Royals come together for private burial service tonight to say final goodbye to Queen away from spotlight | The Sun

THE Queen will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband Prince Philip tonight in a private family burial service.

Her Majesty's coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault 16ft beneath St George's Chapel following a committal service.

Her son, King Charles, stood shoulder to shoulder with his grieving relatives during the hour-long goodbye in the gothic chapel.

The world watched as the woman, who was never meant to be sovereign but dedicated her life to service, was given a historic send-off.

It came to an emotional finish as her casket was lowered to lie beside her "strength and stay", the Duke of Edinburgh, who died last year aged 99.

In one last poignant act, a private service will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor at 7.30pm tonight for immediate family members.

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Marking the end of her journey, which began at Balmoral, the Queen will be buried together with her Philip at the King George VI Memorial Chapel.

She will also lie alongside her father, the Queen Mother, and the ashes of Princess Margaret.

Some 800 mourners filed into St George's Chapel this afternoon.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry took their seats beside Prince William and Princess Kate, as well as their children George, nine, and seven-year-old Charlotte.

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The service was conducted by the Dean of Windsor, with prayers said by the Rector of Sandringham, the Minister of Crathie Kirk and the Chaplain of Windsor Great Park.

Following the penultimate hymn, the imperial State Crown, the Orb and the Sceptre were moved from the Queen's coffin to the altar.

The King then draped the Queen's Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on the coffin before the Lord Chamberlain broke his Wand of Office.

The Dean said a psalm and the Commendation while the coffin disappeared from public view for the last time.

Then the Sovereign's Piper played a lament and the Archbishop of Canterbury pronounced the blessing, before the congregation sang the national anthem, marking the end of the public ceremonial arrangements.

Her Majesty was laid to rest in an emotional day that saw Charles lead a touching service at Westminster Abbey with a 2,000-strong crowd of mourners.

Thousands packed pavements as the Queen was driven first to Westminster Abbey and then to Windsor.

And in poignant scenes, the Queen's coffin was taken into the abbey in a procession led by her son King Charles and his siblings Andrew, Edward and Anne.

The march also saw Princes William and Harry put aside their differences after months of rumoured feuds – with the brothers standing side-by-side as they followed their grandmother's coffin.

William, who is now first in line to the throne, walked with his wife Princess Kate and his two eldest children, Prince George and Charlotte.

The children wore black as they joined the Royal Family and leaders from across the globe to pay their respects to the Queen – who they sweetly knew as "Gan Gan".

Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan took their seats at Westminster Abbey, sitting directly behind King Charles and Camilla.

It comes as…

• Her Majesty's coffin has been lowered into the royal vault at St George's chapel in Windsor.
• The Queen's coffin passed Buckingham Palace on its final journey as thousands of mourners lined the streets.
• King Charles led his family in an outpouring of grief today at his mother's funeral
• Princess Kate paid a touching tribute, wearing Her Majesty's pearl choker
• Princess Charlotte cried after The Queen’s emotional funeral in a heartbreaking moment
• Meghan Markle was teary-eyed as she watched the Queen's coffin be placed into a hearse

Outside, thousands of mourners waited at Westminster to be a part of the historical event that saw King Charles holding back tears.

The Queen's coffin had been taken to the abbey on the Royal Navy Funeral Gun Carriage after being pulled by some 98 sailors while another 40 followed behind.

After the service, the Queen's coffin was then carried to Wellington Arch from the church via a procession of seven groups, each with a military band, travelling via Parliament Square, Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade, The Mall, past Buckingham Palace and Constitution Hill to Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner.

One thousand armed forces from the UK and Commonwealth lined the mile-long route, British Legion standard bearers flanked the Cenotaph and King’s Life Guards turned out on Horse Guards Parade.

Once the Royal Family arrived at Wellington Arch, the bearer party lifted the Queen’s coffin from the State Gun Carriage into the glass-backed State Hearse, which Her Majesty helped design.

Princess Charlotte was seen wiping her eyes and being comforted by her mum the Princess of Wales after saying goodbye to her beloved great-grandmother. 

She had remained composed throughout the ceremony in Westminster Hall, and was only seen crying when Her Majesty's coffin was lowered into the hearse.

Bands of the Scots and Grenadier Guards played a medley of the Queen’s favourites, including Jerusalem and I Vow To Thee My Country.

As the hearse left for Windsor, the parade gave a Royal Salute and National Anthem played out.

The King, the Queen Consort, the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with other Royal Family members, also made their way to Windsor car, travelling along the M4.

Thousands of mourners lined the A4, A30 and A308 to see the State Hearse make the 25-mile journey.

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The coffin then arrived at Windsor Great Park where tens of thousands of people said a final farewell to the Queen before the televised committal service at St George's Chapel.

As the service finished, the royals filed out, with Her Majesty to be privately buried tonight.

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