Since the Union of the Crowns in 1603, the composition of the Royal Standard has taken various forms. In today's Standard there are four quarterings - England (three lions passant) in the first and fourth quarters, Scotland (a lion rampant) in the second quarter and Ireland (a harp) in the third quarter. The historic Royal Standard of Scotland is used officially at Scottish royal residences, when the monarch is not in residence, and by representatives of the Crown, including the First Minister, Lord Lieutenants in their lieutenancies, the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and Lord Lyon King of Arms. A variation of the Royal Standard of Scotland is used by the heir apparent to the King of Scots, the Duke of Rothesay, whose personal Royal Standard is the Royal Standard of Scotland defaced with an azure-coloured label of three points. (The banner of the Duke of Rothesay also features the same, displayed upon an inner shield). A photograph, published in the Daily Mail newspaper and across numerous other titles the next morning, showed the monarch wiping away a tear during the service. Queen Elizabeth's funeral ceremonies began with pomp and ceremony in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, not London, last Monday, due to the queen’s relatively sudden, if not unexpected, death at Balmoral Castle, her cherished residence in the Highlands.

The direct heir to the Throne has several distinct standards and banners for use throughout the United Kingdom in representation of this position. William, Prince of Wales has five standards at use for his various roles and titles. LONDON — Hundreds of world leaders and the last members of the epically long line of mourners have paid their final respects. Britain is now ready to lay to rest its longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, with billions thought to be watching around the globe to mark the end of a reign that defined an era.

Uncommon Knowledge

The grand state funeral featured tributes, prayers and songs, with hundreds of world leaders and other dignitaries in attendance. Much of the music at today’s funeral for Queen Elizabeth II was selected for its “special significance” to the late monarch, Westminster Abbey has said. Meanwhile, many of the choices also have a long association with the church itself. In June 2018, avid royal watchers decoded the Queen's use of a trio of brooches—as if they were an epée, foil and broadsword—for President Donald Trump’s working visit to Britain. On Day 1, a modest flower, a gift from his rivals, the Obamas; on Day 2, the sapphire snowflake given to her by the Canadian people, a country Trump derided; and on Day 3, a brooch habitually worn during mourning (and by the Queen Mother at George VI's funeral in 1952). A banner of the Royal Coat of Arms of Queen Anne, first and fourth quarters representing (newly unified) England and Scotland, second quarter representing the British claim to the French throne, third quarter representing Ireland. At the same time, the Lord Chamberlain, the senior officer of the royal household, will “break” his wand and place it on the coffin to create symmetry with the three instruments of state that have been removed.

It includes plants chosen for their symbolism, including rosemary for remembrance and myrtle, the ancient symbol of a happy marriage. The myrtle in the wreath was cut from a plant grown from a sprig in the queen's wedding bouquet in 1947. English oak, which is meant to symbolize the strength of love, was also included, the palace said. A colorful wreath of flowers could be seen placed upon the queen's coffin as it was carried to Westminster Abbey on Monday. It continued: 'The terrorist outrages in the United States last September brought home to us the pain and grief of ordinary people the world over who find themselves innocently caught up in such evil. The queen's coffin has been lowered into the royal vault at Windsor Castle, where the royal family held a committal service before she is laid to rest alongside her husband, Prince Philip. The Coat of Arms of England quartered with the Royal Standard of France, the fleurs-de-lis representing the English claim to the French throne.The Royal Standard, impaled with the arms of her father, Claude Bowes-Lyon, Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. After escorting the queen’s coffin to Westminster Abbey, the royal family joined 2,000 dignitaries at the state funeral for an hourlong service of tributes and prayer that culminated in a two-minute silence and the singing of the national anthem. But nothing that can be said can begin to take away the anguish and the pain of these moments. Grief is the price we pay for love.'

The Palace were expecting a hatchet job, but the sheer maliciousness of the claims in Omid Scobie's book has left them all reeling, writes REBECCA ENGLISH Like her mother and father before her, Queen Elizabeth II will be buried at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world and the preferred English residence of the late queen.The armoury of her soft power, the visual message communicated through dress, was translated and amplified by her chosen couturiers who were all British—in succession, Norman Hartnell, Hardy Amies, Ian Thomas and Stewart Parvin— and through her trusted dressers, the most recent, and of 25 years standing, being Angela Kelly. Her team understood the rules of engagement. At 6:30 a.m. (1:30 a.m. ET) Monday, the final mourners were allowed into Westminster Hall to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II as she lay in state. A five-point label, the first, third and fifth points charged with a blue anchor, the second and fourth points charged with the Cross of St. George Campion, Vikki; Matheson, Melissa (9 November 2012). "Foul weather follows Prince Charles and Camilla". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney . Retrieved 27 December 2013.