The Queen left Buckingham Palace for the final time yesterday to the sound of muffled bells and sombre music.
The procession to Westminster Hall was a display of precision-perfect pageantry.
Ahead of the gun carriage bearing Her Majesty’s coffin marched the Household Division, behind walked the King, his sister and brothers, and princes William and Harry.
Along the route well-wishers stood in silence to pay their respects to the country’s longest-serving Monarch. It was a national moment of symbolism and solemnity.
It was also a very personal occasion for the Queen’s children and grandchildren. A reminder that Her Majesty was not just the head of state but also the head of a family.
The members of the Royal Family have not wavered in their public duties since the Queen’s passing, even though these have left them with almost no time to mourn.
For William and Harry the ceremony must have brought back memories of walking behind their mother’s coffin. Yesterday they stood side by side again, united in grief.
Health folly
One of the few decent policies proposed by Boris Johnson was to curb the consumption and promotion of junk food.
Liz Truss has now signalled she wants to ditch her predecessor’s anti-obesity strategy.
How misguided. One in three adults in Britain is overweight and nearly a quarter of year 6 primary school kids are classed as obese.
This is more pressure on the NHS. Treating diabetes alone costs around £9billion a year.
A Government which cared about health and the NHS would pursue a junk food ban.
Ten out of 10
Strictly's Motsi Mabuse was used to getting perfect 10s on the dance floor.
It’s clearly her favourite number as she has 10 Ukrainian refugees living in her home.
Like all those who have housed those fleeing the war, she deserves full marks.
