After ten days of national mourning, Queen Elizabeth II was buried on Monday. The British royals, who are always accused of emotional distance, were very affected by the funeral. King Charles wept openly for his late mother.
The emotional distance, critics call it callousness, of the British upper class even has its own name in English. “Stiff upper lip” is what it’s called when you don’t show any feelings on the outside, even if it’s bubbling up inside. Nobody does that better than the British Royals. But there comes a point where feelings get the best of you, even if you’re the new King of England.
At the funeral of his mother, the Queen, billions of people around the world saw Charles’ eyes pop. The king accompanied his mother’s coffin both in the procession from Westminster Hall to the Abbey in London and afterwards at Windsor Castle to St. George’s Chapel. After ten days of national mourning, she now finds her final resting place next to her husband Prince Philip.
As Charles, followed by his son William, followed the coffin to Westminster Abbey, he couldn’t hide his red-rimmed eyes from the world. And his son William could clearly see the emotion. It’s easier for the women in the family. Kate, William’s wife wore a black veil on her hat as a precaution. They, Harry’s wife Meghan and Camilla the Queen were also allowed to drive while their husbands walked behind the coffin. Only Princess Anne, the Queen’s daughter and honorary admiral, also walked behind the deceased in the procession.