 |
| Queen Mary died after
having suffered gastric problems for several
weeks. |
| 1953: Queen Mary laid to rest in
Windsor |
England have
Queen Mary has been laid to rest next to her late husband following a
funeral service at Windsor Castle.
More than 1,500 mourners, including many royal dignitaries from around
the world, attended the service at St George's Chapel in Windsor today.
The former Queen's body was brought by car from London to Windsor in
the early hours of this morning.
It had lain-in-state at Westminster Hall from 29 to 30 March during
which time nearly 120,000 people filed past her coffin to pay their last
respects.
Gastric problems
Princess Victoria Mary Augusta Louise Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes was
born on 26 May 1867 to Prince and Princess Francis of Teck.
The Princess, who was known as May from her earliest days, married
Prince George of Wales on 6 July 1893 and became his Queen on 6 May 1910.
The couple, who had six children, reigned until King George's death on
29 January 1936.
Queen Mary died on 24 March at her home, Marlborough House in London,
after having suffered gastric problems for several weeks. She was 85.
During the week since her death messages of sympathy have arrived from
around the world.
As mourners arrived in Windsor for the funeral this morning hundreds of
wreaths and cards of sympathy lay on the lawns outside the castle.
Queen Mary's coffin draped in her banner of arms was brought into St
George's chapel for the service by six military pallbearers.
The funeral service, broadcast by the BBC, was conducted by the
Archbishop of Canterbury, Geoffrey Francis Fisher.
The Queen, wearing a long black veil, paid her final respects by
sprinkling earth three times from a silver bowl onto the coffin as the
Archbishop declared her resurrection to eternal life with the words 'Earth
to Earth, Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust.'
As she left the catafalque
the Queen gave a deep curtsey.
Queen Mary will be laid to rest next to her late husband in the tomb
built in St George's Chapel following his death.
Later in the day a memorial service was held at St Paul's Cathedral for
members of the public. About 4,000 people attended.
The Queen has declared that official court mourning for Queen Mary will
last until 25 April.
