Queen’s funeral: New photo of monarch after King Charles’ touching message
New claims have emerged about how Harry found out about Queen Elizabeth’s death, as the royal family released a new photo of the monarch.
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Prince Harry only learned his grandmother had died five minutes before the death was made public, it’s been claimed.
The Telegraph in the UK reports King Charles called and told his son the news shortly before he landed in Aberdeen, Scotland, which was just minutes before Buckingham Palace released the official announcement.
However the publication cites a royal source saying that Prince Harry was treated no differently from any other family member and it was not possible for him to be in regular contact with everyone in the lead up to the Queen’s death.
“Everybody was trying to get where they needed to be. That was the focus,” the source said.
“And the King was adamant that the official statement must not be released until all members of the family had been informed. That was a father talking because he cares.”
Members of the royal family were told about the Queen’s ailing health the night before her death, but at that stage there was no sign that she was on her deathbed.
This changed the next morning, according to reports, with King Charles first calling Prince William and then Prince Harry “some time” after to tell them they needed to get to Scotland.
Prince Harry left Luton Airport in Bedfordshire at 5.35pm, which was reportedly an hour after UK Prime Minister Liz Truss had been informed of the Queen’s death.
The Duke of Sussex arrived too late to see his grandmother.
WHAT KATE SAID TO AUSSIE G-G
Australia’s Governor-General David Hurley has recalled a touching conversation he had with the Princess of Wales, Kate, over her children’s handling of their great grandmother’s loss.
“The younger one is now asking questions like, ‘do you think we can still play these games when we go to Balmoral and things like that, cause she’s not going to be there?,” Mr Hurley revealed Kate said on Saturday, during their meeting at Buckingham Palace.
Kate said Prince George was “sort of now realising how important his great-grandmother was and what is going on”.
ROYAL FAMILY RELEASES NEW QUEEN PHOTO
In a modern twist, the royal family Instagram account released a new elegant portrait of the Queen on the eve of her funeral.
The photograph shows the erstwhile monarch looking content in a corn blue dress and adorned in pearls.
The official photograph was taken earlier this year to mark her Platinum Jubilee, becoming the first British Monarch to reign 70 years on the throne.
“Tomorrow, millions will come together to commemorate her remarkable life,” the post accompanying the new portrait said.
The Queen wore her hair neatly curled and is wearing her favourite three-strand pearl necklace, pearl earrings and her aquamarine and diamond clip brooches which were an 18th birthday present from her father George VI in 1944.
The image was taken by photographer Ranald Mackechnie, who also took the jubilee portrait of the Queen released to mark the start of national festivities of her milestone 70-year reign.
CAMILLA’S TV TRIBUTE TO QUEEN
The Queen Consort will pay tribute to the late monarch in a TV interview in which she recalls her “wonderful blue eyes” and says: “I will always remember her smile.”
Camilla, in the pre-recorded interview to air on the BBC, will speak of how Queen Elizabeth II was a “solitary woman” in a male-dominated world.
“It must have been so difficult for her being a solitary woman, and there weren’t women prime ministers or women presidents, she was the only one. So I think she carved her own role,” she says, according to The Sun.
“She made a rule that she had her private time and her private passions and then her public role and I think that is very important that the diary is planned out so you know when you’re on duty and when you’ve got to do things.
“Then when she went up to Scotland, that was the moment where it was her enjoyment.”
Camilla also recalls a light-hearted moment she shared with the Queen on her wedding day.
“I remember coming from Clarence House, to go to Windsor the day I got married when I probably wasn’t firing on all cylinders, quite nervous and, for some unknown reason I put on a pair of shoes and one had an inch heel and one had a two-inch heel.
“So, I mean talk about hop-a-long and there’s nothing I could do.
“I was halfway down in the car before I realised and you know, she could see and laughed about it and said, ‘look I’m terribly sorry’. She had a good sense of humour.”
CHARLES HEARTFELT THANKS TO AUSTRALIA
His Majesty the King on Monday morning issued a heartfelt statement in which he expressed his grief over the death of his mother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and expressed thanks to Australia and other countries for messages of condolence.
King Charles said: “Over the last ten days, my wife and I have been so deeply touched by the many messages of condolence and support we have received from this country and across the world.
“In London, Edinburgh, Hillsborough and Cardiff we were moved beyond measure by everyone who took the trouble to come and pay their respects to the lifelong service of my dear mother, The late Queen.
“As we all prepare to say our last farewell, I wanted simply to take this opportunity to say thank you to all those countless people who have been such a support and comfort to my Family and myself in this time of grief.”
ALBO REVEALS MUM’S ROYAL LABOUR REQUEST
Anthony Albanese’s late mother may have been a republican, but on the day she went into labour she had one royal request.
It was March 1963, and Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip had just arrived in Australia for a month-long tour on what would become just one of the couple’s 16 trips to the country.
Maryanne Albanese went into labour around the same time but on the drive to hospital “insisted” going via the city “to see all the festival paraphernalia”.
“My mother was a republican, but she also liked the Queen,” the Prime Minister told ABC Melbourne from London.
“I think you can have different views but have respect for Queen Elizabeth and the role she had.
“My mother insisted that while she was in labour on the way to the hospital, going via the city.
“It’s a story that is fairly famous in my family.”
Mr Albanese said his mother had regard for the Queen given she was “such a strong woman and a role model”.
Mr Albanese will join a crowd of world leaders in Westminster Abbey on Monday night (Australian time) to pay respects and farewell the late Queen.
From there, he will travel to St George’s chapel for a committal service before returning home to Australia.
It will wrap up a whirlwind five-day trip to the UK, during which time he had a private audience with King Charles III and formal and informal meetings with world leaders, including new British Prime Minister Liz Truss and Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau.
“I’ve been determined to pay respect to all of the protocols that have been in place for a long period of time, and I’ve done that,” Mr Albanese said.
“I’ve done that out of respect for Queen Elizabeth and out of respect for institutions.
NATIONWIDE MINUTE OF SILENCE
British Prime Minister Liz Truss led the one minute silence across Britain as Big Ben tolled in solemn remembrance of the Queen.
At 8pm Sunday UK time a minute’s silence was observed across the nation to remember Her Majesty ahead of the Monarch’s state funeral.
Mourners were invited to mark the historic occasion privately at home, on their doorstep or street, or at community events and vigils.
And the masses across the country did exactly that.
Prime Minister Truss and her husband Hugh O’Leary stood with their heads bowed outside 10 Downing Street.
Big Ben tolled to start the beginning of the national moment of reflection, and the bell struck once more at 8.01pm to mark its end.
A service was also held near Falkirk, Scotland, with 96 lanterns, one for each year of the late monarch’s life, lowered into the pool of reflection at the foot of the Queen Elizabeth II Canal, before wreaths were placed into the water.
The nationwide silence came as the queue to pay respects to the Queen as she lay-in-state remained open.
WORLD LEADERS GATHER FOR STATE RECEPTION
King Charles welcomed world leaders to Buckingham Palace at a reception in honour of the Queen.
Dubbed the “reception of the century”, a stunning array of world leaders converged on Buckingham Palace to pay their respects ahead of the monarch’s funeral on Monday night, Australian time.
King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla welcomed US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill, and French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte to the palace, for what was one of the largest gatherings of world leaders seen in recent years.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the gathering.
President of Ireland Michael D Higgins was seen being dropped off by bus along with the former King and Queen Consort of Spain, Juan Carlos and Sofia.
This is along with senior members of the British royal family, ambassadors from almost all nations, and foreign royals including Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and the Kings and Queens from Holland, Norway and Belgium.
Many dignitaries have already been viewing the Queen’s coffin in the ancient heart of parliament after being given a VIP timeslot, as ordinary mourners who have queued through the night pay their respects with leaders of the free world.
BIDEN’S EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE
US President Joe Biden paid a heartfelt tribute to the late monarch after he visited her coffin.
Mr Biden said the Queen reminded him of his own mother by the way she carried herself with “dignity” and encouraged a life of service.
Mr Biden signed a condolence book for the Queen at Lancaster House, early on Monday morning Australian time.
Mr Biden said the Queen made the world a better place, adding Britain was lucky to have her as monarch for seven decades.
“To all the people of the United Kingdom, you were fortunate to have had her for 70 years, we all were, the world’s better for her,” Mr Biden said.
He said the Queen had a way of making you feel comfortable, while also holding you to account.
“She was the same in person as her image, decent, honourable and all about service,” he said.
“My hearts go out to the royal family. It’s a loss that leaves a giant hole, sometimes you never think you will overcome it but as I’ve told the King, she’s going to be with him every step of the way.”
Mr Biden met the Queen in March 2021, having tea at Windsor Castle along with his wife Jill.
He was the 13th US president to meet the Queen during her reign.
Mr Biden, speaking in an emotional voice, said she reminded him of his parents.
“The thing is, excuse the expression, the Irish of it, it’s about treating people with dignity,” he said.
“I talked about how my mother and father thought that everyone no matter who they were, no matter what their station, no matter where they were from deserved to be treated with dignity and that’s exactly what she communicated.
“Just the way she acted and I think what she did was give a sense of maybe above all the notion of service.
“We all owe something, if there’s something in our capacity to do, it could make things, not just the world better, but your neighbourhood better, your household better, your workplace better and that’s what she communicated to me, anyway and it was an honour to meet her.”
Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales, Catherine, met Ukraine’s first lady ahead of the Queen’s funeral.
Olena Zelenska was pictured meeting Kate at the Palace on Sunday afternoon local time.
They sat either side of a fireplace on gingham armchairs with purple orchids on display in the background.
Ms Zelenska also visited Westminster Hall earlier to see the Queen lying in state.
ANDREW’S TRIBUTE TO ‘MUMMY’
Royal outcast Prince Andrew has paid tribute to the “compassion” of his “mummy”, the Queen
“Mummy, your love for a son, your compassion, your care, your confidence, I will treasure forever,” he said in a statement.
He said it had been “an honour and privilege” to serve her, before adding: “I will miss your insights, advice and humour.”
Prince Andrew, who stepped down from public life over allegations of sexual abuse – which he denies – and his friendship with paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2019, continued: “Your devotion and personal service to our nation is unique and singular.
“I have found your knowledge and wisdom infinite, with no boundary or containment.”
“As our book of experiences closes, another opens.
“I will forever hold you close to my heart with my deepest love and gratitude, and I will tread gladly into the next with you as my guide.”
He ended the statement honouring his brother King Charles, saying: “God Save the King.”
Alongside his statement, the Duke of York posted a 1960 black and white photo of his mother holding him as a newborn.
Since the Queen’s death, he has attended events to honour his mother alongside other grieving senior royals, and stood vigil by her coffin on Friday.
He was allowed to wear military colours for the vigil but has not been permitted to do so for other commemorative events, including Monday’s state funeral.
PM MEETS WITH TRUDEAU AHEAD OF QUEEN’S FUNERAL
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau on the eve of the Queen’s funeral in London.
The two leaders reiterated their condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and agreed to continue their close co-operation on growing their economies and climate change.
Shaking hands, the two prime ministers reaffirmed their shared commitment to climate initiatives in the Indo Pacific and working on growing the economy, progressive values.
“We have lots of things to talk about, it’s really, really good to see you again in person,” said Mr Trudeau.
He said the day’s topics would also include critical minerals “in a world that Canada and Australia both share a strong expertise in with the kinds of values that matter to consumers.”
Mr Albanese spoke of his audience with King Charles, saying it was a “sombre” occasion to be in London, ahead of the Queen’s funeral.
“We both had audiences separately (with the king) but also it’s very sombre occasion in which we’re here together in London,” he said.
“But in part of the recognition of some of our common history, and our common values that we’ll talk about, are common values of human rights of support for the international rule of law in our region.
“Indeed, we’ve seen the Russian invasion of Ukraine, of course, trampling all over that. But also, we have such similar economies and similar challenges, but also opportunities of dealing with climate change and growing our economies growing good, sustainable jobs. And I look forward to another discussion this morning.”
WORLD LEADERS TO PAY RESPECTS TO QUEEN
Mr Albanese and Mr Trudeau are among dozens of world leaders who later tonight will join the royal family to farewell Queen Elizabeth in the “funeral of the century” at London’s Westminster Abbey.
In an unprecedented turnout – and security operation – to mark the Queen’s death after 70 years on the throne, US president Joe Biden, as well as numerous presidents and prime ministers, will be among 2000 special guests at Westminster Abbey.
Millions of people are expected to throng in London streets, prompting a security response bigger and more complicated than that of the 2012 London Olympics, as an estimated TV audience of four billion viewers tune in around the world.
The funeral, which involves three separate services over more than 12 hours, follows 10 days of official mourning in Britain, which has featured 24-hour waits and eight kilometre queues as Britons rushed to pay their respects to their monarch lying in state.
Security arrangements include a “ring of steel”, 10,000 police on the ground officers in the city, as well as rooftop snipers and drone surveillance.
The heightened measures have hampered movement as London’s streets swelled with growing numbers of visitors on the weekend.
The Queen’s final journey begins at Westminster Hall, before she is buried with her husband Prince Philip and family at St George’s Chapel at Windsor to London’s west.
Organisers hope to honour the Queen’s “unique and timeless position in all our lives”.
It seems they have already succeeded in a second hope – to unite the world.
Almost all the peoples of the planet, bar pariah states such as Russia, will be represented at the funeral service.
At least six kings and five queens will attend, joining presidents of France, Italy, Germany, as well as the six surviving British prime ministers who served under the Queen.
ALBO DESCRIBES ROYAL VISIT AS ‘MOMENTOUS’
In a busy schedule, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will attend the farewell after meeting British counterpart Liz Truss.
He has met with King Charles, and paid his respects to the Queen’s coffin, which he described as “momentous” and “emotional”.
“The Queen touched so many Australians for generations,” Mr Albanese said afterwards.
British authorities have been planning for a massive funeral turnout for years, if not decades.
Queen Elizabeth’s goodbye, as she wanted, will bow to old world conventions.
HOW THE QUEEN WANTED TO SAY GOODBYE
The Queen’s coffin will boast the Imperial State Crown, sceptre and orb, just as the Queen’s father’s coffin boasted on his 1952 passing.
Her coffin will be carried on the same gun carriage as her father.
Royal women will wear veils for the service, as tradition demands, while King Charles is expected to sprinkle dirt on his mother’s coffin, as his mother did for her father.
In services at Westminster, as well as Windsor Castle, bells, cannon fire and drums will feature, along with pipers’ laments and hymns.
For numbers, the event is certain to dwarf the services of former prime minister Winston Churchill in 1965, the Queen Mother in 2002, and the raw shock of grief after the sudden death of Princess Diana in 1997.
In the words of the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, the London service will be “living tradition in action”.
“It’s on a scale that even Westminster Abbey doesn’t often do,” he said, adding it would be a “wonderful mixture” of great ceremony and profound words.
“The business about it being a state funeral is really important,” Dr Hoyle said.
“It’s meant to be visual. It’s meant to be grand …”
“Part of this is about remembering her significance, her place in history, her place in the nation and Commonwealth.
“But it’s a funeral. It’s for a grieving family. That’s really important, (that) personal sorrow at the heart of this.”
Following the hour-long funeral service, at 8.55pm Australian time, the Last Post is sounded, followed by a two-minute silence and a lament played by the Queen’s piper.
Her coffin will leave Westminster Abbey in procession to Wellington Arch at Hyde Park, with King Charles and senior members of the Royal Family walking behind, while Camilla, Queen Consort and Catherine, Princess of Wales will travel by car, as will Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
Australian forces will march ahead of the gun carriage, representing the Commonwealth,
along with Canadian Mounties and New Zealand personnel.
Once the procession arrives at Wellington Arch, the coffin will be transferred to a state
hearse and begin its journey to Windsor.
Crowds will watch sombrely as it makes its way west of London, past Heathrow – even the sky falling silent for the monarch – in an event which has stopped the nation and the watching world.
Just after midnight Australia time, the hearse will arrive in Windsor – the Queen’s beloved home – and join another procession waiting at Shaw Farm Gate. The hearse will begin to make its slow journey up the Long Walk towards the castle where the King and Royal Family members will join it on foot in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle.
About 10 minutes later, the procession will reach St George’s Chapel and the coffin will be
carried up the steps and into the church, a journey the Queen watched her beloved Prince
Philip make in April 2021.
At 1am AET, there will be a televised committal service, conducted by the Dean of Windsor and attended by governors-general and prime ministers, as well as past and present members of the Queen’s household.
At the end of the service, the Lord Chamberlain (the most senior position in the Royal Household) will ceremonially break his wand of office over the coffin before it is lowered into the royal vault.
A private burial service – held in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, which will be attended only by close family members – is scheduled to take place at 4.30am AEST.
After this, the Queen’s coffin, along with Prince Philip’s, will be moved from the royal vault to the chapel, where they will finally rest, lying together, for eternity.
The royals, including the Queen herself, along with police forces and governments and transport operators, have plotted the funeral pomp and logistics for decades.
Over the weekend, King Charles visited a Metropolitan Police Base and inquired about security plans.
He asked the officers: “Have you been planning for a long time … or have you just been drafted in?”
One officer responded: “Yes your Majesty, we’ve been planning for about three years. There were teams before us.”
He replied: “And the plans are working?”
The officer said: “They are, absolutely.”
“That’s the most encouraging thing,” the King said.
Mourners have observed that the unprecedented size – and turnout – of the Queen’s send-off is testament to her endurance and approach through seven decades.
Her strength lay in staying the same even as the world changed. She seemed to know what to say – and what not to say.
Her calm approach to crisis settled Britain in difficult times.
But it was her kindly and warm way, as opposed to the power of her monarchical position, which is said to have prompted such a groundswell of grief – and such a uniquely concentrated gathering of the world’s most powerful people.
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