhouse/CNN

State funerals are only reserved for monarchs, however, there has been one exception: Elizabeth II’s first prime minister, Winston Churchill. He also lay in state in the hall after his death in 1965.

As candlelight glistens on the symbols of state atop the coffin – the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign’s Orb and Sceptre – mourners pay their respects to the late monarch. Some young, some old, families with children in school uniforms, those of faith and those of none – all are here to say farewell and thank the Queen for her lifelong service.

The walk from one end of the hall doesn’t take long – a few minutes at most. After waiting for hours in The Queue, sometimes overnight, the fleeting moment they’ve all been waiting for finally arrives.

Men pause briefly to bow to the coffin while several women perform a deep, respectful curtsey. Some simply smile or nod their head. Others take a moment to blow a kiss toward the catafalque. Then there are the older military veterans, with medals proudly displayed, who stand to attention and perform one last salute to their former commander-in-chief.

Members of the public view the Queen's coffin, which is draped with the Royal Standard, on which lie the Instruments of State -- the Imperial State Crown and the Orb and Sceptre. Lauren Said-Moorhouse/CNN

Many in the queue have waited for hours and hours to get to this point. But as each person finds their own way to acknowledge the Queen, some stopping the flow of movement for the briefest of seconds, no one complains. Those in line wait patiently for the person ahead of them to do what they need to do before they move forward, and on toward the exit.

As the mourners reach the far side of the hall, almost every single person – including us – stops and turns back for one final look and to say a silent goodbye to the only monarch most have ever known.

(CNN’s James Frater contributed to this story.)

DID YOU KNOW?

The King walks with his family behind the Queen's coffin on Wednesday. Daniel Leal/Pool/AP

Queen’s funeral details revealed.

Friday usually means it’s time for your weekly dose of royal headlines. Clearly this has changed a little since the Queen’s death last week as we’ve been sending a few more editions to make sure you’re kept in the loop on the latest funeral arrangements.

To that end, we wanted to send out a quick note today to make sure you didn’t miss the rundown of ceremonial events for the late monarch’s services on Monday.

The meticulously planned arrangements will see King Charles III and members of the royal family walk behind the coffin once more as it is moved from the heart of the British parliamentary estate to Westminster Abbey for the hour-long service.

There will also be a two-minute nationwide silence held shortly before the end of the state funeral service.

The Queen’s coffin is now at Westminster Hall, where it will remain until 6:30 a.m. (1:30 a.m. ET) on Monday. The state funeral in central London gets underway from 11 a.m. and then a committal service at St. George’s Chapel will take place from 4 p.m.

Here’s all you need to know about how the day will unfold.

FEATURED PHOTOS

Only a minority will remember firsthand what life was like the last time the UK buried a monarch. Images taken in 1952 following the death of the Queen’s father, King George VI, reveal just how much the country – and the world – has changed.

Just like today, crowds poured into central London in February of that year, hoping to catch a glimpse of George VI’s funeral procession. But while the time-honored ceremonies remain much the same, the people watching them look quite different.

Check out our photo gallery of what Britain looked like when the last monarch died:

King George VI's coffin is carried through the streets of London before being transported to Windsor Castle for his funeral on February 15, 1952. Evening Standard/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images Londoners read the news of King George's death on February 6, 1952. He was 56 years old when he died in his sleep from a coronary thrombosis. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images A crowd gathers outside Buckingham Palace following the news of the King's death. PA Images/Getty Images Prime Minister Winston Churchill leaves St. James's Palace after attending a meeting of the Accession Council, which is automatically summoned on the death of the sovereign. PA Images/Getty Images Elizabeth, now the new Queen, returns from Kenya on February 7, 1952. She was 25 and on a royal visit to Kenya when she heard about the sudden death of her father. Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Members of the Honourable Artillery Company fire a gun salute in London. Mirrorpix/Getty Images The ceremony for the proclamation of Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the throne is held in London on February 8, 1952. AFP/Getty Images Dignitaries raise their hats and cheer for the Queen after the reading of the proclamation at the Royal Exchange in London. AFP/Getty Images Gerald Wollaston, the Norroy and Ulster King of Arms, reads the proclamation of the Queen's accession. PA Images/Getty Images A gun carriage carrying the King's coffin makes its way from Sandringham to Wolferton station in Norfolk, England, before being transported to London on February 11, 1952. Picture Post/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images The coffin is taken from a train at King's Cross Station in London on its way to Westminster Hall, where the King would lie in state until his funeral. Evening Standard/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images From left, the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret attend the arrival of the King's coffin at Westminster Hall on February 11, 1952. E. Round/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images The King's coffin lies in state at Westminster Hall. PA Images/Getty Images British boxer Alex Buxton, center, is among the mourners waiting in line to pay their respects to the King in Westminster Hall. Monty Fresco/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images The King's funeral procession makes its way through London on February 12, 1952. Stroud/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images Mourners gather to catch a glimpse of the funeral procession. Some hold mirrors up in the air to try to get a view over the heads of others. D. Thiel/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Workers look out of office windows to watch the funeral procession on February 15, 1952. Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images The King's coffin makes its way through the streets of London on its way to Paddington station. Ron Case/Keystone/Getty Images Railway workers pay their respects as the train carrying the King's coffin leaves Paddington station for Windsor. Harry Todd/Fox Photos/Getty Images The King's funeral is held at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on February 15, 1952. PA Images/Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II shakes hands with the Dean of Windsor, the Rt. Rev. Eric Knightley Chetwode Hamilton, after the funeral service. Behind the Queen her husband, Prince Philip, bends down as he talks with the Queen Mother. AP A man views one of the many wreaths laid out at the grounds of Windsor Castle for the funeral. The tribute in the shape of a large crown was from the mayor and people of Swansea, Wales. Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis/Getty Images What Britain looked like the last time a monarch died Prev Next

THE QUEUE TO END ALL QUEUES.

Video Ad Feedback Hear why people in London queued to see the Queen one last time 03:38 - Source: CNN

It is a moment for which Britain has been in solemn preparation for years. Multiple official agencies were brought together. Meticulous plans were secretly drawn up. Intricate logistical technicalities were ironed out. A route was carefully mapped out. And no country’s population could have been better prepared for it.

We are talking, of course, about the line that Britons must join in order to pay their respects to the Queen. This is not an ordinary line. It has taken on symbolic meaning, a ritual to be undertaken, an embodiment of the national mood. It is, in short, not a queue but The Queue.

It snakes from Westminster Hall, where the late monarch’s body is lying in state, for miles along the south bank of the Thames river. It stretches past landmarks such as the London Eye, the Globe theater and London Bridge. On Friday morning, the line was closed, having reached capacity for “at least six hours,” according to the UK government’s live tracker. Read our full story here.

DON’T MISS

Princes William and Harry will stand vigil at the Queen's coffin this weekend. Lauren Said-Moorhouse/CNN

The Queen’s eight grandchildren will stand vigil on Saturday.

Elizabeth II’s eight grandchildren will stand vigil beside her coffin in Westminster Hall on Saturday evening, a royal source told CNN Friday.

William, Prince of Wales, will stand at the head of the coffin while his brother Harry, the Duke of Sussex, will be at the foot for the 15-minute vigil, the source said. At the King’s request, both will be in uniform.

The Queen’s other grandchildren will be wearing morning coat and dark formal dress with decorations, the source continued. Read more here.

SEE

The moment a royal guard collapses by the Queen’s coffin.

While standing guard by the Queen’s coffin, a member of the royal guard collapsed and police rushed to his side. Take a look:

Video Ad Feedback Royal guard member collapsed by Queen Elizabeth II's coffin 00:51 - Source: CNN

THE ONE ACCESSORY ELIZABETH WAS RARELY WITHOUT.

Queen Elizabeth II on a royal tour in Mexico in 1983 David Levenson/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images

It wasn’t often that you saw the Queen with her hair uncovered. At state occasions, a crown or tiara rested atop a perfect coif. At the stables of Balmoral, where she tended to her ponies in Wellington boots and a Barbour jacket, a patterned scarf was always tied under her chin. But most often, it was a hat.

“You almost can’t see it in isolation. There’s always a brooch, there’s usually pearls, there’s usually white gloves,” Beatrice Behlen, senior curator of fashion and decorative arts at the Museum of London, said in a 2019 phone interview. “And then the matching hat.”

Hats were a part of the Queen’s life from childhood, when she was photographed in bonnets and berets. She would continue to wear them through adolescence and young adulthood, often coordinating with younger sister Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother. From the outset, her tastes were bold and provocative. Head over to CNN Style to find out more.

'The Palace Papers': Tina Brown's royal gossip on 'angry' Prince Harry

What – another book purporting to tell the "inside story" of all that's gone wrong lately in the House of Windsor?

Silly question. There seems to be endless appetite for tales about royals like those in "The Palace Papers" (Crown, 592 pp.), especially as Britain and royals fans around the world prepare to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee this summer, celebrating the 96-year-old monarch's unprecedented 70 years on the throne.

Subtitled "Inside the House of Windsor – The Truth and the Turmoil," this is not just any book about the queen, her sprawling, brawling family and their dramas over the past 25 years: It's a Tina Brown book.

The buzz-queen of media-turned-royal biographer ("The Diana Chronicles"), Brown, 68, deploys her sterling contacts and deeply embedded sources, her familiarity with British royal history and her personal encounters with royals, palace courtiers, politicians and journalists to serve up a luscious feast of … well, yes, gossip.

But what elegant gossip, dressed up in Brown's stylish sentences and erudite insights. Seeking a more conventional, footnoted and document-rich look at the queen's life? Try royal biographer Robert Hardman's "Queen of Our Times." Not sure about the accuracy of pop-culture fare such as Netflix's "The Crown" or the film "Spencer"? Turned off by daily tabloids attacking certain royals in spiteful and barely literate terms?

Brown is your gal.

It's not that the book is full of "bombshell" revelations so beloved of headlines; anyone who has been paying half attention will be familiar with the scandals, histrionics, jealousy and cupidity on display since the throne-shaking death of the Princess of Wales in 1997. Never again, the queen vowed, could one supernova royal threaten the future of a 1,000-year-old monarchy.

It hasn't quite worked out that way, so there is a larger purpose beyond tittle-tattle to Brown's mission: These stories, she writes, are about the royals who have molded the modern monarchy – Charles, Diana, Camilla, William and Harry, Kate and Meghan, Andrew, Philip and Margaret – and about what she thinks their recent wobbles mean for the stability and survival of that monarchy.

"Above all, I hope we will get closer to understanding the woman who matters more than anyone else: the Queen," Brown says in her prologue.

Some takeaways:

Prince Harry: A very angry man

Prince Harry was way more damaged by his mother's death and his inability to process the tragedy than we knew, writes Brown. It turned Harry into a "very angry man," especially after he left the discipline of the British Army. Like his mother, his emotions and explosive temper were always close to the surface. "He took up boxing because, as he later said, he was always 'on the verge of punching somebody,' " Brown writes.

Brown discovered it was one of his girlfriends (prior to the former Meghan Markle), Cressida Bonas, who had serious worries about his mental health and persuaded him to get therapy. Among others, Harry, 37, turned to MI6, the British Secret Service, for help because they had teams of experienced therapists who could be discreet.

Why Prince Harry really loathes the tabloids

As Brown tells it, he has good reason to. "The Palace Papers" paints a blistering picture of the depredations of the "redtop" tabloids. Their outrages, as Harry sees them, predate his mother's death while being chased by paparazzi, as well as the racist attacks on biracial Meghan that he first condemned in an extraordinary statement early in their relationship in 2016.

As far back as 2005, tabloid reporters, private investigators and other "creative researchers" in tabloid pay subjected Harry and William and his then-girlfriend Kate Middleton to illegal phone hacking and also to "blagging," or obtaining confidential data by impersonation, aka lying. It happened to Diana, too, Brown found. To this day, Harry is one of multiple celebrity plaintiffs pursuing a lawsuit against several British redtops for long-ago phone hacking.

Another cause for resentment: Two of Harry's girlfriends before Meghan, Bonas and Chelsy Davy, were endlessly harassed by paparazzi while dating the prince, in a repeat of what happened to Kate Middleton when she was dating Prince William, and to Lady Diana Spencer when she was dating Prince Charles.

Davy and Bonas concluded they didn't want the life of a royal, although they remained friends with Harry and attended his wedding to Meghan. But he remained bitter about what he views as media intrusions targeting his friends and family, and unlike the usual royal protocol, he and Meghan have struck back with lawsuits.

"How, you might ask, did tabloid journalism – never exactly elevated – sink so very, very low?" Brown wonders.

Harry and Meghan's wedding: Bitterness before the magic

Enough has been said and written about the chaos preceding the nuptials – like, who threw a tantrum about a tiara and who made whom cry – but Brown sheds more evenhanded light on the breakdown of relations between Meghan, 40, and her Markle family, especially father Thomas Markle.

"Scattered, discordant and mutually resentful, the Markles were never a 'Leave It to Beaver' American household," Brown writes. "But in a contest of dysfunctional families, the Markles versus the Windsors is probably a toss-up."

Thomas Markle, 77, is indeed a difficult man, Brown concedes. He sold fake pictures of himself supposedly prepping for the wedding and denied it, then dithered about whether he would walk his daughter down the aisle, exchanged tetchy texts with Harry and ended up in the hospital with a heart attack.

Brown suggests the Markles were trapped by paparazzi and tabloid reporters who hounded them into doing and saying nasty things about Meghan and Harry. "You want to hear evil stories about reporters? I can keep you here for a long time," Markle tells Brown from his Baja California home.

It was too much for Harry. "Once again, the media had found a way to wreak incalculable damage on someone he loved, this time by ensnaring her father," Brown writes.

Thomas Markle reserves much of his resentment for his son-in-law, "the snottiest man I've ever heard in my life," who called him while he was still in hospital to, according to Markle, chastise him about his failure to listen to Harry's orders on dealing with the media. "And I hung up on him," Markle tells Brown. "I said, 'That's it, no more.' "

Harry and Meghan's exit: 'Mutual addiction to drama'

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's messy move to California in 2020 had "much in common with the American exit from Afghanistan: a necessary end executed with maximum chaos," Brown writes. Megxit, she writes, is an inaccurate term: "The decision was Harry's, with acceleration from Meghan."

The British-born Brown's long residence in the U.S. makes her somewhat more sympathetic to Meghan's trials after marrying Harry. She blames much of Meghan's distress on the American's misunderstanding of what royal life actually entailed, especially the primacy of hierarchy and the sometimes deadening effect of crusty traditions.

As Brown describes her, Meghan was clueless about what she was joining and Harry failed to prepare her because he was fed up with it himself. She was now his "comrade in arms" fighting the royal rules he had wrestled for years. "An aide described their confrontational stance as 'mutual addiction to drama,'" Brown writes, and Meghan was as combative as he was.

"I didn't do any research," Meghan told Oprah Winfrey in the 2021 interview with Harry heard 'round the world. For someone like Meghan, a smart woman who was laser-focused from an early age on achieving fame, it was odd that she claimed to never even Google her family-to-be.

So, Brown observes, no wonder she was mystified about why she and Harry would always rank behind Will and Kate, even though the Sussexes, in Meghan's Hollywood view, were the true global superstars. Effusive Meghan made reserved palace pooh-bahs blanche when she vowed to "hit the ground running" in her new royal role.

Used to commanding entertainment publicists, she failed to grasp that palace press teams work for the institution on the premise the less said in public, the better. Meghan could not just order them knock down media coverage she didn't like. And "she was hopelessly at sea" with English culture and Brits' drier, more satirical sense of humor.

Once married, Harry and Meghan were "both drunk on the shared a fantasy of being the instruments of global transformation ... who would operate in the celebrity stratosphere once inhabited by Princess Diana," Brown writes. "Meghan couldn't and wouldn't bide her time to get there."

Still, the two have achieved a major change that no one can take away, Brown writes: Meghan's Black mother, Doria Ragland, and the queen are now "grandmothers in the same family, a twin victory over entrenched attitudes towards race and class," Brown concludes.

Kate Middleton played the long game – and won

"In 2011, the question mark over Kate Middleton was whether a girl of such unexalted origins could successfully evolve into a future queen. Now the only question is whether the House of Windsor could survive without her," Brown writes.

Kate, 40, was ambitious in deciding what she wanted – the heir to the throne – and going after it. And she had a supportive, strategic, circumspect mother, Carole Middleton, to help guide her. As Brown puts it, they were both good at playing "the long game."

Brown suggests that after it was announced in 2000 that William was headed to the University of St. Andrews in Scotland for college, Kate "suddenly bailed out of the University of Edinburgh 50 miles away and reapplied at St. Andrews." They ended up in the same dorm, later in the same off-campus digs, and eventually she wowed him at a charity fashion show where she wore little more than her underwear.

By 2007, after years together and after enduring media pressure without palace protection, Kate wanted a ring. William wanted to break up. She was devastated but threw herself into nights-on-the-town in London with sister Pippa. Within months, William realized his mistake and begged her to come back. They married in 2011, and now Kate is Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, the future Queen Catherine and mother of the future king.

"Love and Strategy would be a good name for a Kate Middleton perfume," Brown writes.

Ten years on, Kate has become a "savvy dynastic strategist who buys wholeheartedly into both the monarchy's mission of duty and its priority of survival," Brown writes.

Charles and Camilla: Sex and sensibility

Another woman who understands how to play the long game: Camilla Shand Parker Bowles, 74, daughter of the English countryside aristocracy and great-granddaughter of a mistress of Prince Charles' great-great grandfather Edward VII. Like her ancestor, Camilla never blabbed and stuck to her family motto of "Thou shalt not whine" in the face of public dislike fueled by media mischief, Brown shows.

One of the ironies of the past 25 years is that the Prince of Wales, 73, and Camilla, who was blamed by all, especially his sons, for the breakup of his marriage to Diana, emerged from catastrophic condemnation with a strong and happy marriage, popular respect and the approval of the queen, who granted her son's dearest wish in declaring that his wife would be Queen Camilla when he becomes king.

This was after the queen had already showered Camilla with other prestigious honors for her dutiful loyalty and charity work. It's a remarkable turnaround, Brown notes, given that the queen and her mother, the late Queen Mother, declined to be in the same room with Camilla for years until she and Charles wed in 2005, despite both queens being longtime friends of Camilla and her first husband, Andrew Parker Bowles.

Not all the family is thrilled about Queen Camilla. Harry "can't stand" his father's second wife, Brown writes; as a teen, he once freaked her out by silently glowering at her when first forced to be in the same room with her.

Nevertheless, Brown writes that Camilla is perfect for Charles, the "sexual and emotional comfort food" for the Prince of Wales, the "horse whisperer of his emotional needs" since they met in the early 1970s.

Brown quotes the queen's former press secretary Michael Shea saying that Charles' three siblings in the mid-1980s thought of writing to Charles to protest his relationship with Camilla. Brown is not sure it happened but if it did, it had no effect: "Charles was hypnotized by Camilla sexually," Shea told her.

Prince Andrew: The Duke of Hazzard

The yearslong scandal involving the Duke of York and the late American sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein was only the latest, most shocking, most expensive and widely covered chapter in the buffoonish life of the queen's second son, described by Brown as a dim bully with an exaggerated sense of his own intelligence and a habit of doing dodgy financial deals with dictators.

"The Duke of York was a coroneted sleaze machine," Brown pronounces. Prince Andrew, 62, even horrified Prime Minister Boris Johnson, himself no slouch in the prat department. After Andrew left a business lunch with Johnson when he was mayor of London, Johnson turned to a companion, London Assembly chair Darren Johnson, and said, "I'm the last person to be a republican but ... if I ever have to spend another lunch like that, I soon will be."

The most surprising anecdote Brown shares involves Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, 62, known as Fergie. They've been divorced for decades but they are still close, still live together (in different wings) in the same mansion (Royal Lodge, in Windsor) and still back each other up when under fire, which is often.

Brown describes how an unnamed American media executive was having lunch with Fergie at Royal Lodge one day when Andrew came in, sat down and said, referring to Fergie, "What are you doing with this fat cow?" The executive was stunned at the "level of sadism."

"Whatever the undertow of their curious arrangement, the deal seems to be that he bails (Fergie) out when she's in trouble, and she backs him up when he's assailed by scandal. It is the symbiosis of sheer survival," Brown writes.