Heartbreaking moment Lord Chamberlain breaks his wand over coffin to signal end of reign
ok.co.ukThe Queen's committal service saw the Royal Family bid farewell to their beloved matriarch at St George's Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle on Monday 19 September.The service, attended by around 800 people, was discussed with Her Majesty over a number of years and all the prayers and hymns were chosen by her – apart from one.The Queen left one hymn to be chosen at the time, and after a discussion between the King and the Dean of Windsor David Conner, the hymn chosen was Westminster Abbey adapted from the Alleluyas in Purcell’s O God, Thou art my God.
Prior to the final hymn, the Imperial State Crown, the Orb and the Sceptre was removed from the coffin by the Crown Jeweller and, with the Bargemaster and Serjeants-at-Arms, passed to the Dean who placed them on the altar.The removal of the crown from the coffin to the altar is poignant, because in 1953 the crown was taken from the altar in Westminster Abbey and placed on the Queen’s head, marking the start of a 70-year reign.
At the end of the final hymn, the King placed The Queen’s Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on the coffin. At the same time, The Lord Chamberlain "broke" his Wand of Office and placed it on the coffin in an emotional moment.This is to create a symmetry with the three Instruments of State that have been removed.
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