The funeral of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, will be held today (September 19, 2022).
Members of royal families from across the globe, including Commonwealth and world leaders, are expected to attend the service at Westminster Abbey, London at 11am.
Although no further details of the service itself have been announced by the Royal Family, it is expected that the funeral will include music.
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Royal funerals in the past have featured hymns and more recently, special tributes by musicians, and here, Daily Star takes a look at the music we could expect to hear at the service.
Reflecting the life of Her Majesty
(Image: Getty Images)
This would not be uncommon, as royal funerals in recent decades have included music that has been linked closely to the lives and service of those who have died – including those of The Duke Of Edinburgh and Princess Diana.
At Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997, the musical choices are reported to have been chosen to reflect Diana as a person.
These include John Tavener’s Song for Athene and Libera Me, and Domine from Verdi’s Requiem.
(Image: Getty Images)
The Duke Of Edinburgh’s funeral service also included the hymn Eternal Father, Strong To Save, in a nod to Prince Phillip’s service in the Royal Navy.
Although it is not known what music will be played at the service, it is likely that The Queen’s funeral will follow precedent and feature songs that will pay tribute to the monarch’s life and dedication to the throne.
The Queen likely to have chosen music
(Image: Getty Images)
It is possible that The Queen’s funeral could include songs and hymns chosen by the monarch before her death.
Prior to the death of Princess Margaret, The Queen’s sister had chosen her own funeral service to be centred around the musical piece Faure’s Requiem.
Additionally, following the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral in 2021, it was also reported that Prince Phillip had chosen his own musical selections for the service before his death.
It was well known that The Queen was hugely fond of music, and following both Princess Margaret and Prince Phillip’s decisions to choose the music for their own services, it could be likely that The Queen also did the same before her death.
In 2016, a list of her favourite pieces of music was released on her 90th birthday, including hymns, musical theatre songs and popular music – and it could be possible that some of the pieces on this list may feature in the service if Her Majesty has chosen them for inclusion.
(Image: Getty Images)
A number of hymns made the list, and like with previous royal funerals, hymns have always been featured as part of the services.
At the funeral of her father, King George VI, hymns included The Strife is O’er the battle done and Ye Boundless Realms Of Joy.
As such, two of The Queen’s favourite hymns – The Lord Is My Shephard and Praise, My Soul, The King Of Heaven – seem likely to be part of The Queen’s funeral service.
Special performances
(Image: PA)
It is not been uncommon for celebrity musical performances to be a part of royal funeral services in recent decades.
At the funeral of Princess Margaret in 2002, the opera singer Bryn Terfel performed with the choirs of Westminster Abbey, Cambridge and St George’s Chapel, in addition to a performance from Felicity Lott, who performed the piece Pie Jesu.
An enduring memory for many will also be Sir Elton John’s performance of Candle In The Wind as part of Diana, Princess of Wales’s funeral service in 1997, where the singer changed the words to “Goodbye English Rose.”
(Image: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Metro reported that although the song was nearly turned down by the palace, the Dean of Westminster, the Very Rev Dr Wesley Carr, personally appealed to the royal family to allow Sir Elton to perform the song in tribute to the Princess of Wales, as it “captured the public mood.”
The note said: “This is a crucial point in the service and we would urge boldness. It is where the unexpected happens and something of the modern world that the princess represented.”
In the years since, popular music was also used to pay tribute to The Queen at past events including this year’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations, which featured performances by musicians including Brian May and Roger Taylor, Katherine Jenkins and Diana Ross.
As a fan of popular music, The Queen has revealed previously that some of her favourite pieces of music have included songs by artists such as Gary Barlow.
(Image: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Sing by Gary Barlow and the Commonwealth Band featuring The Military Wives was chosen by The Queen as one of her favourite pieces of music in 2016.
As such, it may be possible that the song could be a musical performance to feature in The Queen’s funeral service in one form or another.
However, neither The Royal Family, the singer or The Military Wives choir have confirmed if they will perform the song as part of The Queen’s funeral.
The Royal Family have also not yet confirmed if any celebrities will be in attendance at the service, or are due to pay a musical tribute to Her Majesty as part of the service.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
