“We will be with our friends again, we will be with our families again, we will meet again.” In Her Majesty’s own words when she addressed a nation during Covid lockdown.
Rainbows lit up the grey skies as the flags were lowered to half mast on the announcement of the Queen’s death on the evening of the 8th September. And another rainbow yesterday – in the last hours of her lying-in-state.
People suggested it was the Queen’s signing off – the rainbow colours reminiscence of the coat dresses she used to wear. All we could think of – Her Majesty had arrived at the Rainbow Bridge to meet all her beloved Corgis and Dorgis that have passed in her lifetime. And all the doggies up there barking their welcome to a Queen who loved dogs.
And this would be Darcy spotting The Queen taking her doggies for a walk in the clouds.
Believing in an After Life makes things just a tad easier when we say our final goodbyes.
May’s comment: Today we said our final farewell.
It’s been ten days of national mourning. During that time, we wanted to say our farewell in some manner out of respect, love and admiration for a very special person.
We laid flowers at Green Park. We paused for a moment at Buckingham Palace to see the new monarch’s standard.
And I took the decision to join the queue for the lying-in-state.
The moment we entered Westminster Hall all the madness of queuing suddenly fell silent. The hush in the vastness of the hall reminded us of the solemnity of the occasion. The sight of the illuminated raised draped coffin took my breath away. I felt the tears brimming. Her coffin looked so small in that vast hall.
It was so surreal. Everything was picture perfect. So majestically beautiful yet so immensely sad.
A fleeting moment that will be forever etched in my memory. I am glad I joined the queue. I am glad I took the time to say a personal farewell.
It was worth every step taken to get to Westminster Hall. She was always there for us. This was the least we could do for her. ‘The Queue’ became a national symbolism of a nation in mourning and a comfort to be together, to remember, to respect and reflection.
The Queen was someone I would have loved to have met. I had managed only to see her in passing. In June 2019, Sara and I went to the Knights of the Garter parade where The Queen and the Knights process in grand velvet robes, glistening insignia and plumed hats. One of the most traditional ceremonies in the Queen’s calendar.
This was the last time that she rode in that procession.
Today, we saw her cortege drive past on the way to her final resting place in Windsor.
We will all miss her smile, her reassuring presence, and I will personally miss not hearing Happy Birthday played by the Palace Guards on our shared birthday. 🙂
Thank you. May flights of Angels sing thee to they rest. Till we meet again.
3 Responses
I watched most of the ceremonies for the Queen in various locations on TV here in the U.S. over the many days. I would have liked to view them in person. Great that you got to enter Westminster Hall. What a great Queen she was over many decades. I was under 10 years old when she became Queen. I can’t remember if we viewed any of the ceremonies then on our TV. Have you ever visited Windsor?
Yes, I have – a few times.
Beautiful!