Royals rally around Her Majesty: Queen’s extended family including Prince Michael of Kent, Lady Sarah Chatto and King Charles’ goddaughter India Hicks turn out in force at Westminster Abbey
- The Queen’s extended family flocked to pay their respects to the late monarch at Westminster Abbey today
- Her Majesty’s cousins Prince Michael of Kent and Duke of Kent were in attendance at service for the Queen
- King Charles’ goddaughter India Hicks shed a tear as she arrived with her mother Lady Pamela Hicks
- The Queen’s funeral: All the latest Royal Family news and coverage
The Queen’s extended family flocked to pay tribute to the late monarch today when attending Her Majesty’s funeral at Westminster Abbey.
Her Majesty’s cousins and distant relatives came together to say a final farewell to the monarch today – including Prince Michael of Kent and the Duke of Kent.
Some attending have shown their support by standing in for the Queen at royal engagements, others have been there at family gatherings or shared personal moments with Her Majesty.
While they rarely gather en masse, there have been several occasions in recent months in which they have, including the Duke of Edinburgh’s service of thanksgiving and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Also present at today’s service was King Charles’ goddaughter India Hicks and her mother Lady Pamela Hicks, 93, who is the daughter of Lord Mountbatten and cousin of Prince Philip, as well as the Queen’s beloved niece Lady Sarah Chatto, 58, who appeared mournful in an all-black ensemble.
Duke of Kent, Prince Edward and Prince Michael of Kent arrive at Westminster Abbey ahead of The State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
India Hicks, 55, looked sombre in all black including a long sleeved black dress with and knee-high Louboutin boots, as she walked alongside her wheelchair-bound mother Lady Pamela Hicks into Britain’s most historic church
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy, during the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, held at Westminster Abbey
Lady Sarah Chatto (pictured with her husband Daniel) appeared sombre upon arrival today. Princess Margaret’s daughter remained close to Her Majesty and Prince Philip following her mother’s death in 2002
Sarah, also the daughter of Anthony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl Snowdon, joined other members of the royal family to pay their respects to the late monarch
King Charles’ goddaughter India Hicks shed a tear as she walked into Westminster Abbey today to say her final goodbye to the Queen
India, who shares sons Wesley, 24, Felix, 24, Amory, 22, Conrad, 18, and daughter Domino, 13, with her partner David Flint Wood, lives in the Bahamas but was in the UK last week to celebrate her one year wedding anniversary when the Queen passed away aged 96
India shed a tear as she walked into Britain’s most historic church, dressed in all black including a long sleeved dress and knee-high Louboutin boots, as she walked alongside her wheelchair-bound mother Lady Pamela.
Lady Pamela was a bridesmaid at the wedding of the Queen and Prince Philip, while India was a bridesmaid when King Charles married Princess Diana.
India, who shares sons Wesley, 24, Felix, 24, Amory, 22, Conrad, 18, and daughter Domino, 13, with her partner David Flint Wood, lives in the Bahamas but was in the UK last week to celebrate her one year wedding anniversary when the Queen passed away aged 96.
She has remained in the country for the period of mourning and today tied her hair into a low bun and opted for a black fascinator for the service.
Lady Pamela is the daughter of Earl Mountbatten, the brother of Prince Philip’s mother. She previously served as a lady-in-waiting to Her Majesty.
Earl Mountbatten, was affectionately known as ‘Uncle Dickie’ by Prince Philip and the Queen, and was seen as hugely influential in the early life of both royals.
Through her father she is a great-great granddaughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, also making her a distant cousin of the Queen.
Meanwhile, Lady Amelia (pictured top right) was also in attendance today. Once dubbed the most beautiful member of the royal family, Lady Amelia is currently signed to Storm models, which represents the likes of Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne
The Queen begins her final journey from Westminster Hall
King Charles III is seen on The Mall ahead of The State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
Meanwhile, Lady Sarah appeared sombre upon arrival today. Princess Margaret’s daughter remained close to Her Majesty and Prince Philip following her mother’s death in 2002.
Sarah, also the daughter of Anthony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl Snowdon, joined other members of the royal family to pay their respects to the late monarch.
Last week an emotional Sarah attended the service at Westminster Hall following the Queen‘s procession, once again dressed in all-black.
Sarah, who is married to Daniel Chatto, was once described by a royal insider as sharing a ‘sense of loyalty, fun, duty and the ridiculous’ with the Queen.
‘The Queen adores Sarah and seeks out her company as often as possible. She is her absolute favourite younger royal,’ they said. ‘They are hugely at ease in each other’s company. Much giggling can be heard when they are together. They share a sense of loyalty, fun, duty and the ridiculous.’
Lady Sarah Chatto was born in 1964 — the last royal baby born at a palace rather than a hospital — within weeks of cousins Prince Edward, Lady Helen Windsor and James Ogilvy.
The Queen has been described as a ‘surrogate mother’ to the siblings and was particularly close to Lady Sarah, who is understood to remind Her Majesty of her late sister.
The King, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward walk to the abbey behind their mother
Kate rests a caring arm on George and his sister Charlotte as they arrive at the Abbey
Meanwhile, Lady Amelia was also in attendance today. Once dubbed the most beautiful member of the royal family, Lady Amelia is currently signed to Storm models, which represents the likes of Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne.
Lady Amelia has also modelled for the likes of Dolce & Gabbana and designed her own range of accessories in collaboration with Penelope Chilvers.
Her Majesty was carried in her oak coffin to the gun carriage used by her parents and was followed by her son, the King, and her relatives including the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex.
The grieving Royal Family arrived at Westminster Hall as they prepared to say farewell to Elizabeth II at her state funeral along with 2,000 VIPs and an estimated 2million people in central London.
The UK’s most important church began filling up from 8am as the congregation arrived up to three hours early – including Kate Middleton’s parents – as huge crowds of mourners packed the procession route outside and tens of thousands more went to Windsor, where Her Majesty will be buried later.
Michael and Carole Middleton were among hundreds of VIPs who arrived at the UK’s most important church – where Her Majesty married Prince Philip and had her coronation.
2,000 royals, world leaders and hundreds of members of the public have began filing into the Abbey as billions around the world will watch Her Majesty’s state funeral.
Most of the VIPs arrived by coach, meeting at the Royal Hospital Chelsea before being put on a bus into Central London. Britain’s ministers – past and present – were among the first arrivals including Nadham Zahawi, Ben Wallace and Jacob Rees-Mogg. But US President Jo Biden went to the Abbey in The Beast – his bomb-proof limousine.
Guests arriving for the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, held at Westminster Abbey today
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte file into the Abbey today as world leaders gathered to say farewell
U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive, on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth
The Macrons arrived from Paris yesterday – when they went to see the Queen lying in state
A long line of mourners walk into the UK’s most important church
Former prime minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson arrive at Westminster Abbey this morning
Prime Minister Liz Truss arrives at Westminster Abbey for the service this morning
: A general view inside Westminster Abbey ahead of The State Funeral Of Queen Elizabeth II on September 19
Michael and Carole Middleton, the parents of Kate, the Princess of Wales, arrived two hours early for the service, followed by Tom Parker Bowles, the son of Queen Consort, Camilla. They were also on a bus together – despite their close links to the Royal Family. Celebrities at the funeral include TV personality Bear Grylls.
Funeral flowers in the abbey featured myrtle – which was used in the Queen’s wedding bouquet as is royal tradition. The huge white and green displays of blooms included asiatic lilies, gladioli, alstroemeria, eustoma and foliage of English oak, weeping birch and the sprigs of myrtle.
Around the coffin will stand the four tall yellow candles which usually rest around the grave of the unknown warrior at the entrance to the historic church.
And outside hardy royal fans defied no-camping rules, as people of all ages set up tents, deck chairs and even a makeshift minibar to grab premium seats for the spectacle that will see 2million flood into the capital. By 8.30am member of the public were told that the procession route was full and began diverting people to Hyde Park to watch on the big screens.
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