After a moving funeral service, Her Late Majesty’s coffin was carried on the State Gun Carriage to Wellington Arch.
Following a very long walk from Westminster Abbey through Whitehall and the Cenotaph, Horse Guards Parade and the Mall, the procession arrived in front of Buckingham Palace.
Waiting for the cortège were the entire staff of the Palace; placed in one single line that spanned across the whole front gate, they all bowed or curtsied as the coffin passed in front of them.
A mix of emotions could be read on their faces: grief, certainly, but also pride for having served their part in history, and the joy of having shared her daily life for so many years.
It was a particularly emotional moment for the public, as well as the family; Her Majesty’s coffin was on its way to Windsor for burial, and that was the last time she will ever pass in front of her home, her office and the symbol of the Monarchy she embodied for 70 whole years.
The Carriage did not enter the grounds of the Palace; her last time inside was the night between Tuesday and Wednesday, when her coffin spent the night in the Bow Room, before being transferred to Westminster Hall.
It just passed by, with the empty walls looking on. The balcony that witnessed so many happy occasions, empty. The streets that just three months ago were covered in a sea of people celebrating the Platinum Jubilee, filled by just the procession; the public was on the sides, silently bowing their heads as they saw the late Queen pass in front of them for the last time.
Buckingham Palace is currently under renovation, and yet its symbolism holds as strong as it did when it was still functioning as both a residence and an official workplace. Part of this is thanks to the staff that keeps it running. Today, just for a few minutes, they got to thank their boss and say goodbye for the last time.
