Along with many people worldwide, I spent a good part of Monday watching the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The pomp and circumstance, the tradition, the history, the symbolism, the precision, reflected the love and appreciation for Elizabeth's reign. As so many commentators expressed, "Nobody does this better than the British."
Right off the bat I noticed the note on Elizabeth's coffin. Such a personal, loving touch and my thought was that it was from Charles. Pretty soon, the commentators reported that the note was from Charles: "In loving and devoted memory - Charles R"
Elizabeth signed her correspondence "Elizabeth R" and now Charles will sign as "Charles R."
"R." Regina and Rex. Latin for Queen and King.
During Queen Elizabeth's reign, military uniform bore the letters ER. With Charles taking the throne, those initials will change to CR.
So much symbolism on Elizabeth's coffin: the wreath of flowers, the Imperial State Crown, the Orb, the Sceptre, the Royal Standard Flag.
The Wreath
At King Charles’s request, the wreath on top of the Queen’s coffin contained flowers and foliage from the royal properties of Buckingham Palace and Clarence House, in London, and Highgrove House in Gloucestershire. The wreath contained myrtle, the ancient symbol of a happy marriage, cut from a plant that was grown from a sprig of myrtle in the Queen’s wedding bouquet in 1947. It also contained rosemary as a symbol of remembrance and English oak, a national symbol of strength, in a nod to the Queen’s constancy and steadfast duty.
The Imperial State Crown
The late Queen’s sanctified body is represented by the crown, orb and sceptre. The crown, representing the sovereign’s power, has 2,868 diamonds, 269 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and four rubies. The Queen wore the crown when she left Westminster Abbey after her coronation in 1953. The monarch wears the crown for state occasions, including the state opening of parliament.
The Orb
The golden jewelled ball created, like the sceptre, in 1661, is topped by a gem-encrusted cross. It is meant to remind the monarch that their power is derived from God.
The Sceptre
The sceptre was created for the coronation of King Charles II, and has been used to represent the crown’s power and governance in every coronation since 1661.
The Royal Standard
The royal standard represents the sovereign and the United Kingdom. The modern incarnation of the flag has four quarters: England (three lions passant) in the first and fourth quarters, Scotland (a lion rampant) in the second quarter and Ireland (a harp) in the third quarter.
To me, one of the most touching moments from this funeral occurred at the very end of the committal service at St. George's Church. As Elizabeth's coffin was lowered into the burial vault, the congregation sang "God Save the King." Charles, looked so stoic as "God Save the King" was sung, but was filled with so much emotion. Thus was the end of one reign of a beloved monarch and the beginning of a new one for the new king to forge his own path.
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