The death of Queen Elizabeth II in February 2016 attracted worldwide attention. The 88-year-old monarch had ruled as queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth for 60 years at the time of her death. She was also the longest-serving queen in history. Many people attended her funeral to show their respect for the deceased leader. During her lifetime, she had earned a reputation for maintaining her dignity during difficult situations. This included her husband's passing from cancer and their children's marriages to divorcees. It's no wonder that many observers felt that she would pass with dignity and grace.
Traditionally, a queen's funeral would have been held within the month of her death. To avoid overcrowding, this has now been extended to allow nine months for preparations to finish. However, some people believe that a monarch's death is a call to action for the whole nation. This may be because people attending a funeral are supposed to be grieving alongside the royal family. They should feel as if they are attending their own funeral instead. Thus, while extending the time limits helps people plan, it also reminds us of how serious these events are- and how much we appreciate our royal families.
Queen Elizabeth II's funeral was held on Wednesday, April 19th at 11:00 AM (GMT). It began with a two-hour period of silence observed by both traditional and popular music on BBC Radio 2. Next, representatives from every part-nation and overseas territory attended a service at St Paul's Cathedral in London. The service opened with representatives from all members of the Commonwealth singing 'The Commonwealth Chant.' After that came readings from the Bible, prayers and music from different churches throughout London. The choir then sang 'The Holy Spirit Saves,' which is sung during communion services at Anglican churches around the world. The service closed with representatives from all parts of the UK singing 'God Save the Queen.'
Even though many people attended Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, it wasn't broadcast internationally like a state funeral would be. Instead, this tribute to royalty attracted a global audience via social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. People in faraway countries mourned with those who had lived under Britain's royal flag for far longer than most Britons could remember. While some royal watchers attended, many regular folks flew in from other countries to witness this event for themselves. Many were among the 100,000 people who gathered outside Buckingham Palace for the queen's hearse and escort vehicles. Those who couldn't make it out watched via livestreams or BBC broadcasts on their mobile devices.
As previously mentioned, Queen Elizabeth II had led her country through some hard times over her 60 years on the throne. Her death in February 2016 shocked observers who knew her well- but it also encouraged those who had never met her personally. Watching her funeral reminded us of just how dignified these people are when they sacrifice so much for their countrymen.