Poignant handwritten note left on Queen’s coffin by King Charles

A handwritten note by King Charles left on the Queen’s coffin caught viewer’s eyes during her funeral. This is what it said.

As the Queen was brought into St. George’s Chapel, onlookers noticed a short, handwritten note sitting on top of her coffin.

The tiny note was difficult to read and was nestled among the flowers on top of her coffin, but it carried a heartfelt message from her son, King Charles.

“In loving and devoted memory. Charles R,” the handwritten message read.

The “R” stands for Rex, which is the Latin word for king.

During her reign, Queen Elizabeth II would often sign official documents as Elizabeth Regina, with the latter name being Latin for queen.

The wreath underneath the note was also significant, containing flowers and foliage cut at King Charles’ request from gardens in Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Highgrove House.

A note from Britain's King Charles III is seen with flowers on the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II. Picture: Daniel Leal – WPA Pool/Getty Images

The wreath included myrtle cut from a plant grown from the myrtle used in the Queen’s wedding bouquet from her marriage to Prince Philip in 1947.

Rosemary and English oak were also featured in the wreath, along with flowers in shades of gold, pink and deep burgundy, with touches of white.

Also sitting on top of the Queen’s coffin was the Imperial State Crown, which contains a 317.4-carat diamond, along with four rubies, 11 emeralds, 17 sapphires, 269 pearls, and more than 2500 smaller diamonds.

King Charles, dressed in ceremonial military uniform, followed the solemn processions in London, alongside his three siblings.

They were accompanied by Prince William, Prince Harry, and other senior royals.

They were then joined by Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Queen Consort Camilla and Catherine, the Duchess of Cornwall.

Meghan Markle and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, also joined the procession.

Members of the royal family follow behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II. Picture: Danny Lawson WPA – Pool/Getty Images

The group walked behind the Queen’s coffin. Danny Lawson – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

King Charles was brought to tears as the coffin of his mother was lowered into the Royal vault after a short service.

This brought an end to the public ceremonies for the Queen’s passing.

Charles looked at points exhausted and emotional as he said a final goodbye.

The service was conducted by the Dean of Windsor, with prayers said by the Rector of Sandringham, the Minister of Crathie Kirk and the Chaplain of Windsor Great Park,

Following the penultimate hymn, the imperial state crown, the orb and the sceptre were moved from the Queen’s coffin to the altar.

The King then placed the Queen’s Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on the coffin before the Lord Chamberlain broke his Wand of Office.

The Dean then said a psalm and the Commendation while the coffin was lowered into the royal vault.

King Charles III follows the hearse with the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II moving towards St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Picture: Jon Super – WPA Pool/Getty Images

As the coffin was lowered, a lone piper played and the Queen’s titles were read publicly for the last time.

“The late Most High, Most Mighty, and Most Excellent Monarch, Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, and Sovereign of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.”

The ceremony came to an end with the singing of “God Save the King”.

The Royal Damily then held a private burial for the Queen, without cameras, at 7.30pm (UK time), 4.30am AEST.

Late on Sunday night, King Charles and his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, said they had been “deeply touched” by the public’s flood of messages.

“I wanted simply to take this opportunity to say thank you,” the King said.

The queen was buried alongside her father king George VI, her mother queen Elizabeth and sister princess Margaret, reuniting in death the family who once called themselves “us four”.

The coffin of her husband Prince Philip, who died last year aged 99, was transferred to lie alongside her.

– with AFP