Queen Elizabeth’s last journey: From tragedy in Balmoral to a state funeral in London and mourning in Canada
explainer
Queen Elizabeth’s last journey: From tragedy in Balmoral to a state funeral in London and mourning in Canada
Thousands gathered in London on Sept. 19 to honour a sovereign whose death at the age of 96 ended a long, eventful era of the monarchy. Here’s what you need to know
Compiled by Globe staff
This article was published more than 2 years ago. Some information may no longer be current.
Queen Elizabeth had a final, solemn day of pomp on Monday at a state funeral concluding more than a week of mourning since her death on Sept. 8. Leaders came from Britain, Canada and other countries whose head of state she had been since 1952, a role now filled by her son, King Charles III.
In Canada – where this funeral is only the sixth time the nation has mourned a monarch since Confederation in 1867 – spectators watched a parade to Ottawa’s Christ Church Cathedral, while 96 gun salutes, one for each year of the Queen’s life, were fired from Lebreton Flats. And across the country, people who had met the Queen in life shared their stories.
Here’s an overview of how we came to this historic moment. Follow The Globe and Mail’s live blog and our journalists on Twitter for Monday’s latest news.
U.K. mourning: State funeral and Operation London Bridge
Monday’s state funeral was the culmination of an official mourning plan – called Operation Unicorn in its Scottish phase, and Operation London Bridge for the main activities nationwide – in which the British government laid out years in advance exactly what should happen when the Queen passed away.
What happened before Sept. 19
The Queen died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Sept. 8, surrounded by members of the Royal Family. They announced the news with a framed notice on the railing outside Buckingham Palace in London, as well as by e-mail and official websites.
The coffin travelled from Aberdeen to Edinburgh by train on Sept. 11, spending a night at Holyroodhouse castle before a procession to St. Giles’ Cathedral on Sept. 12. There, thousands of Scots paid their respects at the public viewing.
The new King Charles III toured the U.K.’s parliaments to hear official condolences: The national and Scottish legislatures did so on Sept. 12, the Northern Irish one on Sept. 13 and the Welsh one on Sept. 16.
The coffin arrived in London on Sept. 13 and was carried the next day to the Houses of Parliament to lie in state. Thousands of Britons lined up at Westminster Hall, forming a queue that at times stretched eight kilometres long.
Monday’s scene in London
The funeral day began with a procession of the coffin to Westminster Abbey, which was first consecrated in 1065 for Edward the Confessor. Military and police officers, including members of the RCMP, went ahead of the coffin; behind it were King Charles, his sons and other members of the Royal Family.
Inside the abbey were some 2,000 guests, including monarchs from four continents, from Japan and the Netherlands to Lesotho and Tonga. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, spoke to them about the Queen’s “abundant life and loving service” through her 70-year reign:
Her late majesty famously declared on a 21st birthday broadcast that her whole life would be dedicated to serving the nation and Commonwealth. Rarely has such a promise been so well kept. Few leaders receive the outpouring of love that we have seen.
Londoners were able to watch the proceedings on big screens set up in Hyde Park, where thousands went quiet as soon as Queen Elizabeth’s coffin appeared. Those crowds cheered and sang along with God Save the King as the service ended and the coffin was taken away for a parade to the Wellington Arch.
LONDON
Windsor
Castle
0
20
KM
Hyde
Park
St. James’
Palace
Admiralty
Arch
Horse
Guards
The Mall
Big Ben
10 Downing St.
Buckingham
Palace
Wellington
Arch
Westminster
Abbey
Palace of
Westminster
FUNERAL SCHEDULE
1
Sept. 19, 10:44 a.m. local time:
Queen’s coffin goes from Westminster Hall on Royal Navy State Gun Carriage, followed on foot by King and senior members of Royal Family
2
10:52 a.m.: Procession arrives at Westminster Abbey
3
11 a.m.: Funeral service begins, conducted by Dean of Westminster David Hoyle, with Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby giving sermon. Service attended by 2,000 guests, including members of Royal Family, European royals and heads of state from around the world
4
11:55 a.m.: Last Post sounded, followed by national two-minute silence. Service ends with national anthem, then lament played by Queen’s piper
5
12 p.m.: Coffin replaced on State Gun Carriage and taken to Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, in procession led by Royal Canadian Mounted Police and members of NHS staff. Big Ben tolls and guns fire in Hyde Park at one-minute intervals
6
1 p.m.: Queen’s coffin transferred to hearse and driven to St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle
WESTMINSTER ABBEY
Contains tombs or memorials of over 3,300 prominent Britons including 17 monarchs, eight prime ministers, writers, musicians, actors, scientists and military leaders
ROYAL COFFIN
Draped in Royal Standard, adorned with crown, orb, sceptre and wreath of flowers. Carried through nave and quire to platform by eight Grenadier Guards
STATE GUN CARRIAGE
Last seen in 1979 for funeral of Lord Mountbatten
40 sailors behind
acting as brake
Pulled by 98 sailors
using drag ropes
THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: TILEZEN; OPENSTREETMAP CONTRIBUTORS; GRAPHIC NEWS; REUTERS
LONDON
Windsor
Castle
0
20
KM
Hyde
Park
St. James’
Palace
Admiralty
Arch
Horse
Guards
The Mall
Big Ben
10 Downing St.
Buckingham
Palace
Wellington
Arch
Westminster
Abbey
Palace of
Westminster
FUNERAL SCHEDULE
1
Sept. 19, 10:44 a.m. local time:
Queen’s coffin goes from Westminster Hall on Royal Navy State Gun Carriage, followed on foot by King and senior members of Royal Family
2
10:52 a.m.: Procession arrives at Westminster Abbey
3
11 a.m.: Funeral service begins, conducted by Dean of Westminster David Hoyle, with Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby giving sermon. Service attended by 2,000 guests, including members of Royal Family, European royals and heads of state from around the world
4
11:55 a.m.: Last Post sounded, followed by national two-minute silence. Service ends with national anthem, then lament played by Queen’s piper
5
12 p.m.: Coffin replaced on State Gun Carriage and taken to Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, in procession led by Royal Canadian Mounted Police and members of NHS staff. Big Ben tolls and guns fire in Hyde Park at one-minute intervals
6
1 p.m.: Queen’s coffin transferred to hearse and driven to St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle
WESTMINSTER ABBEY
Contains tombs or memorials of over 3,300 prominent Britons including 17 monarchs, eight prime ministers, writers, musicians, actors, scientists and military leaders
ROYAL COFFIN
Draped in Royal Standard, adorned with crown, orb, sceptre and wreath of flowers. Carried through nave and quire to platform by eight Grenadier Guards
STATE GUN CARRIAGE
Last seen in 1979 for funeral of Lord Mountbatten
40 sailors behind
acting as brake
Pulled by 98 sailors
using drag ropes
THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: TILEZEN; OPENSTREETMAP CONTRIBUTORS; GRAPHIC NEWS; REUTERS
Piccadilly Circus
LONDON
Charing
Cross
6
TRAFALGAR
SQUARE
Detail
Windsor
Castle
Pall Mall
Embankment
0
20
Admiralty
Arch
KM
Horse Guards
St. James’ Palace
Hyde
Park
Green Park
Hyde Park
Corner
The Mall
10 Downing St.
St. James’ Park
5
Big Ben
Buckingham
Palace
Wellington
Arch
Birdcage Walk
1
St. James’ Park
Victoria St.
2, 3 and 4
CENTRAL LONDON
Westminster
Abbey
Palace of
Westminster
0
100
m
FUNERAL SCHEDULE
1
4
Sept. 19, 10:44 a.m. local time:
Queen’s coffin goes from Westminster Hall on Royal Navy State Gun Carriage, followed on foot by King and senior members of Royal Family
11:55 a.m.: Last Post sounded, followed by national two-minute silence. Service ends with national anthem, then lament played by Queen’s piper
5
12 p.m.: Coffin replaced on State Gun Carriage and taken to Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, in procession led by Royal Canadian Mounted Police and members of NHS staff. Big Ben tolls and guns fire in Hyde Park at one-minute intervals
2
10:52 a.m.: Procession arrives at Westminster Abbey
3
11 a.m.: Funeral service begins, conducted by Dean of Westminster David Hoyle, with Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby giving sermon. Service attended by 2,000 guests, including members of Royal Family, European royals and heads of state from around the world
6
1 p.m.: Queen’s coffin transferred to hearse and driven to St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle
WESTMINSTER ABBEY
Contains tombs or memorials of over 3,300 prominent Britons including 17 monarchs, eight prime ministers, writers, musicians, actors, scientists and military leaders
Tomb of Henry VII
High Altar
Tomb of Unknown Warrior
Resting place of unidentified soldier killed in World War I
Tomb of Mary,
Queen of Scots
Tomb of Elizabeth I
ROYAL COFFIN
Draped in Royal Standard, adorned with crown, orb, sceptre and wreath of flowers. Carried through nave and quire to platform by eight Grenadier Guards
Nave
Quire
STATE GUN CARRIAGE
Last seen in 1979 for funeral of Lord Mountbatten
40 sailors behind
acting as brake
Pulled by 98 sailors
using drag ropes
THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: TILEZEN; OPENSTREETMAP CONTRIBUTORS; GRAPHIC NEWS; REUTERS
Canada’s delegation at the funeral
Current federal leaders: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Governor-General Mary Simon and their spouses
Current and former diplomats: Ralph Goodale, Canadian high commissioner to Britain; Janice Charette, Clerk of the Privy Council and former high commissioner to Britain
Current Indigenous leaders: RoseAnne Archibald, Assembly of First Nations national chief; Natan Obed, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami; Cassidy Caron, president of the Métis National Council
Former PMs: Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin, Stephen Harper
Former G-Gs: Michaëlle Jean, David Johnston
Others: Mark Tewksbury, Olympic swimmer; Gregory Charles, Montreal artist; Sandra Oh, actress; Leslie Palmer, Coast Guard officer and Cross of Valour recipient
Where the Queen will be buried
Windsor Castle was the Queen’s full-time home after the start of the COVID-19 crisis in 2020. Now, it will be her final resting place, in the chapel where her parents and several former monarchs are buried.
State
apartments
Round Tower: Houses Royal Archives
St. George’s Chapel:
Spiritual home of Order of the Garter, order of chivalry established by Edward III in 1348
Curfew
Tower
Private apartments
Buckingham
Palace
LONDON
King Henry
VIII Gate
Windsor
0
20
ST. GEORGE’S CHAPEL
Among finest examples of Gothic architecture in England. Construction begun by
Edward IV in 1475
and completed by
Henry VIII in 1528
KM
High Altar
Royal Vault:
Ten former
Sovereigns are buried
at St. George’s Chapel.
Nave
Tomb of George V and Queen Mary, Queen’s grandparents
Electric lift: Lowers funeral plinth into the Royal Vault
Quire: Tombs include Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour, and Charles I, executed in 1649
KING GEORGE VI MEMORIAL CHAPEL
Small chapel with its own vault, added in 1969. First structural addition to exterior of St. George’s Chapel since 1528
King George VI
Dec. 14, 1895 –
Feb. 6, 1952
Queen Elizabeth
The Queen Mother
Aug. 4, 1900 –
March 30, 2002
Princess Margaret
Aug. 21, 1930 –
Feb. 9, 2002
Prince Philip,
Duke of Edinburgh
June 10, 1921 –
April 9, 2021
Black marble gravestone Inscribed in gold lettering with names of George VI and his wife, Elizabeth
graphic news, Sources: Windsor Castle, The Royal Family
State
apartments
Round Tower: Houses Royal Archives
St. George’s Chapel:
Spiritual home of Order of the Garter, order of chivalry established by Edward III in 1348
Curfew
Tower
Private apartments
Buckingham
Palace
LONDON
King Henry
VIII Gate
Windsor
0
20
ST. GEORGE’S CHAPEL
Among finest examples of Gothic architecture in England. Construction begun by
Edward IV in 1475
and completed by
Henry VIII in 1528
KM
High Altar
Royal Vault:
Ten former Sovereigns are buried at St. George’s Chapel.
Nave
Tomb of George V and Queen Mary, Queen’s grandparents
Electric lift: Lowers funeral plinth into the Royal Vault
Quire: Tombs include Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour, and Charles I, executed in 1649
KING GEORGE VI MEMORIAL CHAPEL
Small chapel with its own vault, added in 1969. First structural addition to exterior of St. George’s Chapel since 1528
King George VI
Dec. 14, 1895 –
Feb. 6, 1952
Queen Elizabeth
The Queen Mother
Aug. 4, 1900 –
March 30, 2002
Princess Margaret
Aug. 21, 1930 –
Feb. 9, 2002
Prince Philip,
Duke of Edinburgh
June 10, 1921 –
April 9, 2021
Black marble gravestone Inscribed in gold lettering with names of George VI and his wife, Elizabeth
graphic news, Sources: Windsor Castle, The Royal Family
State apartments
Round Tower: Houses Royal Archives
St. George’s Chapel:
Spiritual home of Order of the Garter, order of chivalry established by Edward III in 1348
Curfew
Tower
Private apartments
Buckingham
Palace
LONDON
King Henry
VIII Gate
Windsor
0
20
KM
ST. GEORGE’S CHAPEL
Among finest examples of Gothic architecture in England. Construction begun by Edward IV in 1475 and completed by Henry VIII in 1528
Royal Vault:
Ten former Sovereigns are buried at St. George’s Chapel. Kings George III (d.1820), George IV (d.1830); William IV (d.1837) lie in Royal Vault. Prince Philip was temporarily laid to rest in Royal Vault in 2021. He will be relocated to George VI Memorial Chapel, to lie alongside his wife of 73 years
High Altar
Nave
Tomb of George V and Queen Mary, Queen’s grandparents
Electric lift: Lowers funeral plinth into the Royal Vault
Quire: Tombs include Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour, and Charles I, executed in 1649
KING GEORGE VI MEMORIAL CHAPEL
Small chapel with its own vault, added in 1969. First structural addition to exterior of St. George’s Chapel since 1528
King George VI
Dec. 14, 1895 –
Feb. 6, 1952
Early death at age 56
made Elizabeth Queen
Queen Elizabeth
The Queen Mother
Aug. 4, 1900 –
March 30, 2002
Died at age 101
Princess Margaret
Aug. 21, 1930 –
Feb. 9, 2002
Ashes interred in chapel
Prince Philip,
Duke of Edinburgh
June 10, 1921 –
April 9, 2021
Black marble gravestone Inscribed in gold lettering with names of George VI and his wife, Elizabeth
graphic news, Sources: Windsor Castle, The Royal Family
Canadian mourning: Tributes in the capital, time off for some
Memorial service in Ottawa
Monday′s commemorations in the nation’s capital began with a military and RCMP parade to Christ Church Cathedral, where about 600 guests gathered to hear tributes to the Queen. At Lebreton Flats, gunners fired a 96-shot salute.
0
150
GATINEAU
m
Garden of the Provinces and Territories
Parliament
of Canada
Ottawa
River
Wellington St
Elgin St
OTTAWA
Queen St
Laurier Ave W
Christ Church Cathedral Ottawa
Start: 12:10 p.m.
Cartier Square Drill Hall
THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: TILEZEN;
OPENSTREETMAP CONTRIBUTORS
0
150
GATINEAU
m
Garden of the Provinces and Territories
Parliament
of Canada
Confedration
Park
Ottawa
River
Wellington St
Elgin St
OTTAWA
Queen St
Laurier Ave W
Christ Church Cathedral Ottawa
Start: 12:10 p.m.
Cartier Square Drill Hall
THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: TILEZEN;
OPENSTREETMAP CONTRIBUTORS
0
150
m
GATINEAU
Parliament
of Canada
Ottawa River
Confederation Park
Elgin St
Wellington St
Victoria
Island
OTTAWA
Garden of the Provinces and Territories
Laurier Ave W
Queen St
Start: 12:10 p.m.
Cartier Square Drill Hall
DOWNTOWN
Christ Church Cathedral Ottawa
CENTRETOWN
THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: TILEZEN; OPENSTREETMAP CONTRIBUTORS
Who got a stat holiday on Sept. 19?
Federal employees got a one-off holiday on the funeral day, but it was optional for employers in federally regulated industries; banks opened as usual. Provinces – whose jurisdiction covers 85 to 90 per cent of the Canadian work force – chose a mix of approaches:
Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Alberta: No holiday for public servants, schools or private businesses.
Manitoba: Non-essential government offices to close, schools and businesses stay open.
B.C.: Schools and most Crown corporations to close, other public-sector employers “advised” to let staff take the day off, no holiday for businesses.
Reigned for: 70 years, seven months and three days. That’s a record for British sovereigns, though not for Canadian ones; Canada’s royal line includes the French kings who colonized Quebec, and one of them, Louis XIV, reigned for 72 years in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Role in Canada: Elizabeth’s reign, which covered the tenures of 12 prime ministers, was a time of massive change in Canada’s political status and relationship with the monarchy. She signed the Constitution Act of 1982 that introduced the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and gave Canada the power to change its founding documents without the involvement of Britain’s Parliament. She made 22 official visits to Canada before leaving overseas travel to her children and grandchildren.
Role in the Commonwealth: Elizabeth took the throne when the British Empire was waning and its former (and soon-to-be-former) colonies asserted themselves as equals. Many of those countries still co-operate through the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of which the monarch is the symbolic chief. It now has 54 member states, 15 of which are Commonwealth realms where the monarch is head of state: These include Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Bahamas and Papua New Guinea. (Barbados became a republic in 2021, though it is still a Commonwealth member; Jamaica’s government aims to transition toward a republic in 2025.)
Vicky Mochama, a Globe contributor who writes about the Royal Family, looks back at the Queen’s achievements and what the monarchy’s future might be without her. Subscribe for more episodes.