We paused this morning to watch as, after 70 years of service to her country, Queen Elizabeth II was memorialized and will, later today, be laid to rest. I was struck by the silence and the stillness of the honor guard, standing statuesque around the gun carriage as her coffin was transferred from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey.
The stillness disturbed only by the honor guard moving the coffin to the carriage, and the silence broken sound of pipes and drums.
I was reminded by the stillness of the last time we saw Her Majesty in a church. Still. Silent. Marking and mourning the death of her husband and companion. Alone.
Today, Westminster Abbey was full of mourners – family, subjects, and – I hope – some friends.
The service ended to the call of trumpets. And stillness. And silence.
And the sound of pipes.
He was a man, take him for all in all,
Hamlet 1:2
I shall not look upon his like again.
Rest in peace.