The Duke and Duchess of Clarence

Chapter Five: Laying in State

Staring ahead, Adeline focused on the glittering of the crown that rested upon the coffin as she held back her emotions that she had no doubt were clear upon her face; she couldn't help but think how blessed her grandmother would feel about how many people had come to pay their respects to her. 

The procession moved steadily, not a word spoken as they processed down the Mall towards Horse Guards. 

The rest of the royal family left Buckingham Palace when the procession reached the end of the Mall and entered Horse Guards; the first car carrying the Queen Consort, the Princess of Wales and the Duke of Clarence with the Countess of Wessex and the Duchess of Sussex in the car behind. 

The cars took a different route to Westminster in order to arrive in time to greet the coffin when it arrived; the silence in the car was surreal, each occupant left to their own thoughts about the loss of the Queen. 

There was no letting up in the crowds as the procession moved through Horse Guards and passed the cenotaph; the crowd clapping as the coffin passed, a thank you to the woman that had been their last thread to WWII. 

Across the river a queue was already starting, people watching the procession on their phones as they waited for their chance to pay their respects to the Queen. 

Westminster finally coming into view, the procession making its way into the gates of Westminster towards the hall; her family close behind her as the tolling of Big Ben that continued to ring out. 

The procession came to a halt, only the tolling of Big Ben filled the silence as preparations were made to lift the coffin from the gun carriage; the bearer party doing their best to carefully manoeuvre the coffin onto the shoulders. 

Once the coffin was position, a slow march was performed to carefully care the Queen into Westminster; a choir starting up before her family moved to follow. 

To the left of the door, the rest of the royal family waited as the procession passed by; making it's way to the platform where the Queen would lay in state for four days. 

The room was filled with the extended royal family, the Queen's other grandchildren, her cousins and in-laws that had all come together for this moment. 

Ahead of the platform stood the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Dean of Westminster who prepared a service to mark this moment. 

Once the coffin was seated safely in position, the bearers departed while her family stood together inline behind the Queen's coffin. 

Charles and Camilla, Anne and Timothy, Andrew, Edward and Sophie, William and Catherine, Adeline and Simon, Harry and Meghan, Peter Philips and the Earl of Snowden. 

"Oh Lord, the marker and redeemer of all mankind grant us with thy servant Queen Elizabeth and all the faithful departed the sure benefits of thy son's saving passion and glorious resurrection. That in the last day when all things are gathered up in Christ we may with them enjoy the fullness of thy promises through Jesus Christ our Lord amen," the Archbishop stated opening the service, his voice ringing clear across the gathering as he spoke. 

"As our savour Christ hath commanded and taught us, we are bold to say Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen," the Dean said leading the lord's prayer which was echoed by everyone that was in attendance. 

The choir starting up again, the choir of Westminster Abbey and the choir of His Majesty's chapel royal, St James Palace singing together on this solemn day. 

Catherine stared ahead, her eyes filled with tears as she thought of the woman that had so warmly welcomed her to the family; she had many fond memories of the Queen that she would carry with her. 

Behind her Adeline's eyes were just as teary, she glanced down at her clasped hands as the choir sung on; a soft sniff of her nose as she thought about the woman that had been her grandmother. 

Meanwhile, it was the look on Meghan's face that was drawing the most attention from the viewers at home; many taking note of the odd emotion on her face as she stared just past Adeline's head. 

There was no hiding the slight up turn of her lips, leading some to question what Meghan could be perhaps smirking about; no hint of sadness on her face while Harry at least looked sad in this moment despite the growing redness of his face with each pass of the camera. 

"Oh God, the protector of all who trust in thee without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy, increase and multiply upon us thy mercy that thou being our ruler and guide we may so pass through things temporal that we finally lose not things eternal. 

Grant this oh heavenly father for Jesus Christ's sake amen," the Dean said once the choir had finished singing, the short service would be over soon and preparations were still heavily underway for the Queen's funeral in four days' time. 

"Unto God's gracious mercy and protection we commit you. The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you and give you peace and the blessing of god almighty, the father, the son and the holy spirit be among you and remain with you always amen," the Archbishop stated, he glanced up at the coffin knowing that the Queen would be at peace now; she would no longer be suffering. 

That concluded the service welcoming Queen Elizabeth II to Westminster Hall where she would lay in state. 

There was silence as the Dean of Westminster placed the cross at the head of the Queen's coffin where it would remain until her coffin was removed from the hall and taken to her funeral at Westminster Abbey. 

A silence followed, not a word spoken as the Queens' standard was lowered with the flag laid to rest at the opposite end from the cross. 

The first guards appeared to take up their vigil, they made their way down the steps and towards the coffin in formation; with a vigil planned for her children later that evening. 

Mounting the platform, the four guards took their positions to the sound of the head guard banging his sword to mark the start of their watch. 

A small procession including the Archbishop and the Dean moved past the royal party before they were past the coffin and back out of the hall the way that they had entered. 

The family bowing and curtsy to the coffin as they passed, falling into a single file as they did so; Catherine as elegant as Adeline as they paid their respects. 

Simon bowing his head, with Meghan quickly stepping in front of her husband to curtsy to the Queen forcing Harry to bow his head at the same time as her before they joined the line as they proceeded out of the hall. 

Meghan reached for her husband's hand, her grip tight as they made their way out of the hall behind his younger sister and her husband. 

It was a slight that enraged Meghan, she couldn't believe that they had done this to them and had seemingly pushed her and Harry down the order of relevance to punish them for speaking their truth. 

Adeline had kept her distance along with Simon, the two of them had yet to say a word to Harry or herself while William and Catherine had made polite conversation when they needed to. 

They would pay for not welcoming them back, for not bowing down like Meghan had wanted them to or giving her what she wanted; she thought that the new King would be easier to manipulate than his dying mother had been.