King Charles Leaves One Last Message Of Love On Queen Elizabeth II's Coffin
By Afouda Bamidele on September 19, 2022 at 8:30 PM EDT
King Charles III bid his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, a final goodbye with a touching note on her majesty's casket!
The newly-appointed King of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms penned one last message to the late monarch at her eminence's funeral on Monday, September 19. His Royal Highness's note to his mother was showcased on her coffin alongside the colorful display of flowers arranged by her doting son.
King Charles III Leaves Poignant Message On The Late Queen's Casket
Although members of the British Royal family were riddled with grief as they fought back the tears during the late monarch's state funeral, eagle-eyed viewers noticed something meaningful amidst the sadness. The emotional service occurred at Westminster Abbey in London, where the new King adorned his mother's coffin with beautiful flowers and a special handwritten note.
As shared by PEOPLE, the monarch's final message to his parent stood out amongst the colorful wreath, which consisted of flowers chosen by Charles from three royal residences. On a plain white card decorated with the royal letterhead, his majesty's note read, "In loving and devoted memory, Charles R."
The "R" after the King's name signified his royal highness's new position as sovereign ruler. The "R" stood for rex, which represented "King" in the Latin language. During her noteworthy reign, Queen Elizabeth II would sign her name as "Elizabeth R." The "R" in this context stood for "Regina," which meant "Queen" in Latin.
According to the news outlet, this traditional signature has been used by monarchs since the 12th century. However, leaving handwritten notes on a loved one's coffin may not be a gesture that dates back centuries. The sentimental action follows the Royal family tradition, which the Queen previously displayed at her late husband's funeral.
At Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021, her eminence tucked a similar handwritten note within the white flowers arranged on her husband's coffin. Topping off this affectionate moment, her royal highness signed the card with her childhood moniker, "Lilibet."
As for why the Queen chose to dismiss her traditional signature for her childhood nickname, many believed her majesty did so as a romantic gesture. Philip may have been the last person to ever refer to the monarch as "Lilibet."
Nonetheless, the truth behind her decision remained a mystery as the Palace did not share details about the matter, noting it was "private." For the Queen's funeral, privacy went out the window as the world was allowed to witness the ruler's final moments.
Inside Westminster Abbey, the deceased's coffin was decorated following the Royal Standard. On top of the casket laid the Imperial State Crown, an orb, and scepter, plus Charles' colorful wreath and sweet note. The flower arrangements featured foliage from the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, and the King's country home, Highgrove House.
Symbolic plants like Rosemary were included for remembrance, while myrtle was added to represent a happy marriage. Why would Charles choose such a joyous flower for a sad occasion? Because the King was as romantic as his late mother.
Nearly 75 years ago, the Queen tied the knot to Prince Philip on the same aisle in Westminster in a beautiful ceremony in 1947. From this historic event, a sprig of myrtle in the monarch's wedding bouquet was used to grow a new plant.
Charles draped his mother's coffin with the flowers that blossomed from the plant mentioned above. The symbolic wreath also included the English oak, which represented the strength of love, scented pelargoniums, garden roses, autumnal hydrangea, and more.
The Prince's Trust Founder Expressed His Gratitude To Well-Wishers In An Emotional Statement
On the eve of Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, PEOPLE reported that the late monarch's son released a heartfelt statement expressing his gratitude to the public for their love and support.
In a statement on Sunday evening, the newly-appointed King revealed that he and his wife, Camilla, the Queen Consort, were "deeply touched" by the worldwide condolences they received.
The monarch noted that people across the U.K. took the trouble to pay their respect to the late Queen, whose body was laid in state at Westminster Hall for her funeral. As the Royal family prepared to say their last farewell, Charles wanted the public to know that their support comforted his loved ones during their grief.
