Saint George's Chapel: The Final Resting Place of Queen Elizabeth II

My plan for this week had been to regale you on my recent visit to the fragrant lavender fields of Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque in the hills of Provence. However, with the sudden death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, these memories have been supplanted with others. More specifically, with memories of my visit, a mere a month ago, to what will soon become the final resting place of this most notable monarch, Saint George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Along The Thames

This pilgrimage came at the end of my first return to Europe since the outbreak of COVID-19. It was a journey that was planned around a week-long rowing tour of the Thames River. Our small flotilla departed from the famous university town of Oxford and made our way down a gently flowing section of the river. And, after six days, we arrived on the beautiful shores of Windsor, home to Windsor Castle, the primary residence of the British monarch. This gave my rowing compatriots and I an opportunity to explore the grounds of this historic citadel, including Saint George’s Chapel.

Windsor Castle Towers

Situated at the top of a chalk hill, the Castle towers above the Thames. Given that we were staying right next to the river, directly across from Eton, a visit to the Castle meant a vigorous climb. Especially since we were in the midst of Britain’s second extreme heat wave of the summer. It was well worth it though. For ascending Thames Street gave us the opportunity to pass notable sites such as Curfew Tower and Windsor Royal Shopping. It also presented us with picturesque shops and pubs, many cheerfully festooned with flowers.

Notable Reigns

And some offered cheeky souvenirs of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, celebratory signs for which still decorated some lamp posts. Little did I know that, within a few short weeks, the year would have changed from one of royal celebration to one of royal grief.

And a reward for reaching the top of the street: the regal Queen Victoria Statue. This monument honours the second-longest reigning British monarch, having served her people for 64 years.

A Moving Monument

A few short steps up Castle Hill, past the Henry VIII Gateway, and we were on the Castle grounds. Within moments, we were informed that Saint George’s Chapel would be closing shortly. So, we quickly made our way down the slope to its entrance. You may recall that this ancient, Gothic chapel is where The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were married in May of 2018. So I was curious to get a close-up view of the hallowed halls that had hosted this joyous event. However, it was the memorials of several other members of Queen Elizabeth’s family that most captured my attention. The first was the stunning monument to Princess Charlotte. The only child of King George IV, Charlotte was the heiress presumptive to the throne of England. Sadly, she died in 1817 at the age of 21 while giving birth to a still-born child. Her passing, and that of her child’s, is marked by a gorgeous marble sculpture that dominates the Urswick Chantry. It is located next to the grand west door of the Chapel from which the Mock Tudor Horseshoe Cloister can be seen.

It’s creator, Matthew Wyatt, beautifully captured the grief of loss in this masterpiece. It depicts two versions of the princess. One lies, in death, covered with a flowing shroud with draped mourners bowed down before her. The second, resurrected, ascends into the heavens, guided by an angel on either side. While I was unable to photograph it (photos are not allowed within Saint George’s Chapel), you can get a glimpse of it here.

Generations of Loss

Directly opposite this deeply moving tribute, lies another monument which also took my breath away. It is the tomb of King George V and his Queen Mary, the grandparents of Queen Elizabeth. Until that moment, I hadn’t been aware that they were entombed here. My second surprise was the design of their memorial. It was styled in the same manner as the tombs of the kings and queens of centuries ago. Given that they both died in the first half of the 20th-century, I hadn’t expected this. Yet here it was, with a life-sized carving of each of them, hands folded, lying in a state of repose. Having seen video footage of these two royals over the years, I was taken by the strong likeness these stone images have to them.

Walking a little further down the isle of the nave, I came upon another unexpected grave site. This one belongs to Queen Elizabeth’s parents, King George VI and his Queen Elizabeth. Deceased less than 20 years apart, the tombs of George V and George VI couldn’t be more different. For here, embedded in the earth of a small chapel off the exterior wall of Saint George’s Chapel, lies a simple, black stone slab bearing the following names and dates:

GEORGE VI

1895 – 1952

ELIZABETH

1900 – 2002

And mounted on the chapel wall above it, a round, bronze relief of each of these two royals.

Even more surprising to me, was the sight of Princess Margaret’s tombstone leaning against the chapel wall, a bronze relief of her mounted above it. This, the King George VI Memorial Chapel, is also the burial site of her ashes.

Rejoining Loved Ones

And the Palace has now confirmed that Queen Elizabeth II will join her sister and parents in this chapel she had built for her dear father. At the same time, the remains of her beloved Prince Philip will be moved from the Royal Vault beneath Saint George’s Chapel, where he is temporarily interred, and laid to rest in the chapel with her.

As we prepare to bury this monumental Queen, I can only echo the words of Paddington Bear:

“Thank you … for everything.”

Discover the tombs of some of France’s most notable figures in history in my post Paris’ Pantheon and Its Many Gods – Part 2.

Update (October 4, 2022)

Last week the Royal Family released this photo of the ledger stone in the King George VI Memorial Chapel. It now bears the names of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, reflecting their final resting place alongside her parents.