Poignant Photos Of Queen Elizabeth's Funeral That Will Go Down In History

Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest in Windsor Castle on September 19, 2022. The monarch had passed away at home at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8. Her funeral was attended by her surviving family — including the Prince of Wales, King Charles III, the Duke of Sussex, and the Princess Royal — as well as heads of state from around the globe. These powerful images from the historic day reveal just how much Queen Elizabeth II meant to her country and the world.

Brothers united

William, Prince of Wales and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex walked behind the Queen's funeral procession as it traveled from Westminster Abbey to the Wellington Arch. The Queen was transported via the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy. As Harry had previously denounced his role with the working royal family, he was not allowed to wear his military uniform to the funeral.

4,000 military personnel

There were 4,000 members of the military on show during the funeral, though only half of them were used in the actual procession. The other half were put to work lining the route of the procession or acting as guards of honor. The massive presence of the military is well earned, as the Queen served as head of the armed forces — and the commander-in-chief — for the length of her astonishing 70-year reign.

The Royal Navy

This poignant photograph shows a member of the Royal Navy bowing his head in respect for the Queen he served. The Royal Navy had a prominent place at the very heart of the procession because the Queen was carried in the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy. This special carriage had apparently not been used since the 1979 funeral of Lord Mountbatten. Before that, King George VI was carried in the carriage in 1952.

The Bearer Party

The men responsible for carrying Queen Elizabeth II's coffin during the procession were selected from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards — the Queen's company. According to the Army website, "[The Grenadier Guards'] 12 very best soldiers will have been selected to provide the bearer party at Her Majesty’s funeral." The men certainly performed their duties perfectly when they were called upon.