George and Charlotte walk behind Queen’s coffin as they say final goodbye to beloved ‘Gan Gan’
Prince George and Princess Charlotte walked behind the Queen’s coffin as they said goodbye for the final time to their beloved ‘Gan Gan’.
George, nine, and Charlotte, seven, were the youngest members of the Royal Family to attend their great-grandmother’s funeral at Westminster Abbey, who they affectionately called ‘Gan Gan’.
The future king and his sister, who are second and third in line to the throne respectively, joined 2,000 guests including kings, queens, presidents and prime ministers at the hour-long service, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.
Their grandfather, King Charles, was pictured wiping away a tear while Prince Andrew also appeared to struggle with maintaining his composure as emotions ran high during events to mark the Queen’s departure.
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The royal siblings walked behind the coffin alongside their parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, as part of a procession through the gothic church.
George, dressed in a navy suit and black tie, walked with his arms by his side while Charlotte held her hands together.
She wore a black coat dress with a small silver horseshoe attached to the front, said to be a nod to the Queen’s love of horses.
They walked behind the King and Queen Consort but ahead of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Earlier, the youngest generation of royals arrived in a car with the Queen Consort and their mother, Princess Catherine.
The Princess of Wales was seen holding Charlotte’s hand and giving her a squeeze on the shoulder ahead of the service.
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She also comforted George by tenderly placing a hand on his knee.
After taking their seats, the children took a moment to study the order of service.
George was seen singing The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended as he stood between his parents.
Meanwhile, Charlotte could be seen observing proceedings from under the brim of her hat while mourners sang The Lord’s My Shepherd.
The Prince and Princess of Wales led George and Charlotte to stand behind the coffin at the end of their service, as they filed slowly out of the abbey.
The children and their mother joined the Duchess of Sussex, Queen Consort and Countess of Wessex to watch the Queen’s coffin travel for the final time from Westminster.
Charlotte was seen chatting to her elder brother and gesturing at the coffin as it reached Wellington Arch and was transferred to the state hearse to be transported to Windsor.
Later, they attended the committal service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, sitting either side of their mother while the Prince of Wales sat to the left of his eldest son.
George and Charlotte’s younger brother Prince Louis, four, was not seen at the funeral.
Nor were the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s children, Archie, three, and Lilibet, 15 months, who are believed to have stayed at home in the US.
Prince Edward’s children Lady Louise Windsor, 18, and Viscount Severn, 14, were also present, together with Prince Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and Princess Anne’s children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall.
