The public will be able to see the final resting place of Queen Elizabeth II from next week.
A new ledger stone within the George VI Memorial Chapel, which sits within St George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle, has been installed and bears the queen’s name.
The inscription on the ledger stone in the George VI Memorial Chapel also has the names of her parents and husband, Prince Philip, along with their years of birth and death.
The late monarch was laid to rest together with the Duke of Edinburgh on Monday evening in a private service attended by her son, King Charles III, and the royal family. This followed her state funeral at Westminster Abbey and committal service in Windsor.
The fresh stone now contains, in list form, “George VI 1895-1952” and “Elizabeth 1900-2002” followed by a metal Garter Star, and then “Elizabeth II 1926-2022” and “Philip 1921-2021”.
All four royals were members of the Order of the Garter, which has St George’s Chapel as its spiritual home.
When Prince Philip died 17 months ago, his coffin was interred in the Royal Vault of St George’s, ready to be moved to the memorial chapel when the queen died. The chapel is a pale stone annexe added on to the north side of the building behind the North Quire Aisle in 1969.
The queen's sister Princess Margaret, who died in February 2002, was cremated and her ashes were initially placed in the Royal Vault. These were moved to the George VI memorial chapel with her parents’ coffins when the Queen Mother died weeks later.
Windsor Castle is currently closed to the public and will reopen on September 29, giving the first opportunity to see the stone in person.
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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 -
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 -
Pall bearers carry the coffin into St. George's Chapel, in Windsor. AP -
A Royal Guard stands by floral tributes at Windsor Castle. AFP -
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is pulled on a gun carriage by Royal Navy sailors to Westminster Abbey. Getty Images -
Prince William and Prince Harry follow the coffin of the queen after her state funeral in Westminster Abbey. AP -
Emma, the monarch's fell pony, stands as Queen Elizabeth's coffin passes at Windsor Castle. PA -
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 -
Catherine, Princess of Wales, attends the state funeral service in London. AFP -
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is pulled along The Mall following her funeral service in Westminster Abbey. AP -
Flowers thrown by the public lie on the hearse carrying the coffin as it arrives at Windsor Castle. AP -
King Charles at the state funeral in London. Reuters -
People sleep before the funeral service at Westminster Abbey. AFP -
A giant screen honouring the late queen at Piccadilly Circus in London. EPA -
King Charles looks towards the coffin of his mother at Westminster Abbey. Getty Images -
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, sitting in a car as a British flag is reflected in its window. AFP -
Buckingham Palace household staff return through the gates of the palace after paying their respects. AFP -
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 -
King Charles salutes as he is driven past Wellington Arch in London. Getty Images -
The London skyline is seen as the procession moves down The Mall. Getty Images -
The coffin of the queen is pulled on a gun carriage by Royal Navy sailors from Westminster Abbey. Getty Images -
Princess Charlotte arrives by car ahead of the funeral in central London. AP -
The coffin is carried into St George's Chapel for the Committal Service, in Windsor Castle. AP -
A woman cries in London's Hyde Park while watching the funeral service. AP -
Prince George looks towards his father Prince William during the Committal Service at St George's Chapel. Getty Images -
Queen Elizabeth's coffin is driven along the Long Walk towards Windsor Castle. Reuters -
People waiting along the route that the coffin will be pulled on a gun carriage in central London. AP -
King Charles and the Queen Consort Camilla follow the coffin at St George's Chapel. AP -
The Royal State Hearse arrives at Windsor Castle. Getty Images -
King Charles follows the State Gun Carriage as it carries the coffin at Westminster Abbey. PA -
Members of the public gather to see the coffin as it travels from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch in London. Getty Images -
King Charles and members of the royal family follow behind the coffin as it is carried into Westminster Abbey. PA -
The Imperial State Crown resting on the coffin. Getty Images -
The hearse transporting the coffin is covered in flowers thrown by the public. AFP -
The Bearer Party of The Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards carries the coffin from Westminster Abbey. AFP
Before his premature death, George VI enjoyed a happy family life with his wife and two daughters, referring to the tight-knit foursome as "us four".
The death of the queen means that all four have finally been laid to rest together.
The Queen Mother, also called Elizabeth, was buried in the chapel on April 9, 2002, after her death aged 101.
A host of other royals are interred in the Royal Vault beneath the chapel.
Construction of the chapel, designed by George Pace, was completed in 1969.
It was commissioned by the queen as a permanent resting place for her father.
The king died aged 56 in February 1952 but his death had been unexpected and, as a result, no specific resting place had been allocated.
At the time, the king's remains were interred in the Royal Vault.
The Royal Vault is the final resting place of a long list of mostly 18th and 19th-century royals, including George III, who died in 1820.
With no more space to accommodate a second vault at St George's, it was decided that another chantry chapel would be built — the first addition to St George's since it was consecrated in the 15th century.
The queen rejected the idea of the traditional marble chest tomb with life-size effigies favoured by earlier royals for her father.
Instead, the king's grave was marked with a simple stone of black Belgian marble inlaid into the floor with the inscription "George VI".
The dedication took place on March 31, 1969, in a ceremony attended by George's widow Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, the queen, Prince Philip, Elizabeth's sister Princess Margaret and all four of the monarch's children.
The queen was finally laid to rest on Monday during a private evening burial service attended by close family only.
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People wait in a queue near Tower Bridge in London to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II. Reuters -
Thousands of people are queueing in London to see Queen Elizabeth lying in state in Westminster Hall. Bloomberg -
People queue on a bridge over the river Thames, next to the Palace of Westminster. Reuters -
Stuart Murphy works on his iPad as he stands in a queue near Bermondsey, London. Reuters -
A newly married couple pose next to people waiting in line. AFP -
People in the queue in Victoria Tower Gardens. PA -
The long queue winds it's way past the London Eye. Bloomberg -
People join the queue on the South Bank in London to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state. AP -
People in the queue on the South Bank opposite the Houses of Parliament. AP -
A queue forms on a pavement in central London ahead of the procession. EPA -
Queen Elizabeth will lie in state for four days inside Westminster Hall until the morning of her funeral, to be held on Monday. PA -
Members of the queue on the South Bank. PA -
Members of the public queue near Lambeth Bridge. AP -
A wall to sit on ahead of the ceremonial procession. AP -
People settle in behind fences on the route. EPA
The family’s website said it was conducted by the Dean of Windsor. The website added: "The Queen was buried together with The Duke of Edinburgh, at The King George VI Memorial Chapel.”
It followed a simple committal service, which contrasted with the earlier state funeral. The queen's close staff were represented, including her senior dresser and personal adviser Angela Kelly, alongside people such as Earl Spencer, the brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales.
It was heavy with symbolism with the Camp Colour from the military unit personally commanded by the Queen ― Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards ― placed on her coffin by the King.
Baron Parker — the Lord Chamberlain and a former MI5 chief, and the most senior official in her royal household — “broke” his wand of office by dismantling it into two halves and placing them on her coffin.
Earlier in the day, the state funeral at Westminster Abbey was attended by dignitaries including hundreds of heads of state. London was full with mourners for the event, which involved the largest policing operation undertaken by the Metropolitan Police.
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On the eve of her funeral, Buckingham Palace released this previously unseen portrait of Queen Elizabeth II smiling with joy. Here 'The National' takes a look back at previous portraits of the queen. PA -
This photograph of Queen Elizabeth, at Windsor Castle, was for her platinum jubilee. The image is part of the 'Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation' exhibition, on view at Windsor Castle until September 26. Photo: Ranald Mackechnie -
This portrait, issued by the Royal Collection Trust, was taken by photographer Dorothy Wilding in 1952, and is featured in the 'Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Accession' exhibition, on view at Buckingham Palace until October 2. Photo: Royal Collection Trust -
This portrait of Queen Elizabeth by British artist Lucian Freud was finished in 2001 and caused an outcry. The image is a part of the 'Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation' exhibition. Reuters -
The monarch was featured in Andy Warhol's 'Reigning Queens' series of portraits created in 1985. The pop art print, although not officially commissioned, was later brought into the Royal Collection. The image is a part of 'Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation' exhibition. Photo: Royal Collection Trust -
This image of Queen Elizabeth II on her Coronation Day on June 2, 1953, was taken by royal photographer Cecil Beaton, and remains one of the most famous portraits of the monarch. The image is a part of the 'Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation' exhibition. Photo: Royal Collection Trust -
The portrait of Queen Elizabeth II painted by Pietro Annigoni, was finished in 1956 and commissioned by the Fishmongers Company in the City of London. The image is a part of the 'Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation' exhibition. PA -
Michael Leonard's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was painted for her 60th birthday, and commissioned by 'Reader's Digest'. The image is a part of the 'Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation' exhibition. Photo: Reader's Digest / Shutterstock -
Nigerian artist Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy painted this portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which was commissioned by the Commonwealth to mark her 2002 golden jubilee on March 10, 2002. The image is a part of the 'Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation' exhibition. Photo: Royal Collection Trust -
Artist Chris Levine made headlines with his controversial portrait titled 'Lightness of Being', which shows the queen with her eyes closed. The image is a part of the 'Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation' exhibition. Photo: Royal Collection Trust -
The 1963 plaster cast known as the 'Dressed Head' by Arnold Machin, provided the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II to be used on British stamps from 1967. The image is a part of the 'Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation' exhibition. Getty Images -
This recent portrait of the monarch titled 'Algorithm Queen', was painted by an ultra-realistic humanoid robot artist called Ai-Da Robot for the platinum jubilee. -
Ralph Heimans's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was commissioned to mark her 60 years on the throne and hung in the Chapter House of Westminster Abbey. The image is a part of the 'Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation' exhibition. Photo: AFP
