A closer look at what was on the Queen's coffin - Action News
Home WebMail Saturday, November 23, 2024, 09:53 PM | Calgary | -12.2°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
World

A closer look at what was on the Queen's coffin

Flowers chosenby the King. Some of the most storied objects in the Royal Family. And a crown with nearly 3,000 diamonds. These are among the items that were atop Queen Elizabeth's coffin as the world watched her funeral at Westminster Abbey in London Monday.

Flowers chosen by the King and a crown with 2,862 diamonds adorned Elizabeth's casket

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's Sceptre, during her state funeral at Westminster Abbey, London, on Monday. (Gareth Fuller/The Associated Press)

Flowers chosenby the King. Some of the most storied objects in the Royal Family. And a crown with nearly 3,000 diamonds. These are among the items that were atop Queen Elizabeth's coffin as the world watched her funeral at Westminster Abbey in London Monday.

Here's a closer a look at each of the items atop (and underneath) the coffin today:

On Monday morning, the coffin was placed on a state gun carriage, drawn by 142 Royal Navy service personnel to the nearby abbey past crowds of mourners lining the route.

The gun carriage was also used for the funerals of Edward VII, George V, George VI and former prime minister Winston Churchill.

The flag draped on the coffin is the Royal Standard, which represents both the sovereign and the United Kingdom. It isflown outside palaces when the sovereign ishomeand on the sovereign'scaron official journeys. Whenthe Union Jack was flying over Buckingham Palace, it signified thatthe Queen wasn't present.

The flag has four quarters: two with lions representing England, a lion for Scotland and a harp for Ireland. (Wales is not represented.)

The crown atop the velvet pillow is theImperial State Crown, which is encrusted with2,868 diamonds, 269 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeraldsand fourrubies. Itwas first worn by the Queenwhen she leftWestminster Abbey on the day of her coronationin 1953. It was originally made for the coronation of her father, King George VI, in 1937.

The sceptre and orb on the coffin are,like the crown, among the mostwell-known parts of the crown jewels, which includes more than 100 objects and 23,000 gemstones. Both were present at the Queen's coronation.

The Sovereign's Sceptrehas been used at every coronation since Charles II's in 1661. It is meant to represent the Crown's power and includes theCullinan I diamond, the largest colourless, cut diamond in the world.

The Sovereign's Orb, meanwhile, is meant to signify that the monarchy's power comes from God.

Before the final hymn at the committal service, the Imperial State Crown, the orband the sceptre wereremoved from the coffin and placed onthe altar inSt. George's Chapel atWindsor Castle.

The wreath of flowers, in shades of gold, pink and deep burgundy, with touches of white,includedblooms and foliage cut from the gardens of Buckingham Palace and Clarence House at King Charles'srequest.

They include rosemary for remembrance, and myrtle cut from a plant that was grown from a sprig of myrtle in the Queen's wedding bouquet in 1947.

The wreath also containeda handwritten note thatread, "In loving and devoted memory," and was signed Charles R for Rex, or king.

With files from The Associated Press and Reuters