Princess Diana's Funeral Part 13: The Service Begins

At 10.56am, the cortege arrives at the West Door of Westminster Abbey and the commentary is handed over to the Scottish actor, Tom Fleming. His solemn voice has been used by the BBC for state occasions since the 1950s.

The coffin is hoisted from the Gun Carriage and carried inside by the Welsh Guards as Big Ben chimes eleven o'clock in the background. The Houses of Parliament are just around the corner from the entrance to Westminster Abbey.

The British national anthem is sung as the camera zooms in on the Royal coat of arms in Westminster Abbey's stained glass:

God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen!
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us;
God save the Queen!

The coffin begins its journey to the Catafalque to sound of the Funeral Sentences:

I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. (St. John 11:25,26)

I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another. (Job 19:25-27)

19/4/10: The commentator, Tom Fleming, died today aged 82. Diana's Funeral was one of his many broadcasting triumphs. He was the voice of British state occasions and will be missed. Rest in Peace.

Category:

News & Politics

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• Diana
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• Funeral
• 1997
• BBC
• Death
• London
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• tragedy
• Tom
• Fleming

[formerjerseygal]

does anyone know if that wretch Camilla was at funeral?

[tribecatom]

@formerjerseygal I don't believe she was, she stayed away from the 10th anniversary memorial service in 2007 so I'd imagine she was not at the Funeral either.

I think people are a bit hard on Camilla... she's William and Harry's step mum now and she's made their dad happy. By all accounts, Diana had made up with Charles by the time she died.

[juliet1431]

you are very kind enough to share these footages.. God bless you for your efforts.....

[tribecatom]

@juliet1431 Thank you, that's very kind of you to say so. :)

[creolelady182]

I must admitt, this was a most beautiful funeral. I saw this funeral on the American networks. CNN, NBC,ABC and I was glued to my seat. Thanks for uploading

[tribecatom]

@creolelady182 You're welcome!

[mc0558]

When the royal family thinks about who should actually succeed Elizabeth II, they should remember that Diana's funeral in September, 1997, is the most watched televised even in the history of television, more than the Obama inauguration, more than any World Cup final, more than Michael Jackson's funeral or the Pope's. 2.5 billion people watched this funeral live! That is how much this lady was loved. For the sake of the monarchy, it must be William V.

[tribecatom]

@Dav68Chs Yes, you see her arriving with her daughter in Part 12.

[tribecatom]

@DimeraFan28 Not meaning to be pedantic but she would have been 49, celebrating her 50th on 1st July this year.

[tribecatom]

@Trund27 It is the tomb of the unknown warrior, laid to rest there in 1920 as a representative of all those who died in World War I. The red border is made up of poppies, the flower grown on the sites of the battlefields in France and Belgium and chosen as the British symbol of remembrance.

[SH7861WeezyBabyy]

@shaftaloo11 she wasnt 21 when she died ..

[Tur1883]

@mc0558 you are so so right.

[lulieynard]

God Bless you Diana

[lovestruck383]

@shaftaloo11 she was 36 i think defo not 20...