What the 'Hamlet' quote used by King Charles III in Queen Elizabeth's social epitaph means

'May flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest,' reads a final message to the queen

A previously unreleased photograph of Queen Elizabeth II in Balmoral in 1971, posted by Buckingham Palace on social media. Photo: Lichfield

In the hours after Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, the British royal family shared a final message, a social epitaph featuring a quote from the William Shakespeare play, Hamlet.

The message, which was posted on Instagram and Twitter, reads: "'May flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest.’ In loving memory of Her Majesty The Queen. 1926 – 2022."

It was posted with a previously unseen photograph of the queen walking through heathlands on a grey day at Balmoral in 1971. It was taken by Patrick Anson, 5th Earl of Lichfield, who was a cousin of the queen's and the photographer at King Charles III's wedding to Diana, Princess of Wales.

The Hamlet quote, "May flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest," comes from Act 5 Scene 2, the final scene of the Shakespeare play. It is spoken by Horatio, who is paying tribute to his dying friend, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

The full quote reads: "Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."

Extraordinary moments at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II — in pictures

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  King Charles III follows behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre on top, as it is carried out of Westminster Abbey after her state funeral. Reuters

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  The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth travels down the Long Walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the Committal Service at St George's Chapel. AP

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  Pall bearers carry the coffin into St. George's Chapel, in Windsor. AP

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  A Royal Guard stands by floral tributes at Windsor Castle. AFP

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  The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is pulled on a gun carriage by Royal Navy sailors to Westminster Abbey. Getty Images

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  Prince William and Prince Harry follow the coffin of the queen after her state funeral in Westminster Abbey. AP

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  Emma, the monarch's fell pony, stands as Queen Elizabeth's coffin passes at Windsor Castle. PA

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  Members of the royal household stand with Queen Elizabeth's Corgis, Muick and Sandy, as they await the funeral cortege at St. George's Chapel, Windsor. AP

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  Catherine, Princess of Wales, attends the state funeral service in London. AFP

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  The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is pulled along The Mall following her funeral service in Westminster Abbey. AP

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  Flowers thrown by the public lie on the hearse carrying the coffin as it arrives at Windsor Castle. AP

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  King Charles at the state funeral in London. Reuters

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  People sleep before the funeral service at Westminster Abbey. AFP

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  A giant screen honouring the late queen at Piccadilly Circus in London. EPA

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  King Charles looks towards the coffin of his mother at Westminster Abbey. Getty Images

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  Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, sitting in a car as a British flag is reflected in its window. AFP

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  Buckingham Palace household staff return through the gates of the palace after paying their respects. AFP

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  Staff Sergeant Yeoman Darren Fowler, right, and Captain Rebecca Cooper from the Royal Signals at the Elizabeth Tower, checking that Big Ben Chimes in time with gunfire during the state funeral procession. EPA

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  King Charles salutes as he is driven past Wellington Arch in London. Getty Images

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  The London skyline is seen as the procession moves down The Mall. Getty Images

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  The coffin of the queen is pulled on a gun carriage by Royal Navy sailors from Westminster Abbey. Getty Images

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  Princess Charlotte arrives by car ahead of the funeral in central London. AP

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  The coffin is carried into St George's Chapel for the Committal Service, in Windsor Castle. AP

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  A woman cries in London's Hyde Park while watching the funeral service. AP

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  Prince George looks towards his father Prince William during the Committal Service at St George's Chapel. Getty Images

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  Queen Elizabeth's coffin is driven along the Long Walk towards Windsor Castle. Reuters

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  People waiting along the route that the coffin will be pulled on a gun carriage in central London. AP

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  King Charles and the Queen Consort Camilla follow the coffin at St George's Chapel. AP

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  The Royal State Hearse arrives at Windsor Castle. Getty Images

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  King Charles follows the State Gun Carriage as it carries the coffin at Westminster Abbey. PA

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  Members of the public gather to see the coffin as it travels from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch in London. Getty Images

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  King Charles and members of the royal family follow behind the coffin as it is carried into Westminster Abbey. PA

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  The Imperial State Crown resting on the coffin. Getty Images

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  The hearse transporting the coffin is covered in flowers thrown by the public. AFP

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  The Bearer Party of The Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards carries the coffin from Westminster Abbey. AFP

The quote is popularly used in tributes when someone dies, and was the final line of King Charles III's first address after his mother Queen Elizabeth II died.

In the play, the relationship between Hamlet and his mother, Gertrude, Queen of Denmark, is a turbulent one. Their fallout is rooted in the fact Hamlet resents Gertrude for marrying King Claudius, the brother of her first husband and Hamlet's father.

However, the complex interfamilial relationships in Hamlet have not affected the quote's popularity in paying tribute to the dead.

When Vangelis, the Greek composer of the Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner soundtrack, died in May, Elon Musk used the quote to pay tribute to him on Twitter.

"Good night, sweet maestro, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest," Musk wrote.