2 years ago
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Read What King Charles III Wrote to Queen Elizabeth II
As radical each implicit the satellite tuned successful to say a last farewell to Queen Elizabeth II, I was connected the crushed successful London.
While I've spent years overseas covering events for E! News, getting to instrumentality to the U.K. for this goodbye was a chapter I'll ne'er forget.
For generations of Brits similar myself, the monarch was a changeless passim our lives—turning to her for words of contented during her Christmas Day code and stalwart nationalist broadcasts during the coronavirus pandemic. For me, she was 1 of the archetypal beacons of a beardown pistillate I ever knew—the explanation of grace but ne'er weak, charming and comic erstwhile it was astir unexpected.
To articulation with the nationalist successful saying goodbye to the precocious monarch was 1 of the top honors of my life.
I started my time extracurricular the gates of Buckingham Palace astatine 5:30 a.m. BST earlier moving to the courtyard astatine Westminster Abbey, wherever Her Majesty's storied beingness was being commemorated successful a authorities funeral. I watched arsenic her coffin, draped successful the royal standard, was hoisted from the weapon carriage by 8 soldiers from Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. The pallbearers, who were drafted from service, stood dignified, not breaking a sweat.
Following down them, members of the royal family—including King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince William and Prince Harry—stood, clenched fists. None of america watching moved, cipher adjacent breathed—it was arsenic if clip stood still.
Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images
Throughout the day, I spent clip astatine the Horse Guards Parade successful the crowds. I shared food sandwiches and flasks of beverage with Veterans who had served the Queen and parents who'd been waiting since 3 a.m. with young children to accidental goodbye. The temper changed circular each corner, from somber to celebration—tears to cheers.
Every item of the work was meticulously planned by the Queen. It's unsurprising fixed she excelled successful ocular interaction successful each areas of her beingness and virtually pioneered the thought of sending deeper messages done her clothing—all without saying a azygous word.
If the caller royals learned from the best, yesterday was exemplary.
Phil Noble - WPA Pool/Getty Images
To support the absorption connected the precocious monarch and the reflections of her 70-year reign, the royal attendees downplayed their looks. Both Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle both did a re-wear of sorts, wearing achromatic versions of looks they've antecedently worn for authoritative engagements. Their hidden connection seemed to indicate, "Nothing caller to sermon here."
But the heavy hidden symbolism of their looks cannot beryllium overlooked, and neither tin the interaction of their impeccable style.
Phil Harris - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Kate Middleton
Kate donned a achromatic Alexander McQueen A enactment overgarment dress—a much somber mentation of the look she donned astatine the Trooping of the Colour successful June, erstwhile she wore the aforesaid silhouette successful white.
DOMINIC LIPINSKI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Meghan Markle
Meghan wore a achromatic Stella McCartney cape dress, wearing the aforesaid look successful navy conscionable a fewer years earlier astatine the Queen's 92nd day successful 2018.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Kate Middleton
The Princess of Wales wore a Philip Treacy Black saucer chapeau with a built-in netted veil. Kate donned the headwear, which besides featured a sleek velvet ribbon tied astir the base, astatine a flimsy tilt.
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