The Most Heart-Wrenching Moments From The Queen's Funeral
Given that she served as the United Kingdom's ruler for over 70 years, it's no shock that Queen Elizabeth's funeral was a sad day for fans of the royals as well as those living in the U.K. But, of course, the grief was even worse for those who knew the queen best. The late monarch's funeral was an emotional period for members of the royal family, who were seen expressing their grief throughout the day.
King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince George of Wales, Kate Middleton, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, among others, expressed their heartache at the family's tragic loss. Some family members even found ways to pay tribute to the beloved late monarch with touching messages and meaningful accessories. With no shortage of emotional moments, here are the most heart-wrenching ones that will leave you reaching for the tissues.
Prince George wiped away tears
During Queen Elizabeth's funeral, Prince George — the son of William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales — was seen dabbing at his eyes as the choir sang. This occurred after Prince George of Wales and his sister, Princess Charlotte of Wales, met up with their parents to walk in procession behind the late queen's coffin in preparation for Her Majesty's official funeral ceremony. As the great-grandson of the late Queen Elizabeth II, it's no surprise that the young royal felt overwhelmed by the loss of his beloved great-grandmother.
Meghan Markle got emotional during the funeral
Queen Elizabeth's passing has caused plenty of tears to be shed, and Meghan Markle wasn't immune from getting emotional during Her Majesty's funeral. According to People, the Duchess of Sussex was photographed wiping away a tear after the service honoring the late queen at Westminster Abbey. The heart-wrenching moment happened outside the church before Queen Elizabeth II's coffin was brought to Wellington Arch in Hyde Park. Markle also paid tribute to the late monarch by wearing pearl and diamond drop earrings that were a gift from the queen, per People.
The queen's piper played one last tune
While there were plenty of emotional moments throughout the late queen's funeral, one unexpected tear-jerker came from Queen Elizabeth II's personal piper, via Firstpost. During Her Majesty's reign, the piper served as the queen's personal alarm clock. Each morning, the piper would wake her by playing bagpipes underneath her window for 15 minutes each morning, which he did at all of her residences across the country. He also performed for state affairs. Sadly, Her Majesty's funeral brought the piper back, this time to play one final tune as the queen's coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault beneath St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
King Charles III cried as God Save the Queen was sung
No one was spared from getting emotional during Queen Elizabeth's funeral, not even King Charles III. According to Us Weekly, the new king was seen wiping away tears during the service as he sat among the other members of the royal family. King Charles III's open acknowledgment of his grief happened after the nationwide two-minute moment of silence for his mother. Following that, the king became teary-eyed at Westminster Abbey as "God Save the King" was played to the funeral attendees. During his moment of grief, King Charles III was seated alongside his wife, Queen Consort Camilla.
Prince Harry was visibly distraught during the queen's funeral
The Duke of Sussex might be going through a rough patch with his family; however, that didn't stop him from being overcome by grief during his grandmother's funeral. Reportedly, during Queen Elizabeth II's service, Prince Harry looked emotional as he walked alongside his father, King Charles III, and his brother, William, Prince of Wales, behind the queen's casket as it was carried toward Westminster Abbey. Before the queen's death, the Duke of Sussex had attempted to rush home to the U.K. to say goodbye to his grandmother but unfortunately did not arrive before she passed away.
The king left his mother a special message
Queen Elizabeth's funeral was definitely an emotional day for the U.K.'s new monarch, King Charles III. As reported by CNN, the king left a handwritten note on top of his mother's coffin, which read, "In loving and devoted memory. Charles R." The R refers to the former Prince of Wales' new title, as "rex" is Latin for "king." In addition to the message, King Charles III also requested that the wreath laid on the queen's coffin contain an arrangement of rosemary, English oak, and myrtle in shades of gold, pink, and deep burgundy with a touch of white. All the foliage used came from the gardens of royal residences.
Kate Middleton paid tribute to the queen with her necklace
Each member of the royal family has had their own way of expressing their grief over the passing of the long-reigning late monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. According to Page Six, for the late queen's funeral, Catherine, Princess of Wales, chose to honor her grandmother-in-law's memory with some special accessories. For Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, Kate Middleton wore a black veiled hat and sentimental jewels that belonged to Her Majesty. These pieces were the queen's four-row pearl choker with a diamond clasp and her Bahrain pearl earring, which also featured pearls and diamonds. Previously, Middleton wore the necklace to celebrate the queen and Prince Philip's wedding anniversary in 2017.
Queen Camilla honored Queen Elizabeth II with her brooch
Similarly to Catherine, Princess of Wales, the new queen consort, Queen Camilla, chose to pay tribute to the late monarch by wearing a sentimental piece of jewelry. As reported by Page Six, during her attendance at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, Camilla Parker Bowles was seen wearing a special brooch pinned to her black coat dress. Parker Bowles' piece is Queen Victoria's Hesse Diamond Jubilee Brooch. This heart-shaped piece features the number 60 (the number of years in a Diamond Jubilee reign) in sparkling Cyrillic numerals. Likewise, the queen consort honored her late mother-in-law with her choice of handbag, a Launer clutch, a label known to be the late queen's long-standing favorite.
The queen's sons got emotional during the service
There's been an unquestionable wave of sadness since the official announcement of Queen Elizabeth II's passing. Still, there's no doubt that despite the emotions felt by fans and U.K. citizens, the grief felt by members of the royal family is even stronger. As noted by Firstpost, during the late queen's funeral, her son Prince Andrew was seen crying as he arrived at Westminster Abbey. Likewise, during the procession from Westminster Hall to the Abbey, the Duke of York appeared to be holding back tears while he walked. Similarly, the late queen's youngest son, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, was spotted wiping away tears during the funeral service.