Queen Elizabeth II laid to rest

Britain and the world said a final goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II on Monday September 19, in a somber ceremony that was attended by world leaders from across continents. She was laid to rest at Windsor Castle in London. The ceremony drew the final curtain to the 70-year reign of the Queen who was announced dead on September, 8 at her Balmoral estate in Scotland at the age of 96. President Paul Kagame, who is the Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth, arrived in London on Sunday and proceeded to sign the condolence book at Lancaster House. He later on joined world leaders at Westminster Abbey for a final state funeral as confirmed by his office in a tweet made on Monday. “President Kagame is now at Westminster Abbey where he joined leaders from across the world for the funeral of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” reads the tweet Elizabeth was buried at St. George’s Chapel within the grounds of Windsor Castle, one of the late Queen’s favorite homes and where many royals have been laid to rest before her. She ascended the throne in 1952 and is the longest-reigning monarch by seven decades. She was replaced by her eldest son, King Charles III, who is also the head of the Commonwealth. Order of Service Some six hours after the state funeral, the Queen's coffin was lowered into a vault through an opening in the floor at Windsor Castle's chapel, ahead of a private burial service for members of the Royal Family. The trappings of state and monarchy abounded: The coffin was draped with the Royal Standard and atop it sat the Imperial State Crown, sparkling with almost 3,000 diamonds, and the sovereign's orb and sceptre. There was also a personal handwritten note from her son, King Charles III which was placed amid the flowers that read, In loving and devoted memory and was signed Charles R — The letter R stands for Rex implying King. Elizabeth's funeral procession arrived at the west gate of the medieval abbey shortly before the service at midday Rwandan time. Pallbearers lifted the coffin from the state gun carriage and carried it inside the Gothic structure. Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland read the first lesson at Queen Elizabeth's funeral on Monday while the second lesson was read by Prime Minister Liz Truss. David Hoyle, the dean of Westminster Abbey, began the service offering prayers for her family and recognizing her unswerving commitment to a high calling over so many years. The service, which took place where the queen was married in 1947 and crowned in 1953, was attended by 2,000 people, including world leaders and senior members of the UK royal family. Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, spoke at the service, telling the congregation that the grief felt by so many across Britain and the wider world reflected the late monarch's abundant life and loving service. “Her late majesty famously declared on her 21st birthday broadcast that her whole life would be dedicated to serving the nation and Commonwealth. Rarely has such a promise been so well kept. Few leaders receive the outpouring of love that we have seen,” he said. The Queen was the titular lead of the global Anglican Church. Near the end of service, two minutes of silence were observed in the Abbey and throughout the United Kingdom. The congregation then sung the British National Anthem, with a piper's lament bringing the Anglican service to an end. The service was followed by a procession through the streets of London to take the Queen's coffin to Windsor, where a committal service and a private service attended by members of the UK Royal Family was held. During the procession, gun salutes were being fired. Burial site and significance Elizabeth was buried at Windsor Castle alongside her husband, Prince Philip, her parents and the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret. St. George’s chapel, the queen’s final resting place, has several sections and nooks, including the King George VI Memorial Chapel, which the Queen commissioned after her father’s death. St. George’s Chapel has a long history for the royal family, not just as a burial site, but as a location for weddings, christenings and funerals. Prince Philip’s funeral was held here last year, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were married there in 2018. Construction of the chapel first began in 1475 under King Edward IV’s reign and was completed in 1528 under King Henry VIII. Elizabeth's husband, Prince Philip, died last year at age 99. Many spectators camped outside Windsor Castle to catch a glimpse of the procession. Closing of Westminster Hall The lying-in-state ceremony for Elizabeth at 900-year-old Westminster Hall formally ended on Sunday and the doors closed to the public ahead of her state funeral. Over five days, tens of thousands of people had waited hours in line before filing past her coffin to pay their final respects. The closing of the hall marked the end of four full days of the coffin lying in state and the start of the U.K.'s first state funeral since the one held in 1965 for Winston Churchill, the first of 15 prime ministers during Elizabeth's reign.

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Queen Elizabeth II laid to rest