How Queen left Windsor in a Land Rover before swapping to her Bentley
Operation Abbey: How the Queen left Windsor Castle in a Land Rover before swapping to her state limousine at Buckingham Palace…then entered Westminster Abbey through discreet side entrance in military-style plan
- Queen and Prince Andrew this morning left Windsor Castle in a Range Rover together for Buckingham Palace
- They swapped into her state limousine, purple Bentley, before carrying on their journey to Westminster Abbey
- Instead of heading in the front entrance, Her Majesty was parked at side door to shorten the walking distance
- She held on to her disgraced son Prince Andrew as they slowly made their way into the chamber and sat down
Wherever she goes she always makes an incredible entrance, with throngs of adoring royalists cheering and dozens of TV cameras watching her every step.
But today the 95-year-old Queen made a quieter approach as she arrived at Westminster Abbey via a side door as she tried to avoid too many steps.
Her Majesty appeared inside the front of the iconic chamber and was part of a small procession that saw her guided to her seat by her disgraced son Prince Andrew.
Earlier she made the 22-mile trip from Windsor Castle to Buckingham Palace, before swapping cars and travelling on to Westminster.
The Queen was making her first public appearance in five months as she joined the rest of the Royal Family and other dignitaries at a memorial service in honour of her husband Prince Philip, who died last year.
The Duke of Edinburgh, who was by his wife’s side for more than seven decades, passed away at Windsor Castle in April, two months shy of his 100th birthday.
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and Prince Andrew, Duke of York, arrive for the service of thanksgiving for late Prince Philip today
The Queen was making her first public appearance in five months as she joined the Royal Family and other dignitaries at a memorial service in honour of her husband Prince Philip, who died last year. She is pictured walking with Prince Andrew entering the chamber
Her Majesty appeared at the front of the iconic building and was part of a small procession that saw her guided to her seat by her disgraced son Prince Andrew before sitting down
The Monarch’s route to Westminster Abbey was heavily debated ahead of the day amid the logistics of her being in Windsor rather than London and being less steady on her legs than in recent years.
She and her second eldest son Prince Andrew set off from the Berkshire Castle in a Range Rover for Buckingham Palace this morning.
There they swapped it for her Bentley state limousine and carried on to the Abbey, where they were met by thousands of cheering supporters as she arrived just in time for the ceremony.
Police stopped the Westminster traffic before officers on motorcycles swept ahead of the Royal motorcade, made up of a Ranger Rover and Mercedes people carrier.
A guard of honour saluted as the Queen’s Bentley went past flying the Royal Standard. The vehicle then made a tight turn on to Poets’ Yard entrance, where there were fewer steps for her to manoeuvre.
The car was carefully parked as close to the door as possible, with the Queen sitting behind the driver to minimise the difficulty of her getting inside – and it was turned around while she was in the chamber.
Her walking stick was spotted before she stepped out of the vehicle and entered Westminster Abbey. She held on to her son as they headed out of the car and walked through Poets’ Corner towards her seat in the Abbey.
She also kept her right hand on her walking stick, which she has used over the last few months to help her get around Windsor Castle.
They walked at a slow but steady pace both looking ahead, and at the end of the aisle they separated – with Andrew giving a last glance to his mother as she turned right.
She and her second eldest son Prince Andrew set off from the Berkshire Castle in a Range Rover for Buckingham Palace this morning
Prince Andrew (left) leaves Windsor Castle with the Queen (right) this morning ahead of the service of thanksgiving for Philip
They drive through the gates of Buckingham Palace as Royal watchers stand on and armed police stand guard
There they swapped it for her state limousine and carried on to the Abbey, where they were met by thousands of cheering supporters
Queen Elizabeth II is driven in to attend a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey
The Queen was surrounded by close family, friends, foreign royals and hundreds of charity workers in the remembrance of her beloved husband the Duke of Edinburgh at a poignant memorial service.
Front and centre of the high profile occasion was the Duke of York, despite Andrew paying millions out of court earlier this month to settle a civil sexual assault case.
As the service began, the Prince of Wales leaned over to the Queen and spoke to her briefly. The Queen delved into her black Launer handbag for her glasses.
Andrew, who stepped down from public life over his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, had a front row seat, sitting next to his brother the Earl of Wessex and across the aisle from his other siblings.
Among those attending were Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte were also present in honour of their great-grandfather – the first time they have attended a major public church service.
Some 1,800 people packed the gothic church – in marked contrast to Philip’s funeral where only 30 were permitted to attend amid Covid restrictions, with the Queen sat alone, masked in mourning.
The monarch had been determined to make the appearance at the deeply personal and significant occasion on Tuesday in honour of her ‘strength and stay’ Philip – with her attendance only confirmed the same morning.
Tuesday’s service is the Queen’s first major official engagement outside one of her homes for nearly six months, since she travelled to Cardiff to deliver a speech at the Welsh Senedd on October 14.
Despite her frailty, Queen Elizabeth II stands during a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of the Duke of Edinburgh, at Westminster Abbey today
Her Majesty walked with the help of a stick but stood without support sat next to Charles, Camilla, Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. Across the aisle was Prince Andrew
Her Majesty stands to sing surrounded by her family with the Duke of York also on the front row.From left to right, front row: Queen Elizabeth II, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of York, The Earl of Wessex, the Countess of Wessex, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and Viscount Severn. (Second row left to right) The Duke of Cambridge, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, the Duchess of Cambridge, Peter Phillips, Isla Phillips, Savannah Phillips, Mia Tindall, Zara Tindall and Mike Tindall
Her Majesty listens to the various eulogies to her husband at the Service of Remembrance held almost a year after his funeral
The Queen is spotted leaving the iconic Abbey and walking towards her state Bentley before getting in it and heading off with Andrew
Her Majesty is pictured in the state limousine with her son Prince Andrew as they left the service on Tuesday afternoon
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