The tradition of breaking the wand of office signifies the end of the Lord Chamberlain's service to the Queen. The Lord Chamberlain kept tradition by breaking his wand of office on Queen Elizabeth's coffin during the committal service at St George's Chapel in Windsor on Monday.
Following what will be a day of procession and tradition, Queen Elizabeth II will have a final ceremonial send off at Windsor. This event is known as the breaking of the wand, and will be one of the final parts of the funeral event.
The Wand of Office is ceremonially broken at a monarch's funeral and it signifies the end of the Lord Chamberlain's service to the Queen as sovereign. The ceremonial gesture dates back centuries, last performed more than 70 years ago when the Earl of Clarendon broke his staff over the grave of George VI.
Why was a stick broken at King George's funeral? George VI was buried within the Royal Vault of St George's Chapel. During the burial, the Lord Chamberlain had carried out the tradition of symbolically breaking his staff of office, actually by unscrewing a joint in the middle, and placing half on the coffin.
The Wand of Office
Its breaking by the Lord Chamberlain, Lord Andrew Parker, symbolises the end of the Queen's sovereignty. The tradition dates back centuries: the wand was a tool formerly used by the Lord Chamberlain to admonish people in the monarch's court. He would tap them if they were too rowdy or disrespectful.
What does the breaking of the wand mean? The ceremonial breaking of the white staff signifies the end of the Lord Chamberlain's service to the Queen as sovereign. The "breaking of the wand" is a traditional part of a sovereign's funeral, but this was the first time it had been seen by the public.
That set many people wondering what that crimson flag stood for, and why it was placed on the Queen's coffin by her heir. The crimson flag placed on the coffin is a smaller version of the Royal Standard of the regiment and is made of silk, explained Metro.
Also known as the “breaking of the stick”, the action marks the end of the lord chamberlain's service to the monarch. King Charles will duly appoint a lord chamberlain of his own, who will receive a new wand of office.
As early as the 1700s, gloves were given to pallbearers by the deceased's family to handle the casket. They were a symbol of purity, and considered a symbol of respect and honor.
'Breaking the stick' or 'breaking the wand' is the final symbolic act to take place at a British monarch's funeral, signifying the official end of the Lord Chamberlain's service to the King or Queen.
These insignia are returned to the monarch when the Lord Chamberlain retires from office; but if the monarch dies, the white staff is symbolically broken by the Lord Chamberlain and placed on the coffin of the deceased Sovereign at the end of the State Funeral service.
The scepter is a symbol of a monarch's power. The orb and cross represent the power of God and it's a reminder to the monarch that their authority derives from above. It was first used by King Henry VIII in 1509 for his own coronation.
Will I be able to see the Queen's body or just her coffin? Her closed coffin containing her body will be displayed, raised on a platform called a 'catafalque' and covered by the flag called the Royal Standard.
The orb was kept steady by a small spike on its bottom that fit into a discreet mounting on top of the coffin's oak surface. The crown sat atop a purple pillow, a seemingly precarious spot that was stabilised by a firm protruding section on which the monarch's headwear was mounted.
Breaking of the stick – or breaking of the Wand of Office – is a long-held final burial tradition at royal funerals in which the Lord Great Chamberlain, a senior officer of the Royal Household will break a white stave, given to him as part of his office, over the monarch's coffin.
Some jewellery experts have estimated it to be worth between £3 billion and £5 billion, with the 317-carat Cullinan II (the diamond at the centre of the piece) alone being estimated at £400 million.
A rather large overstuffed pillow is included in the interior package of a finished casket. This pillow helps to hold the decedent in an inclined position. This position helps present a naturally comforting presentation to the survivors.
The six feet under rule for burial may have come from a plague in London in 1665. The Lord Mayor of London ordered all the “graves shall be at least six-foot deep.” The order never said why six feet. Maybe deep enough to keep animals from digging up corpses.
Why is it that most pallbearers you see during a funeral service are men? Well, the reason for this is basically because of the weight of the casket. It may seem sexist, but the truth is that men will actually really find it easier to carry heavier loads.
Why is the Queen's coffin lead-lined? According to reports, the Queen's coffin is made from English oak and lined with lead, which is a traditional choice for members of the royal family. The i reports that using lead in the coffin prevents air and moisture from building up and therefore helps in preservation.
Queen's casket lowered into Royal Vault - live updates
Lord Chamberlain, the most senior official in the royal household, then broke his "wand of office" which was then placed on the casket, symbolising the end of the Queen's reign.
King George IV, Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, Princess Frederika of Hanover and King George V of Hanover are among some of the many royals currently buried in the Royal Vault.
Putting her bag on the floor was a sign that she needed to be saved from an uncomfortable encounter ASAP. If she was at dinner and placed it on the table, that meant she wanted to end the event in the next five minutes.
“In loving and devoted memory. Charles R,” it read. The “R” refers to “Rex,” the Latin word for king. Elizabeth, during her reign, would often sign official communications as “Elizabeth R” (“Regina” is Latin for Queen).
What Happens With Queen Elizabeth's Clothes? Queen Elizabeth never wears the same outfit twice at important events. Therefore, the sovereign prefers to either change her outfits and if she gets bored of them, she sends them to her dressers, who are then allowed to either wear them themselves or sell them.