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LONDON, ENGLAND: After a 10-day mourning period in the UK, Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral officially took place today, a fittingly overcast Monday, 19th September, in London.
For the occasion, world leaders from all over the world journeyed to the city to join 2,000 guests, including Meghan Markle, who was beside her husband, Prince Harry, world leaders, and other members of the royal family for the proceedings at Westminster Abbey. At 12pm, the entire nation observed two minutes of silence.
The night prior, the palace released a new — and final — portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, showing the late monarch in a powder blue suit and smiling widely.
Ahead of Her Majesty The Queen’s State Funeral, a new photograph has been released.
The photo was taken to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee – the first British Monarch to reach this milestone.
Tomorrow, millions will come together to commemorate her remarkable life. pic.twitter.com/UyVfjVvJgw
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 18, 2022
Before the funeral service, the royal family, including Markle, arrived at Westminster Hall, in the Palace of Westminster, to witness the Queen’s coffin being moved to the funeral location, before walking behind the coffin at the beginning of the service.
For the sombre occasion, Markle wore a black cape dress by Stella McCartney with long-sleeve black gloves and a wide-brimmed hat, pulling her hair back into a sleek bun. She wore a pair of black suede stiletto heels on her feet and semi-sheer black tights.
The Duchess paid tribute to the late monarch by rewearing a pair of diamond and pearl earrings that were gifted to her by the Queen. Markle had previously worn the earrings during her only solo engagement with HRH in 2018, and she has been seen wearing them publicly twice in the past week as a tribute to her honour.
Following the funeral, as King Charles III, Prince William and Prince Harry joined the procession behind the Queen’s coffin, Markle stood outside Westminster Abbey alongside Queen Camilla and Kate Middleton, as well as Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
Later, as the coffin was placed into the hearse following the procession to Wellington Arch, Meghan was photographed with tears in her eyes as she stood next to her husband.
Despite Markle and Prince Harry’s tense relationship with the royal family in recent years — since the couple relocated to California at the beginning of 2020 — the pair have been presenting a united front alongside the rest of the family, including Prince Harry’s elder brother, Prince William, and his wife, Kate Middleton.
They first joined the Prince and Princess of Wales to meet members of the public gathered at Windsor Castle on 10 September, before greeting the Queen’s coffin at Buckingham Palace on 13 September, alongside other members of the royal family, as well as attending a short service at Westminster Hall on 14 September. Behind closed doors, the family reportedly also had a private dinner, for which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were present.