While the Queen’s funeral offered the nation – and the world – a chance to mourn our longest serving monarch, there were moments during Monday’s historic service that reminded those watching that the day was very much about a family grieving for a beloved late family member.
Alongside the strict adherence to centuries-old ceremony, there were also tender moments aplenty, showing a more human side to a family dealing with grief.
On an overwhelming day, the Princess of Wales kept close counsel with her two elder children, Prince George, nine, and Princess Charlotte – offering gentle touches at key points including grasping her daughter’s hand as the family arrived at the Abbey.
Here, FEMAIL picks out some of the moments captured on camera that showed how private grief played out in the most public of arenas, and genuine connections between members of the Queen’s family…
Ceremony – and deep emotion: The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II with the Imperial State Crown resting on top is carried by the Bearer Party into Westminster Abbey past the grave of the Unknown Soldier on Monday
PRINCESS CHARLOTTE AND PRINCE GEORGE’S BRAVERY ON THE MOST DIFFICULT DAY
Sibling unity: Prince George and Princess Charlotte were inseparable throughout the day and were barely seen away from each other’s sides
Lining up with senior royals, the two siblings contained their emotions despite the enormity of the day, their presence clearly offering a salve to their parents
Princess Charlotte and Prince George were sitting alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex this afternoon
Sibling love: The pair were seen walking side by side into Windsor Castle, the final resting place of their precious great-grandmother
A day in history: Prince George, nine, left, and Princess Charlotte, seven, are pictured travelling by car with the Queen Consort, who waved to crowds, and their mother, the Princess of Wales, to the Queen’s funeral at Westminster Abbey
Heir-to-the-throne, George, nine, and his younger sister Charlotte, seven, joined senior royals at their beloved ‘Gan-Gan’s’ funeral, dealing with the historic event with maturity.
It was clear from the first sighting of the siblings, who travelled in a royal car with their parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, before later transferring to a procession car with Kate Middleton and Camilla that both children appeared to grasp the enormity of the day in spite of their tender years.
PRINCESS ANNE CASTS A WORRIED GLANCE AT KING CHARLES DURING THE FINAL PROCESSION ON FOOT
The Princess Royal offered a worried glance at her older brother, King Charles, as the siblings walked behind their mother’s coffin ahead of the Queen’s state funeral
Grief etched on the new King’s face, Charles closed his eyes for a moment ahead of the funeral procession beginning
The Princess Royal, 72, has taken on huge responsibility since her mother’s passing, accompanying the Queen from Balmoral to Edinburgh. And the normally stoic royal appeared to show genuine concern for her elder sibling.
While the Queen’s four children lined up to follow her coffin during the state funeral procession, a concerned looking Anne took a moment to glance sideways at King Charles, who appeared stricken with grief.
THE LATE QUEEN’S BELOVED PONY, EMMA, AND HER CORGIS LINE THE LONG WALK
In Windsor, Emma, the Queen’s favourite fell pony, greeted the procession carrying her former owner.
Touching moment: The Queen’s favourite horse, Emma, pictured with her trainer, stood quietly on the grass close to the Long Walk in Windsor
Forlorn: The Queen’s corgis, Muick and Sandy, pictured at Windsor Castle, as the late monarch’s coffin was brought back to her home
Two household members look after the Queen’s pets ahead of the Committal Service in Windsor on Monday afternoon
The beautiful pony stood on the grass in a gap in the floral tributes along the Long Walk in honour of England’s Queen.
The late sovereign’s head groom Terry Pendry once revealed that the Queen had a particular soft spot for Emma.
Two of the Queen’s famous corgis were also present. Muick and Sandy were walked inside Windsor Castle ahead of the Committal Service.
MIKE TINDALL SHOWS SUPPORT TO THE QUEEN’S YOUNGEST GRNADCHILD, VISCOUNT SEVERN, 14
Former England rugby star Mike Tindall puts a supportive hand on the back of Prince Edward’s son
James and his sister Louise looked emotional as they paid their respects to their grandmother during her state funeral on Monday
The Queen’s youngest grandson James, Viscount Severn was comforted by Mike Tindall outside Westminster Abbey as he said farewell to his ‘Granny’.
The 14-year-old son of the Earl and Countess of Wessex looked sombre as he attending the funeral alongside his family – including his sister Lady Louise, 18.
Mike and his cousin-in-law James entered the church for the Queen’s state funeral with the rest of Her Majesty’s grandchildren, including Princesses Beatrice and her sister Eugenie.
Sophie Wessex and Prince Edward’s children have shown a maturity far beyond their years as they joined their older cousins in mourning since the Queen died at Balmoral on September 8, aged 96.
The royal siblings later arrived at the Committal Service for the Queen which was held at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, Berkshire
THE LONGEST SALUTE: WILLIAM’S LINGERING GESTURE TO HIS LATE GRANDMOTHER
Farewell Ma’am…King Charles and Prince William offer a royal salute ahead of the funeral procession – but William’s salute lingered longer, as he paid his respects to his late grandmother
In one of the most moving moments of the procession, the Prince of Wales offered a final salute to his grandmother.
Along with his father, King Charles, William offered a royal salute as the national anthem played out – but the 40-year-old royal, now next in line to the throne, lingered longer with his salute – clearly relishing the moment to pay his own final respects to his grandmother.
THE PRINCESS OF WALES OFFERS COMFORT TO PRINCE GEORGE AND PRINCESS CHARLOTTE
A reassuring hand: The Princess of Wales puts her hand on the knee of her eldest son, Prince George, during the service at Westminster Abbey
Prince George and his sister Princess Charlotte are shepherded to their seats by their mother the Princess of Wales
The Princess of Wales offered constant reassurance to Prince George and Princess Charlotte throughout the Queen’s funeral to help the young royals cope with the most difficult day of their young lives.
Heir-to-the-throne, George, nine, and his younger sister Charlotte, seven, joined senior royals at the historic event, beginning their day bypassing thousands of mourners on the streets of London as they travelled to Westminster Abbey with the Queen Consort and the Princess of Wales.
The Princess of Wales is seen walking hand-in-hand with her daughter as the family arrived at Westminster Abbey’s hallowed doors ahead of the 11am service. Left: Kate Middleton touches her daughter’s shoulder as they wait for Prince William
Kate, clearly aware that her two elder children would find the day emotionally difficult, provided a constant source of comfort to George and his younger sister, who wore a smart black hat with a bow and a horseshoe brooch given to her by the late Queen, as they prepared to bid a final farewell to their beloved ‘Gan-Gan’.
It was clear from the first sighting of the siblings, who travelled in a royal car with their parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, before later transferring to a procession car with Kate Middleton and Camilla that both children appeared to grasp the enormity of the day in spite of their tender years.
SOPHIE, COUNTESS OF WESSEX, COMFORTS PRINCE GEORGE
Sophie Wessex, 57, comforted heir-to-the-throne Prince George with a hand on his shoulder during the Queen’s funeral
Sophie Wessex, loved by the late Queen, showed kindness to future king Prince George during the Queen’s funeral.
The Countess of Wessex, 57, was spotted putting a hand on George’s shoulder as the youngster entered the Abbey for the service to commemorate the Queen’s life.
SPONTAENOUS APPLAUSE AT THE QUEEN’S COFFIN MAKING ITS WAY FROM WELLINGTON ARCH TO WINDSOR
Although the tone was respectful, pockets of cheers broke out at the hearse made its way from London to Windsor
Thousands lined the route, with a group of mourners in Hyde Park shouting ‘three cheers for the Queen’ as the coffin went past them
While many might have expected the mourners to bow their heads in silence as the Queen’s coffin made its final journey from London to Windsor on Monday lunchtime, pockets of the crowd were in fact in jubilant mood, paying tribute via cheers as the procession moved past them.
As the hearse made its way through Hyde Park, a particularly touching moment came when crowds began a round of ‘three cheers for the Queen’.
SOPHIE WESSEX BREAKS DOWN IN TEARS DURING PROCESSION
The Queen’s ‘favourite daughter-in-law’ Sophie Wessex couldn’t hold back the emotion of the day, as she dabbed her eyes while driving away from Westminster Abbey with the Duchess of Sussex
Visibly moved: The countess, who is likely to become the Duchess of Edinburgh in the coming weeks, wiped away tears after breaking down following the state funeral
The Queen’s ‘favourite daughter-in-law’ Sophie Wessex and her husband Prince Edward were visibly emotional during the Queen’s State Funeral.
Prince Edward’s wife, 57, who had an exceptionally close relationship with her mother-in-law opted for traditional mourning dress as she entered Westminster Abbey.
The Countess of Wessex has been a constant presence since the death of the Queen, making a number of appearances to thank well-wishers across the country.
It has been reported that Sophie will also inherit a number of patronages held by Her Majesty. She is also likely to become the Duchess of Edinburgh – a title previously held by the Queen – when her husband inherits his father’s title as Duke of Edinburgh.
KING CHARLES SHEDS A TEAR AT THE SIGHT OF HIS MOTHER’S COFFIN
King Charles looks tearful while an emotional Prince Harry looked away from the Queen’s coffin at the end of the funeral
King Charles III, Queen Consort, Camilla and the Princess Royal at the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey
A tearful King Charles III and his grief-stricken family surrounded the Queen’s coffin at her state funeral in Westminster Abbey in a moving and majestic farewell to the late monarch in an extraordinary service followed by a national two minute’s silence and the Last Post.
King Charles III looked tearful at points of the service while his sister Princess Anne looked at him with concern and care before fixing her own stare on her mother’s coffin and crown. Prince Andrew looked moved – having been fighting back tears as the family marched behind the Queen’s coffin through Parliament Square.
The monarch sat at the head of the family next to Princess Anne, with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex behind him in the second row, after more than a week leading the monarchy and the nation in mourning his mother the Queen.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk