Sombre Princess Anne was the only woman in the Queen’s coffin procession as she joined her brothers on walk to Westminster Abbey for their mother’s funeral
- Princess Anne walked in dignified silence as she walked behind her mother’s coffin to attend Queen’s funeral
- Princess Royal, 72, who is often described as the ‘hardest working royal’ walked next to King Charles III
- The mother-of-two was the only woman to walk behind the coffin as it made its way to Westminster Abbey
- The Queen’s funeral: All the latest Royal Family news and coverage
Princess Anne walked in dignified silence as she walked behind her mother’s coffin to attend the Queen’s funeral today.
The Princess Royal, 72, who is often described as the ‘hardest-working royal’ walked between her brothers King Charles III and Prince Andrew, while donning full military uniform.
The mother-of-two, who was the Queen’s only daughter, has publicly mourned her mother in the ten days since her death and was by her bedside when she passed away on September 8.
Princess Anne was the only woman to walk in the funeral procession as it made its way from the Palace at Westminster to Westminster Abbey.
Princess Anne looked on at her brother King Charles III as they made their way to Westminster Abbey behind their mother’s coffin
She was joined by her three brothers, King Charles III, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward and her two nephews Prince William and Prince Harry.
All other military personnel in the procession were also men, making the Princess Royal the only female to walk behind the Queen’s coffin this morning.
Princess Anne walked in dignified silence as she walked behind her mother’s coffin to attend the Queen’s funeral today, dressed in military uniform
Earlier this week she told well-wishers today that the floral tributes to the late Queen were ‘really and truly out of this world’ as she comforted grieving children in Glasgow upon her return to Scotland after accompanying her mother’s body to London.
Princess Anne (second from right) walked in dignified silence behind her mother’s coffin with her brothers to attend the Queen’s funeral
While donning full military uniform the Princess Royal, 72, followed her mother’s coffin through London on its way to Westminster Abbey for the State funeral
In an emotional journey through the country, she accompanied her mother’s body from Balmoral, through the streets of Edinburgh and down to Buckingham Palace, where she laid in rest for the final time.
Earlier this week, Princess Anne released an emotional statement telling how she was ‘fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest mother’s life’.
She said the love and respect shown to the Queen on her journey from Balmoral to Edinburgh and onto London had been ‘both humbling and uplifting’.
Anne also thanked the nation for the ‘support and understanding offered to my dear brother Charles’ as he takes on his duties as King.
Princess Anne pictured here on her way to the funeral. The royal looked solemn, in full military uniform, as she made her way to meet her brothers
The Queen’s coffin made its way, in procession with the Royal Navy, to Westminster Abbey. The Queen has already made an emotional journey to London from Balmoral
King Charles III and Princess Anne both appeared stoic and steadfast as they followed behind their mother’s coffin on its way to her funeral
Anne’s full statement said: ‘I was fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest mother’s life. It has been an honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys.
‘Witnessing the love and respect shown by so many on these journeys has been both humbling and uplifting.
‘We will all share unique memories. I offer my thanks to each and every one who share our sense of loss.
‘We may have been reminded how much of her presence and contribution to our national identity we took for granted.
The Princess Royal, 72, who is often described as the ‘hardest working royal’ looked solemn as she made her way to her mother’s funeral
Princess Anne is pictured here between her brothers King Charles III and Prince Andrew, Prince Edward is on Andrew’s left hand side
Prince William and Prince Harry followed behind the Queen’s four children in the procession to Westminster Abbey in London ahead of the state funeral
‘I am also so grateful for the support and understanding offered to my dear brother Charles as he accepts the added responsibilities of the monarch. To my mother, The Queen, thank you.’
She ended her statement with the words: ‘To my mother, The Queen, thank you.’
Her tribute was shared to the Royal Family’s Instagram account along with a photo of Anne and the Queen, which was first released to mark the late monarch’s 90th birthday in 2016. The mother and daughter posed on a sofa in the White Drawing Room of Windsor Castle.
Born in 1950, Princess Anne was the Queen’s second child and only daughter, and even went through a rebellious stage as a teenager, once telling photographers to ‘naff off.’ There were also flings, including a kiss and tell from her police bodyguard.
In full military uniform at Parliament Square in London, the Queen’s children followed her coffin into Westminster Abbey ahead of her funeral
A long line of mourners walked into the UK’s most important church Westminster Abbey for the Queen’s funeral today
However the Princess Royal, who was renowned for being Prince Philip’s favourite child, became closer to the Queen. The monarch is understood to have come to rely heavily on Anne before her death.
Anne, who describes herself as ‘fuddy duddy’, is regarded by many as the hardest-working member of the royal family, having completed more than 20,000 engagements.
The experts believe that the Queen had given her daughter more and more responsibility as she was someone she could trust. She was similar to her father in character, with one biographer previously writing: ‘She gets on with it – she never complains.’
Strong and opinionated, she has a waspish wit and is a staunch believer in ‘The Firm’, saying of her mother: ‘She is remarkable.’
Former prime ministers Gordon Brown (left) and Tony Blair (right) arriving at Westminster Abbey this morning
U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arriving for the State Funeral
In a rare interview for a BBC1 documentary to mark the jubilee, she said it was ‘extraordinary’ for anybody to claim her mother has ever not cared about her children.
Anne said her mother was never uncaring, although protocol demanded that her children and grandchildren have to bow or curtsey to her and she spent a lot of time apart from them.
In the interview, Anne explained: ‘I simply don’t believe there is any evidence whatsoever to suggest that she wasn’t caring. It just beggars belief.’
She added: ‘I don’t believe any of us for a second thought that she didn’t care for us in exactly the same way as any other mother did. I just think it extraordinary that anybody could construe that that might not be true.’
Tom Parker Bowles arrives at Westminster Abbey ahead of the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II this morning
Former prime minister Theresa May and her husband Philip May arrive at Westminster Abbey for the service this morning
The princess said she does not understand people who ask her if she sees the Queen as her mother or as a monarch: ‘She’s my mother and the Queen.’
The princess was in Scotland when the Queen was taken ill, and stayed at her bedside at Balmoral Castle, as senior royals rushed to say their final farewells.
Hundreds of thousands of Brits have queued to see the Queen lying in state this week, as the official period of mourning ends today.
Well-wishers waited for up to thirty hours to pay tribute as people from around the world sent their condolences to the longest running head of state .
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy arrives at Westminster Abbey ahead of the state funeral this morning
Dignitaries from the commonwealth including Australia, New Zealand and Canada will join the Firm in mourning today, as well as monarchs from across Europe and the world.
The Queen’s state funeral today will end with a two-minute national silence in a ‘fitting tribute to an extraordinary reign’ before she is laid to rest beside her late husband.
Former prime minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha outside Westminster Abbey this morning
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
Police have also been granted a no-fly zone order over London on today, which will follow 10 days of mourning.
As well as thousands of uniformed Metropolitan Police bobbies drafted into action, plain-clothes officers will also mingle among crowds to monitor any threats.
It is expected that other forces will be asked to provide officers under ‘mutual aid’.
World leaders including Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron arrived at Westminster Abbey as Britain and the world prepares to say goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II at her state funeral today.
The Abbey fills ahead of the Queen’s funeral today with thousands of guests wishing to pay their respects
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.
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.
The Macrons arrived from Paris yesterday – when they went to see the Queen lying in state
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.
The Queen’s Coffin was today carried from Westminster Hall to the State Gun Carriage, and then positioned outside the building’s North Door.
Members of the clergy wait for the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II to arrive at Westminster Abbey, London for her State Funeral
The procession then went from New Palace Yard through Parliament Square, Broad Sanctuary and the Sanctuary before arriving at Westminster Abbey just before 11am.
After the State Funeral Service finishes at around midday, the coffin will be placed on the State Gun Carriage outside the Abbey.
At 12.15pm, the procession will set off for Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner.
The route will go from the Abbey via Broad Sanctuary, Parliament Square (south and east sides), Parliament Street, Whitehall, Horse Guards including Horse Guards Arch, Horse Guards Road, The Mall, Queen’s Gardens (south and west sides), Constitution Hill and Apsley Way
At Wellington Arch, the Queen’s coffin will be transferred from the State Gun Carriage to the State Hearse just after 1pm, ahead of the journey to Windsor.
It then will travel from central London to Windsor, on a route that has not been disclosed by the Palace. When the hearse arrives in Windsor, the procession will begin just after 3pm at Shaw Farm Gate on Albert Road.
The state hearse will join the procession, which will have been formed up and in position, at Shaw Farm Gate before travelling to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
The procession will follow the route of Albert Road, Long Walk, Cambridge Gate, Cambridge Drive, George IV Gate, Quadrangle (south and west sides), Engine Court, Norman Arch, Chapel Hill, Parade Ground and Horseshoe Cloister Arch.
Just before 4pm, the procession will halt at the bottom of the West Steps of St George’s Chapel in Horseshoe Cloister. Here, the bearer party will carry the coffin in procession up the steps into the chapel.
The Queen will be interred during a private burial at King George VI Memorial Chapel in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle at 7.30pm.
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