Understanding the symbolism in the queen’s funeral processions
Scepter, orb, crown — what does it all mean?
Symbols of the monarchy
The focal point is, of course, the
queen’s coffin, which was constructed more than 30 years ago of English oak and lined with
lead to seal out air and water. The same company made the coffin for her husband, Prince Philip, who died last year, as well as those of Freddie Mercury and Jimi Hendrix, according to the Telegraph.
The coffin is draped in the Royal Standard flag, which has four quarters representing England (twice, the three yellow lions on red), Scotland (red lion rampant on yellow) and Ireland (harp on blue). The flag flies over the building or vehicle when the reigning monarch is inside, and unlike the Union Jack, it never flies at half-staff because the United Kingdom is never without a king or queen.
The focal point is, of course, the
queen’s coffin, which was constructed more than 30 years ago of English oak and lined with lead to seal out air and water. The same company made the coffin for her husband, Prince Philip, who died last year, as well as those of Freddie Mercury and Jimi Hendrix, according to the Telegraph.
The coffin is draped in the Royal Standard flag, which has (twice, the three yellow lions on red), Scotland (red lion rampant on yellow) and Ireland (harp on blue). The flag flies over the building or vehicle when the reigning monarch is inside, and unlike the Union Jack, it never flies at half-staff because the United Kingdom is never without a king or queen.
The focal point is, of course, the queen’s coffin, which was constructed more than 30 years ago of English oak and lined with lead to seal out air and water. The same company made the coffin for her husband, Prince Philip, who died last year, as well as those of Freddie Mercury and Jimi Hendrix, according to the Telegraph.
The coffin is draped in the
Royal Standard flag, which has four quarters representing England (twice, the three yellow lions on red), Scotland (red lion rampant on yellow) and Ireland (harp on blue). The flag flies over the building or vehicle when the reigning monarch is inside, and unlike the Union Jack, it never flies at half-staff because the United Kingdom is never without a king or queen.
The focal point is, of course, the
queen’s coffin, which was constructed more than 30 years ago of English oak and lined with lead to seal out air and water. The same company made the coffin for her husband, Prince Philip, who died last year, as well as those of Freddie Mercury and Jimi Hendrix, according to the Telegraph.
The coffin is draped in the
Royal Standard flag, which has four quarters representing England (twice, the three yellow lions on red), Scotland (red lion rampant on yellow) and Ireland (harp on blue). The flag flies over the building or vehicle when the reigning monarch is inside, and unlike the Union Jack, it never flies at half-staff because the United Kingdom is never without a king or queen.
During processions, the coffin will travel on a gun carriage provided by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, a ceremonial unit of the British Army. It was drawn by horses in the procession to Westminster Hall. On Monday, Royal Navy members may pull the carriage partway on foot, a tradition that began when sailors quickly stepped in after horses broke free before the procession for Queen Victoria’s funeral in 1901.
As the queen lies in state in Westminster Hall, her closed coffin rests on a raised platform called a catafalque. Each corner is guarded around-the-clock by an officer from one of the units that serve the royal household, such as the King’s Guard.
These symbols of the monarchy rest atop the coffin while the queen lies in state:
The Imperial State Crown was made for the queen’s father, King George VI, in 1937, and was modified for her, according to the Royal Collection Trust. Among its more than 3,000 stones are some of the world’s most famous gems, including the 317.4-carat cushion-cut Cullinan II diamond and a 170-carat spinel called the Black Prince’s Ruby that was reportedly worn in battle by Henry V in 1415.
The three-foot-long Sovereign’s Scepter represents the monarch’s power in the secular world. Enameled rose, thistle and shamrock symbols that represent England, Scotland and Ireland were added to the handle in 1820. The 530-carat Cullinan I diamond, one of several pieces cut from the world’s largest diamond, was mounted on top in 1910.
The Sovereign’s Orb is an 11-inch hollow gold sphere with a cross on top representing the monarch’s power in the Christian world. Three bands of jewels represent the three continents British rulers believed existed when the orb was made in 1661.
The scepter and orb were made in 1661 for Charles II and are part of the Crown Jewels.
The state hearse that will carry the queen’s coffin to Windsor is finished in “royal claret,” the deep wine color used by members of the royal family on official duties, and it features the queen’s royal cypher, which is similar to a personal logo or monogram. Jaguar Land Rover designed the hearse in consultation with the queen and royal household, and it is very different from the custom military-green Land Rover Defender that Prince Philip helped design for his 2021 funeral.
Places along the way
Wellington
Arch
Greater London
CONSTITUTION HILL
Buckingham
Palace
Green
Park
Westminster
QUEEN’S WALK
Route for
Sept. 14 procession
BIRDCAGE WALK
St. James
Park
Westminster
Abbey
Westminster
Hall
Greater London
Wellington
Arch
CONSTITUTION HILL
Buckingham
Palace
Green
Park
Westminster
QUEEN’S WALK
Route for
Sept. 14 procession
BIRDCAGE WALK
St. James
Park
Westminster
Abbey
Westminster
Hall
Greater London
Route for
Sept. 14 procession
QUEEN’S WALK
Horse
Guards
Parade
St. James
Park
Green Park
Wellington
Arch
CONSTITUTION HILL
New
Palace
Yard
BIRDCAGE WALK
Buckingham
Palace
Westminster
Abbey
Westminster
Hall
Westminster
Greater London
Route for
Sept. 14 procession
QUEEN’S WALK
Horse
Guards
Parade
St. James
Park
Green Park
Wellington
Arch
CONSTITUTION HILL
New
Palace
Yard
Buckingham
Palace
BIRDCAGE WALK
Westminster
Abbey
Westminster
Westminster
Hall
The 775-room complex of Buckingham Palace has been the official London residence of the monarchy since 1837, and it is where the queen lived, entertained and conducted official business for most of her life.
Wednesday’s procession went from the palace along the Mall, London’s grandest ceremonial route, which dates to 1660 and runs to Trafalgar Square. The name “Mall” comes from a croquet-like game called “pelle melle” or “pall mall” that was played in St. James Park.
The queen lies in state in Westminster Hall, the oldest building in the Parliament complex, which dates to 1097. The 17,000-square-foot hall is known for its oaken roof, an engineering marvel commissioned by Richard II in 1393. The tradition of notables lying in state at the hall is relatively recent, beginning with Prime Minister William Gladstone in 1898.
The funeral will be the first for a monarch at the royal church of Westminster Abbey since that of King George II in 1760. Although 17 kings and queens are buried there, the abbey, which dates to 960, is often associated with happier royal times. It has hosted the coronation of every monarch since 1066 and 16 royal weddings since 1100, including the queen’s in 1947 and Prince William’s to Kate Middleton in 2011.
After the funeral procession, the coffin will be transferred from the gun carriage to a Windsor-bound hearse at Wellington Arch. The arch is a grand monument to the Duke of Wellington’s 1815 defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo, topped by a bronze angel of peace descending on a chariot of war. The arch is hollow inside with three floors of rooms, and it once housed London’s smallest police station.
In Windsor, the queen’s hearse will follow a roughly three-mile road that ends at Windsor Castle called the Long Walk (shown below after Prince Harry’s wedding). The path was created in 1680 by King Charles II through Deer Park, which had been part of a vast royal hunting forest in the 11th century.
Queen Elizabeth II will be the 11th monarch interred in the vaults and tombs of St. George’s Chapel. The chapel, completed in 1528, held the funerals of all previous kings and queens since King George III’s in 1820. It has also hosted other royal events, including the 2018 weddings of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle and Princess Eugenie to Jack Brooksbank.
The queen’s coffin will be placed in a small annex next to the royal vault called King George VI’s Memorial Chapel, along with those of her parents and the ashes of her younger sister, Princess Margaret. Prince Philip’s coffin will be moved from the royal vault and placed beside that of his wife of 73 years.
Sources: OpenStreetMap, Google Earth, Getty Images.
Photos: Victoria Jones/Pool via AP, Guy Bell/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock, Yui Mok/Pool photo via AP, Dominic Lipinski/WPA Pool/Getty Images.
Correction: This story originally misstated the name of the King’s Guard and the year of Princess Eugenie’s wedding, which occurred in 2018.