Under the eyes of a crowd of moved Britons, the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II passed the gates of Buckingham Palace for the last time on Wednesday, September 14.
The queen's body had arrived the previous evening after a flight by military plane from Edinburgh.
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is transported from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall in London, Wednesday September 14, 2022. POOL / REUTERS
A cannon carriage from the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery carried the Queen's coffin in monastic silence.
Only the funeral music of Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Chopin, played by a military band, was heard.
In the distance, Big Ben sounded the death knell, followed by cannon fire.
The crowd that lined the Mall remained silent as the late Queen passed.
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Queen Elizabeth's coffin is carried during a procession from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of Parliament, London, September 14, 2022. HENRY NICHOLLS / REUTERS
The coffin made of English oak and lead, ready for more than thirty years, was covered by the royal standard as well as the imperial crown.
Delicately placed on a velvet cushion, this diamond-studded accessory was surrounded by flowers, including roses and white dahlias.
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, adorned with the royal standard and the Imperial State Crown, during a procession between Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Westminster, in London, September 14, 2022. POOL / REUTERS
A few meters behind the coffin stood the four children of Queen Elizabeth II and King Consort Philip Mountbatten.
Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward, looking sad and heavy, were lined up in birth order from left to right in support of the new king.
Only Andrew, stripped of his military titles, did not wear a uniform.
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From left to right, King Charles III, Anne, Andrew and Edward, the children of Queen Elizabeth II and King Consort Philip Mountbatten.
TOM NICHOLSON / REUTERS
The Queen's grandchildren, William, the next to the throne and Harry, Duke of Sussex, were also part of the procession.
For them, this funeral march was a painful reminder of the death of their mother Diana, 25 years earlier.
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Prince William (left) and Prince Harry walk behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, during a procession between Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Westminster, in London, September 14, 2022. SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP
Minutes into the funeral procession, Queen Consort Camilla, accompanied by Princess of Wales Catherine, followed the coffin in a car, before heading straight to Westminster Hall.
In another car was the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan.
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Queen consort Camilla and Princess of Wales, Catherine, in a car driving them to Westminster Hall, London, September 14, 2022. DANIEL LEAL / AFP
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is led behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, in London, September 14, 2022. DANIEL LEAL / AFP
After about thirty minutes of walking, the coffin entered Westminster Hall, to applause.
In Trafalgar Square, the bells of St. Martin's Church rang out to announce the start of a religious ceremony.
It was the Archbishop of Canterbury who inaugurated this celebration.
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is carried to the Palace of Westminster on September 14, 2022 in London, England.
POOL / REUTERS
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, at the Palace of Westminster, in London, September 14, 2022. NARIMAN EL-MOFTY / AFP
After the departure of the royal family, the public went en masse to the Palace of Westminster, to meditate in front of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II.
Obviously moved, the first visitors addressed kisses to their sovereign, or inclined their heads in sign of respect.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected until Monday morning.
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Members of the public pay their respects as they walk past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, at the Palace of Westminster in London, on September 14, 2022. BEN STANSALL / AFP