Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, Seven Years On

The Death of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother seven years ago did not come as a shock. Her late Majesty was in her 102nd year, and had been in declining health since the death of her younger daughter, Her late Royal Highness The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon in February. Queen Elizabeth’s funeral took place seven years ago today amid much pomp and ceremony in one of the largest funerals and gatherings of foreign Crowned Heads since the death of her beloved husband King George VI of Blessed and Glorious Memory some 50 years before.

Westminster Abbey was the venue for Her Majesty’s funeral, which was a scene from a bygone age. After the very Anglican and in parts very Scottish service the last post was sounded and The Garter King of Arms proclaimed the styles and titles of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth:

Thus it hath pleased Almighty God to take out of this transitory life unto His Divine Mercy the late Most High, Most Mighty and Most Excellent Princess Elizabeth, Queen Dowager and Queen Mother, Lady of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Lady of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Lady of the Imperial Order of the Crown of India, Grand Master and Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order upon whom had been conferred the Royal Victorian Chain, Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Dame Grand Cross of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John, Relict of His Majesty King George the Sixth and Mother of Her Most Excellent Majesty Elizabeth The Second by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, Sovereign of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, whom may God preserve and bless with long life, health and honour and all worldly happiness.

Such an impressive list of titles we will never hear again. As the last Empress of India, The Queen Mother held Indian Orders which are now completely defunct (though our present Queen is still Sovereign of the Orders). Her Majesty held the Orders of the Garter and The Thistle as well as all those which Garter proclaimed.

Queen Elizabeth was recently remembered when Her Majesty The Queen unveiled a statue on The Mall and we can see that Garter’s proclamation at the Funeral was not just for show. Queen Elizabeth was depicted in the robes of the Order of The Garter so we can be assured that she held of these honours, styles and titles very dear to her heart.

Filed under Historical Royals, The United Kingdom
Tagged Anniversary, Death, Funeral, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.