Hello, and welcome to st pauls cathedral, in the heart of the City Of London for a service of prayer and reflection in thanksgiving for the life of Queen Elizabeth ii. The service will open with the first address to the whole country by king charles iii. The congregation here will represent the mass of the people to whom he will speak from now on. From north to south, east to west. Because, unlike most State Celebrations or commemorations, the cathedral is not filled with those that are hereby reason of rank or status. The Prime Minister will give a reading. But all afternoon, crowds have been queueing up outside, because almost everybody here in this Wonderful Church have simply turned up because they want to be here. Access has been for anyone who can get to this place today. And as, outside buckingham palace, all day the crowds have been flowing around the crowds have been flowing around the cathedral, they want to take part. It is clear that this will be a service with a character
burial in the royal vault alongside her husband prince philip in windsor this evening. as we are watching traditions that go back centuries and updated by the queen s agreement grandmother, queen victoria in 1901. the queen s casket will arrive at windsor castle, with the procession ending outside st. george s chapel. she will be the first female sovereign there. we will be bringing you the committal service for which some of the music was composed by the former chapel organist who is believed to have taught young princess elizabeth to play the piano. hundreds of world leaders, including president biden and more than 2,000 dignitaries joined the royal family for the queen s state funeral at westminster abbey. the 13th century seat of the church of england and where 25-year-old elizabeth was core nated 75 years ago. the queen said her funeral should not be long and boring. it was just about one-hour long, managing to be both personal and a world-class good-bye, including a
abbey where the late queen was married in 1957. and crowned back in 1953. when she was just 25 years old. her astounding 70 years on the throne saw a world transformed. from scientific breakthroughs, world war ii, to a changing monarchy. and to her own changing family. yet, threw it all this remarkable woman endured. through 14 american presidents, 15 british prime ministers, through financial crisis and, of course, the troubles through the rise of the internet and the fall of the berlin wall. in a few minutes, the royal navy will begin a procession to transport the queen from westminster hall where she has been lying at rest. queen elizabeth ii led her people for over seven decades on the throne. she was 96 years old. the longest reigning monarch in british history. along with joe, willie and me, we have u.s. special correspondent for bbc catty kay. it s wonderful to be with you early this morning as we cover history in the making. let s set the scene. last night i posted a
understanding, and example. queen elizabeth was a life well lived, a promise with destiny kept, and she is mourned most deeply in her passing. that promise of lifelong service i renew to you all today. alongside the personal grief that all my family are feeling, we also share with so many of you in the united kingdom, in all the countries where the queen was head of state, in the commonwealth and across the world, a deep sense of gratitude for the more than 70 years in which my mother as queen served the people of so many nations. in 1947 on her 21st birthday, she pledged in a broadcast from capetown to the commonwealth to devote her life, whether it be short or long, to the service of her peoples. that was more than a promise. it was a profound personal commitment which defined her whole life. she made sacrifices for duty. her dedication and devotion of sovereign never wavered, through times of change and progress, but times of joy and celebration, and through times of sadne
her the most heartfelt deb debt family could owe to their mother, understanding, example, guidance. queen elizabeth was a life well lived. a promise with destiny kept. and she is mourned most deeply in her passing. that promise of lifelong service i renew to you all today. alongside the personal grief that all my family are feeling, we also share with so many of you in the united kingdom, in all the countries where the queen was head of state, in the commonwealth, and across the world, a deep sense of gratitude for the more than 70 years in which my mother as queen served the people of so many nations. in 1947 on her 21st birthday, she pledged in a broadcast from cape town to the commonwealth to devote her life whether it be short or long, to the service of her peoples. that was more than a promise. it was a profound personal commitment which defined her whole life. she made sacrifices for duty. her dedication and devotion of sovereign never waivered, through times of change