LONDON: The state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II took place at Westminster Abbey in London on Monday after 10 days of national mourning.
In attendance were members of the late royal family, as well as around 500 world leaders and foreign dignitaries. A total of 2,000 guests bid farewell to Britain's longest-reigning monarch.
Hundreds of thousands of mourners flooded the capital's streets and parks, while millions watched online as Queen Elizabeth made a final visit to Windsor Castle and was to be buried with her late husband, Prince Philip.
Here are some highlights from Monday's events.
President Biden, along with First Lady Jill Biden, was the only world leader allowed to attend the Queen's funeral in a private car. After flying back to the UK on Saturday, the Bidens went to the funeral in the president's limousine "Beast" as part of a motorcycle. Other world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, traveled by bus for the funeral.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Biden was given special permission to attend the event in his car. Shortly after the ceremony, he headed to Washington, D.C.
King Charles's goodbye note
The Queen's coffin was draped in the Royal Standard – the flag representing all the countries in the UK – England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. A colorful wreath was also placed on the coffin with a farewell note from the Queen's eldest son and heir, King Charles III.
The card reads, "With love and great memories, Charles R." The "R" in Charles' sign is for rex, the Latin word for king.
Prince Harry and Meghan's hesitancy in the seating arrangement
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, sit in the second row of the funeral procession, while Harry's father, King Charles III, Queen Consort Camilla, Prince William and Kate Middleton sit in front with their children. , Also the Queen's son, Prince Andrew, who was captured earlier this year over a friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex - They will be sitting next to Harry's cousins, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie - who left the royal throne in 2020 and moved to California.
Harry was not allowed to wear his military uniform at the funeral, despite having served a long time in the army, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel and having served two tours of duty in Afghanistan.
Katherine and Meghan wear sentimental jewelry
There was a lot of meaning behind the jewelry that Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales and Meghan wore to the Queen's funeral. Kate wore a four-string pearl and diamond choker necklace owned by the Queen. The necklace was previously worn by her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.
The piece dates back to the 1970s, when it was presented to the Queen as a gift from Japan. Kate previously wore the choker to the Queen and Prince Philip's 70th wedding anniversary in 2017 and to the prince's funeral last year. With the choker, Kate wore pearl drop earrings that were a gift from the ruler of Bahrain to the Queen for their wedding in 1947.
