'Breaking of the wand' takes place at Queen's service in Windsor

Queen Elizabeth II’s reign symbolically comes to an end with ceremonial ‘breaking of the wand’: St George’s Chapel sings ‘God Save the King’ as Charles III departs memorial before private family service later

  • In moving ceremony, Lord Chamberlain – who oversees much of royal household – snapped Wand of Office
  • Breaking of staff signifies end of service to Queen, with Charles now appointing his own Lord Chamberlain
  • The historic gesture, which took place at the Queen’s committal, was last performed more than 70 years ago 
  • Follow MailOnline’s LIVEBLOG for updates as state funeral is held for Queen Elizabeth II in London today 
  • The Queen’s funeral: All the latest Royal Family news and coverage

An ancient tradition known as the ‘breaking of the wand’ took place today to symbolically mark the end of the Queen’s reign as St George’s Chapel burst into a rendition of ‘God Save the Queen’. 

In a moving ceremony, the Lord Chamberlain – who oversees much of the royal household – snapped his Wand of Office, which was traditionally used to discipline noisy courtiers.  

The breaking of this staff signifies the end of his service to the Queen. King Charles III will now appoint his own Lord Chamberlain to run the role under his new duties as monarch.

The ceremonial gesture, which took place at the Queen’s committal, was last performed more than 70 years ago at George VI’s funeral but this was the first time it has ever been televised. 

Shortly afterwards, the Queen was laid to rest with her beloved husband Prince Philip after her crown, orb and sceptre were removed from her coffin so she could descend into her grave ‘as a simple Christian soul’. 

The Lord Chamberlain breaks his Wand of Office in a symbolic moment when power transferred from the Queen

 The breaking of this staff signifies the end of his service to the Queen. King Charles III will now appoint his own Lord Chamberlain to run the role under his new duties as monarch

The ceremonial gesture, which took place at the Queen’s committal, was last performed more than 70 years ago at George VI’s funeral but this was the first time it has ever been televised

Her Majesty returned home to Windsor today to be reunited for eternity with her husband, father, mother and sister in the crypt at St George’s Chapel to the lament of a lone piper as her 70-year reign came to an end.

The Royal Family stood at the end of the short service as the Queen was slowly lowered down into the royal vault while the Dean of Windsor said: ‘Go forth upon thy journey from this world, O Christian soul.’ 

He also offered the commendation – a prayer in which the deceased is entrusted to God’s mercy.

Charles looked deeply moved as the coffin was lowered – on a day where he appeared tearful on a number of occasions as he said goodbye to his mother, the 12th British monarch to be buried at Windsor.

Her Majesty’s long journey to her final resting place – and to be reunited with the Duke of Edinburgh – began in Balmoral on the day of her death 11 days ago and will end with her private interment at the castle’s St George’s Chapel this evening where the King will scatter earth on his mother’s coffin at 7.30pm at a private family service.

Britain’s longest reigning monarch had been carried into the historic church followed by Charles III, her children and grandchildren including Prince Harry and Prince William.

St George’s was where the Queen had sat alone during the funeral of Prince Philip last year – in one of the most poignant images of the pandemic – and it was where she had loved to worship for so many years.  

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