Queen Elizabeth II's Historic Funeral Service: 'We Will Meet Again'

The historic state funeral of Queen Elizabeth is now underway in London, a ceremony that brings to an end the longest reign of any British monarch, and that also serves as a family's final goodbye to its beloved matriarch.

Ahead of the service, the State Gun Carriage and Royal Navy moved the Queen’s casket from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey. The casket was draped in the Royal Standard flag, which represents the Sovereign and the United Kingdom, with the Sovereign’s Orb and Sceptre placed on top.

King Charles III led the procession, and was joined by his siblings Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. Thousands of mourners lined the streets to pay homage to the Queen.

Queen Elizabeth's grandchildren Prince George and Princess Charlotte — the children of Prince William and Kate Middleton — walked behind the late monarch's coffin. Holding his children's hands, William appeared to walk side by side with his brother Harry, a new show of unity in the nation's time of grief.

The brothers, who had been at odds ever since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spoke out in an interview with Oprah Winfrey following their exit from their official royal duties, had previously walked together in the procession of the Queen's coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster on Wednesday.

Notably, military veteran Harry was not in his uniform. Nor was Prince Andrew. Both being no longer working members of the royal family, though Harry wore his uniform to Wednesday's vigil. People reports Harry's spokesperson said of UniformGate, "His decade of military service is not determined by the unifiorm he wears, and we respectfully ask that focus remain on the life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II."

Markle wore earrings gifted to her by the Queen as a personal tribute. The pearl earrings are miniature versions of a pair of the late monarch's own favorites.

Middleton wore not one but two tributes to the Queen, both pieces once owned by her: the Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings and a four-strand pearl choker with a center diamond clasp.

William and Kate's son Prince Louis, age 4, did not attend, having reportedly been deemed a bit too young to handle the very public, very solemn event.

The official order of the procession into the service was: King Charles III; Queen Consort Camilla; Princess Anne and Sir Tim Laurence; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones, the Earl & Countess of Wessex; the Prince & Princess of Wales, Prince William and Kate Middleton; Prince George; Princess Charlotte; the Duke & Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle; David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon; Peter Phillips, son of Princess Anne and Tim Laurence; Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester; Prince Michael of Kent; and Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.

The service took place at Westminster Abbey. Previously, The Times reported that 500 heads of state, royals, and other political figures were expected to attend.

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, who paid respects on Sunday, represented United States at the funeral.

On Sunday, Jill Biden told CNN of paying respects,

Some of the other big names listed included: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and Jamaican Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen, all of whom had confirmed their attendance.

Sandra Oh's presence was a surprise to some.

Once everyone was seated, it was perhaps striking to some observers to see Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the second row, directly behind King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla. Harry could often be seen glancing over toward his brother, in the first row.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, in his position for nine years, Justin Welby, provided a reverential, deeply religious sermon that nonetheless underscored the late Queen's humanity throughout her commitment to her duty, quoting Elizabeth from her speech during the COVID-19 lockdown: "We will meet again."

"Words of hope," he noted. "Christian hope means certain expectation for something not yet seen. Christ rose from the dead and offers life to all. Abundant life now and life with God in eternity."

Baroness Scotland of Asthal and secretary-general of the Commonwealth Patricia Janet Scotland, provided the first reading, from 1 Corinthians 15. The first woman in her role, she holds dual Commonwealth and Dominica citizenship.

Strikingly, the U.K.'s 15th prime minster since King George VI's 1952 funeral, Liz Truss, had only been on the job for days and had only just met the Queen before the monarch's death. When she spoke at the service, it was one of her first official acts, having taken over just this month.

Afterward, the Queen’s coffin was taken by procession to Wellington Arch to be transferred to the Royal Hearse for the 25-mile drive to Windsor Castle and St. George’s Chapel.

During the procession, some members were driven, while King Charles III, his brothers Princes Andrew and Edward, his sister Princess Anne, and his sons William and Harry marched.

Again, William and Harry were side by side for the historic journey.

An intimate committal took place at St. George's Chapel at 4 p.m. local time, where the Queen was laid to rest in the Royal Vault.

Before the lowering of the coffin into the Vault, Charles laid the Queen's Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards atop it. In a striking display, Lord Chamberlain broke his ceremonial Wand of Office and placed it on top of the coffin to be buried with the monarch.

Buckingham Palace explained the snapping of the wand is to "create symmetry with the three instruments of State that have been removed."

The Dean of Windsor spoke a Psalm during the process, ending public ceremonies in honor of Elizabeth's passing.

Later, a private burial service was set to be held for just the royal family, at which time the Queen will be relocated to the King George VI Memorial Chapel, where she will remain, alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, as well as her parents, King George VI and the Queen Mother.

Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully at the age of 96 on September 8 at Balmoral Castle. She was preceded in death by her 99-year-old husband of nearly 74 years, Prince Philip, last year.