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 end of the final Hymn, The King will place The Queen's Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on Her Majesty's Coffin. At the same time, The Lord Chamberlain will "break" his Wand of Office and place it on the Coffin. The burial will only take place this evening, following the funeral.
Also known as the “breaking of the stick”, the action marks the end of the lord chamberlain's service to the monarch. King Charles will duly appoint a lord chamberlain of his own, who will receive a new wand of office.
'Breaking the stick' or 'breaking the wand' is the final symbolic act to take place at a British monarch's funeral, signifying the official end of the Lord Chamberlain's service to the King or Queen.
A broken wand ceremony is a ritual performed at or shortly before the funeral of a magician, in which a wand — either the wand which the magician used in performances, or a ceremonial one — is broken, indicating that with the magician's death, the wand has lost its magic.
The Lord Chamberlain kept tradition by breaking his wand of office on Queen Elizabeth's coffin during the committal service at St George's Chapel in Windsor on Monday.
A staff or rod traditionally wielded by a king or royalty symbolising power and authority; sceptre.
The Queen was laid to rest, after an elaborate state funeral at London's Westminster Abbey attended by leaders from across the world. More than 26 million people in the United Kingdom tuned in to watch the funeral service on Monday, the first to be televised for a British monarch.
Queen Elizabeth's coffin has been adorned with her Imperial State Crown, Sovereign's Orb, and Sovereign's Sceptre, which will be removed from their resting place before her final committal ceremony today (Monday, September 19).
As this happened, The Lord Chamberlain (Lord Andrew Parker) broke his ceremonial Wand of Office and placed it on the coffin. Also known as the 'breaking of the stick', the action marks the end of the Lord Chamberlain's service to the monarch.
The Queen's coffin will be interred with the Grenadier Guards' Queen's Company Camp Colour - a smaller version of the Royal Standard of the Regiment - which the King placed on her coffin at the end of the committal service.
What will happen to all the Queen's staff? While there will seemingly be a purge at Clarence House and among the personal staff, the vast majority of employees at the royal palaces will remain in post. The staff payroll was £23.7m in 2022.
What Happens With Queen Elizabeth's Clothes? Queen Elizabeth never wears the same outfit twice at important events. Therefore, the sovereign prefers to either change her outfits and if she gets bored of them, she sends them to her dressers, who are then allowed to either wear them themselves or sell them.
Why was Princess Margaret cremated? In the aftermath of her death, “royal watchers” told The New York Times that Princess Margaret had opted to be cremated so that her remains could fit alongside her father King George VI's grave in a vault that was made especially to hold him specifically.
Will I be able to see the Queen's body or just her coffin? Her closed coffin containing her body will be displayed, raised on a platform called a 'catafalque' and covered by the flag called the Royal Standard.
What happens to the Queen's jewellery? 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.
“The Queen Consort, really, gets first choice of the Queen's jewelry. And after that is Princess of Wales, of course, Kate.
The card placed on the Queen's coffin, alongside flowers, read: "In loving and devoted memory. Charles R." Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral concluded in Westminster Abbey on Monday as Britain paused for a two-minute silence in the memory of the monarch.
The monarch was reportedly put into a state called 'twilight sleep' during labour, where she was given an anaesthetic and the baby born using forceps. The controversial technique is no longer used today. Indeed, when Her Majesty welcomed her fourth child, Prince Edward, she chose another method of delivery.
It is stated in various internet sources that the Queen was in labour for around 30 hours, using the pain relief “Twilight sleep” (actually sedation with scopolamine and morphine). “Twilight sleep” was controversial as women would be sedated throughout labour and then be delivered by forceps.
How many days do we get off when the Queen dies? While the UK will partake in a 10-day mourning period, only the day of the Queen's funeral will be considered a national holiday. So, for anyone Googling '12 day mourning period off work', you won't get a full fortnight to mourn the Queen.
Why is the Queen's coffin lead-lined? According to reports, the Queen's coffin is made from English oak and lined with lead, which is a traditional choice for members of the royal family. The i reports that using lead in the coffin prevents air and moisture from building up and therefore helps in preservation.
The Wand of Office is ceremonially broken at a monarch's funeral and it signifies the end of the Lord Chamberlain's service to the Queen as sovereign. The ceremonial gesture dates back centuries, last performed more than 70 years ago when the Earl of Clarendon broke his staff over the grave of George VI.
Queen Elizabeth II's State Funeral – A Photo Gallery
For the first time ever, the symbolic breaking of the Wand of Office — the monarch's ceremonial tool — was televised, as the Lord Chamberlain broke the staff in half, signifying the end of the monarch's reign.
The Wand of Office
Its breaking by the Lord Chamberlain, Lord Andrew Parker, symbolises the end of the Queen's sovereignty. The tradition dates back centuries: the wand was a tool formerly used by the Lord Chamberlain to admonish people in the monarch's court. He would tap them if they were too rowdy or disrespectful.