If you were straining your eyes to read what the card atop Queen Elizabeth's coffin said, The Telegraph has cleared it up—it is a note from her eldest son, King Charles III, which reads “In loving and devoted memory. Charles R.”
It was difficult to read, but the note on top of the Queen's coffin in Westminster Abbey carried a heartfelt final message from a mourning son. Handwritten by King Charles III, it read: "In loving and devoted memory. Charles R."
On a wreath atop the coffin, a handwritten note read, "In loving and devoted memory," and was signed Charles R — for Rex, or king. Also atop of the coffin was the Imperial State Crown, a 2.3-pound crown worn by the queen after her coronation in 1953.
In a statement, the palace said the arrangement is symbolic: rosemary "for remembrance," English oak for "the strength of love," and myrtle for "a happy marriage." The latter was cut from a plant grown from the Queen's 1947 wedding bouquet, after her wedding to Prince Philip.
Those who walked past Her Majesty's coffin or see the photographs around would have noticed the casket draped in a colourful flag. The flag is called the Royal Standard, and it represents the sovereign and the United Kingdom. It is split into four quarterings, with the colours red, yellow and blue.
As Royal Family members are buried inside a chamber, rather than directly in the ground, their coffins are lined with lead in order to slow decomposition. The lead seals the coffin and prevents moisture from getting in, preserving the body for up to a year.
Lead-lined coffins slow the body's decomposition by keeping moisture out of the casket. Lead does not decay and so remains airtight, preventing decomposition, but also any smells and gases from being released; not something you want if multiple Royals are sharing a vault or may be moved in the future.
Encrusted with 2,868 diamonds, 269 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and four rubies. Represents the Crown's power. Signifies that the Royal family's power comes from God.
While her coffin is draped in the Royal Standard – a flag representing the Sovereign and the UK, it will have the Imperial State Crown mounted on it. Additionally, The Queen's orb and her sceptre will also be spread on her coffin before she is laid to rest.
The crown on the coffin, as Town & Country pointed out, is the Imperial State Crown, which is “made of gold and set with 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, 269 pearls, and 4 rubies,” Historic Royal Palaces wrote on its site. The crown was made for Elizabeth's father King George VI during his 1937 coronation.
Queen Elizabeth II will be buried in an English oak coffin featuring brass handles that were designed more than 30 years ago, and lined with lead. It is estimated the coffin weighs between 250kg and 317kg.
Now that the Queen has passed away it is expected that notes and coins in circulation with the Queen's portrait will gradually be replaced by new printed and minted notes and coins with Charles' image.
During the procession, King Charles III placed a royal flag on the former monarch's coffin during the ceremony.
On Queens coffin, a spider> Spider meaning and symbolism include artistry, manifestation, patience, feminine power, ancient wisdom, illusion, balance, and interconnection. #
They stay safeguarded at the Tower of London in safekeeping for the nation, and when one monarch dies, the crown jewels are immediately passed to their heir.” So the Queen's former crown, sceptre and orb now belong to her son, King Charles III.
What does the breaking of the wand mean? The ceremonial breaking of the white staff signifies the end of the Lord Chamberlain's service to the Queen as sovereign. The "breaking of the wand" is a traditional part of a sovereign's funeral, but this was the first time it had been seen by the public.
At the service's conclusion, the Queen's coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault – the resting place of many past monarchs. Below the chapel lie King George III, IV and V, William IV and others. Last year Prince Philip, the Queen's husband, was also laid to rest there.
The Royal Standard flag at the Queen's funeral
When Queen Elizabeth II passed away on Thursday 8 September 2022, the flag took on extra pertinence as a large Royal Standard flag was carefully draped over the late Queen's coffin.
Queen Elizabeth II is also a successor of Queen Elizabeth I, also known as the Virgin Queen, who was Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 until her death in 1603. According to RMG, Queen Elizabeth I's last words were, “All my possessions for one moment of time.”
Guards are present at all times of day because the lying in state is 24 hours a day so the public may pay their respects to the late monarch.
The pallbearers hail from the Queen's Company, the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. 'It's their role to protect her body, both in life and in death, remaining in the Queen's Company until King Charles decides otherwise,' explained Major Adrian Weale to the PA.
The Queen's coffin is guarded around the clock by service members from the Sovereign's Bodyguard, the Household Division, or Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London, according to the paper.
Once the Royal Vault lift reaches the bottom of the shaft, the coffin is moved down a corridor and into the vault itself. The coffin is then interred in the vault, placed either on one of the shelves or on a plinth inside.
Coffins get tapered to conform to the shape of a human form. A coffin also has a removable lid while caskets have lids with hinges. Coffins are usually made out of wood and lined with cloth interiors. Unlike caskets, they do not have rails that make transportation easier.
Commonwealth realms
The royal sign-manual usually consists of the sovereign's regnal name (without number, if otherwise used), followed by the letter R for Rex (king) or Regina (queen). Thus, the signs-manual of both Elizabeth I and Elizabeth II read Elizabeth R.