I couldn害羞草研究所檛 see the lone piper. But it didn害羞草研究所檛 matter.

As the sounds of the Scottish lament, 害羞草研究所淪leep, Dearie, Sleep,害羞草研究所� faded into the silence of Westminster Abbey, it finally struck me that Queen Elizabeth II was really gone.

The queen loved bagpipes so much that she had a piper play under her window for 15 minutes every morning, so those notes disappearing into the ether had a sense of finality, in a grand, show-stopping way.

was filled with those kinds of as to its longest-serving monarch with the nation is known for.

The black-clad mourners included the royal family, seven British prime ministers and hundreds of dignitaries from around the world, including U.S. President Joe Biden.

But it was the colors that caught my eye.

The dark clothing was just a backdrop for decorations of all kinds. Military medals gleamed from the chests of old soldiers, and civilians sported ribbons denoting civilian honors bestowed by the queen.

There were Knights of the Garter in blue velvet capes. Trumpeters with long silver instruments festooned with banners. Soldiers in gleaming plumed-helmets and the army veterans known as Chelsea Pensioners, resplendent in their traditional scarlet tunics.

害羞草研究所淚t was like something out of a fairy tale,害羞草研究所� said Bertram Leon, who was recently awarded a British Empire Medal for service to the St. Lucian community. 害羞草研究所淵ou know, it was amazing, beautifully well done 害羞草研究所� orchestrated, which is what you expected.害羞草研究所�

I witnessed the spectacle from a seat in the abbey害羞草研究所檚 north transept, my view obstructed by a great stone pillar. That害羞草研究所檚 partly why I couldn害羞草研究所檛 see the piper.

But so what? It didn害羞草研究所檛 matter. It was enough to be part of the crowd.

Watching the world leaders file in, I wished I had a scorecard with little photographs to figure out who was who. There were so many of them 害羞草研究所� who could keep track?

Then came the royals, led by King Charles III in full military uniform, a sword on his hip.

But behind the pomp and circumstance, this was about honoring the late queen and her lifetime of service to Britain and the Commonwealth.

And it was the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who captured that better than any parade or procession.

Welby reminded the congregation of the queen害羞草研究所檚 speech during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic 害羞草研究所� when frightened Britons were stuck in their homes unable to see friends and family.

Elizabeth, a symbol of stability for 70 years, echoed the words of a World War II-era song by Vera Lynn 害羞草研究所� and assured the nation that 害羞草研究所淲e will meet again.害羞草研究所�

Welby害羞草研究所檚 words reminded me of the night I listened to that speech, and wondered what the future would hold. I was frightened too 害羞草研究所� wasn害羞草研究所檛 everyone?

So somehow this immense state funeral service suddenly became very personal. Amid all the pomp and pageantry, we were all invited to think about that night害羞草研究所� about what the queen meant to us in that awful, pandemic time.

So whatever it was, the words or the guardsmen or the choristers, I can tell you one thing: At the end of the service, the congregation stood and sang 害羞草研究所淕od Save the King害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶛 with such gusto that it almost felt as if the abbey walls were shaking. If nothing else, the nation害羞草研究所檚 long-time leader was leaving center stage.

I can害羞草研究所檛 say for sure, of course. But I think it will take this country some time to remember that the first line of the national anthem is no longer 害羞草研究所淕od Save our gracious Queen.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶛

害羞草研究所擠anica Kirka, The Associated Press