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Key moments from funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in pictures

02:24 am on 20 September 2022

Queen Elizabeth II's coffin was draped in the Royal Standard and included the Imperial State Crown. Photo: AFP / Pool

Queen Elizabeth II's funeral service at Westminster Abbey is complete.

The late monarch is now being taken to Windsor, where she will be buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at St George's Chapel.

These are some of the key moments from the historic service.

A solemn procession to Westminster Abbey

The group of pallbearers who carried Queen Elizabeth II's coffin were formed by members of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.

They took the Queen's coffin from Westminster Hall to nearby Westminster Abbey, where her state funeral service was held.

The guards placed the coffin on the state gun carriage, which was drawn by 142 Royal Navy service personnel to the abbey, past crowds of mourners.

The State Gun Carriage carries the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre, as it makes its way to Westminster Abbey. Photo: AFP / Pool

The gun carriage was also used for the funerals of Edward VII, George V, George VI and former prime minister Winston Churchill.

The gun carriage was last seen in 1979 for the funeral of Prince Philip's uncle, Lord Mountbatten.

King Charles III and other members of the royal family, members of the King's Household and the Household of the Prince of Wales followed behind the coffin.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte attend

Left to right Camilla, Queen Consort, Prince George of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales outside Westminster Abbey. Photo: AFP / Pool

The two eldest children of Prince William and Princess Catherine, George and Charlotte, walked into Westminster Abbey with their parents, ahead of their aunt and uncle, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

It was the first time the siblings, aged 9 and 7, appeared in public since the death of the Queen.

Their younger brother Louis, 4, did not attend the service.

With the Queen's death, George is second in line to the throne.

The Queen's wreath was chosen by King Charles III

The wreath was chosen by King Charles III and contained flowers and foliage cut from the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Highgrove House.

A note from King Charles III left on his mother's coffin. Photo: AFP / Pool

This foliage was chosen for its symbolism.

Rosemary for remembrance; myrtle, the ancient symbol of a happy marriage, and cut from a plant that was grown from a sprig of myrtle in the late Queen's wedding bouquet in 1947; and English oak, which symbolises the strength of love.

Also included were scented pelargoniums, garden roses, autumnal hydrangea, sedum, dahlias and scabious. All the flowers were in shades of gold, pink and deep burgundy, with touches of white, to reflect the Royal Standard - the flag adorning the coffin.

On top of the bouquet the King included a note penned to his mother.

It reads: "In loving and devoted memory. Charles R".

Funeral highlights the Queen's religion

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said the Queen's Christian faith underpinned her service.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby speaking during the Queen's funeral. Photo: AFP / Pool

"Her allegiance to God was given before any person gave allegiance to her," he said.

"Her service to so many people in this nation, the Commonwealth and the world, had its foundation in her following Christ."

She was a devout church-going Christian throughout her life.

As Queen, she held the official religious role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

'God save the King'

Mourners fell silent for two minutes to mark the end of the state funeral for Queen Elizabeth.

King Charles follows the coffin of his mother as it travels on the State Gun Carriage from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch. Photo: AFP

Then trumpets rang out inside Westminster Abbey and the congregation sang God Save the King.

For the past 70 years it had been sung as God Save the Queen.

Then the Queen's piper, Warrant Officer Class 1 Paul Burns, played Sleep, Dearie, Sleep as mourners started to leave the church.

The Queen's final journey to Windsor

Queen Elizabeth II will be buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at St George's Chapel in Windsor.

Buckingham Palace household staff line the streets to pay their respects. Photo: AFP / Pool

The body of her husband Prince Philip, who died in April 2021, will be moved from the Royal Vault so the two of them can lie together.

The Queen's father, King George VI, and the Queen Mother were buried in the same place after their deaths.

The ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret, who died in 2002, are also held there.

- ABC