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Prince & Princess of Wales

The Princess of Wales says The Queen ‘was looking down on us’ in the days after her death

The Princess of Wales has said Queen Elizabeth II is looking down on her family as her husband spoke about the spate of rainbows seen around the UK in the days after her death.

As they thanked emergency services in Windsor for their work in looking after people who came to pay tribute to Her Late Majesty and who gathered in large numbers for her funeral procession on September 19th, the Prince of Wales mentioned the rainbows that had been spotted over Balmoral.

Prince William said they hardly ever saw rainbows at the Scottish retreat but in the days after Queen Elizabeth II died there, on September 8th 2022, the family had spotted five. The Princess of Wales added that Her Late Majesty was ”looking down on us”.

The double rainbow that appeared at Buckingham Palace as the death of Queen Elizabeth II was announced (Martyn Wheatley / i-Images)

A double rainbow appeared at Buckingham Palace around the time that the death of Queen Elizabeth II was announced with another rainbow arcing over the ancient tower of Windsor Castle at the same time, just as the flag there was lowered to half mast.

The rainbows became a much used photograph as the news of Her Late Majesty’s death spread.

On the eve of Her Late Majesty’s funeral, a rainbow appeared over Westminster Hall where her coffin was Lying in State, also reaching over Westminster Abbey where her State Funeral was held the following day.

And in the days after her death, a bright meteor was also seen over Scotland, leading to more striking images.

Rainbows are often seen as symbols of hope, love and friendship.

The focus on their appearance in recent weeks has been notable. In medieval times, chroniclers often noted natural phenomena when writing of major events.

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.