Queen and flag: A royal farewell
In death as in life, her likeness was ever-present.
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96 on Sept. 8 after a 70-year reign. Mourners grieved alongside her familiar image, in pictures that spanned a lifetime as Britain’s longest serving monarch. Wearing a crown or hat, smiling broadly or smiling subtly. A woman making history with her very existence.
Another familiar sight among the mourning public was the Union Jack flag. Across Britain, the flag was flown from trees in parks, worn by people in line to view the Queen’s coffin, and used in everyday items like umbrellas and hair ribbons.
AP’s photo team staffed fixed positions to capture a multitude of carefully choreographed ceremonies marking the Queen’s death. AP also told the story in unscheduled, informal gatherings and outpourings of reverence and grief.
Queen Elizabeth II was not an “influencer” in the modern sense. Not a trend-setter or a trend follower. But as Britain bade farewell to its Sovereign, her image and that of the Union Jack were visibly embraced, as it had been for decades.
People are reflected in a portrait of late Queen Elizabeth II in London, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. The Queen will lie in state in Westminster Hall for four full days before her funeral on Monday Sept. 19. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 35mm | F-Stop: 8 | Shutter Speed: 1/160 | ISO: 1600
A woman takes a photo of the Union Jack as people lay floral tributes to Queen Elizabeth II in London's Green Park, Monday, Sept. 12, 2022. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch and a rock of stability across much of a turbulent century, died Thursday Sept. 8, 2022, after 70 years on the throne, at the age of 96. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 70-200mm | F-Stop: 2.8 | Shutter Speed: 1/40 | ISO: 12800
A balloon with a picture of Queen Elizabeth II is photographed at the Green Park memorial, near Buckingham Palace, in London, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 135mm | F-Stop: 1.8 | Shutter Speed: 1/400 | ISO: 160
Vanessa, Anne and Grace, from left to right, wait opposite the Palace of Westminster to be first in line bidding farewell to Queen Elizabeth II in London, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 35mm | F-Stop: 1.4 | Shutter Speed: 1/5000 | ISO: 1000
People queue near St. Paul's Cathedral to pay their respects to late Queen Elizabeth II during the Lying-in State, at Westminster Hall in London, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. The Queen will lie in state in Westminster Hall for four full days before her funeral on Monday Sept. 19. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 50mm | F-Stop: 1.8 | Shutter Speed: 1/8000 | ISO: 50
The Union flag silhouetted by the sun on top of Buckingham Palace in London, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022. Buckingham Palace says Queen Elizabeth II has been placed under medical supervision because doctors are "concerned for Her Majesty's health." Members of the royal family traveled to Scotland to be with the 96-year-old monarch. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 70-200mm | F-Stop: 9 | Shutter Speed: 1/1600 | ISO: 100
A man walks in a queue to pay his respect to the late Queen Elizabeth II during the lying-in-state, in Westminster Hall in London, Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 85mm | F-Stop: 1.4 | Shutter Speed: 1/1600 | ISO: 160
A young girl wears the British colors on her hair as people disperse after watching the Queens cortege with the hearse containing her coffin on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 70-200mm | F-Stop: 3.5 | Shutter Speed: 1/800 | ISO: 800
A draw of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is placed with flowers outside Buckingham Palace in London, Friday, Sept. 9, 2022. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch and a rock of stability across much of a turbulent century, died Thursday after 70 years on the throne. She was 96. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 50mm | F-Stop: 1.2 | Shutter Speed: 1/160 | ISO: 5000
A dog wearing the Union Jack looks up at its owner who mourns at the gates of Buckingham Palace in London, Friday, Sept. 9, 2022. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch and a rock of stability across much of a turbulent century, died Thursday Sept. 8, 2022, after 70 years on the throne. She was 96. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 24-70mm | F-Stop: 4.5 | Shutter Speed: 1/500| ISO: 1000
Richard Newman, 27, holds a British flag on his way to pay his respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II during the Lying-in State, outside Westminster Hall in London, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 24-70mm | F-Stop: 10 | Shutter Speed: 1/250 | ISO: 50
People walk past and take photos to a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II inside a shop in central London, Monday, Sept. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 35mm | F-Stop: 1.4 | Shutter Speed: 1/3200 | ISO: 320
Jamie and Emma with their daughters, from second left, Maisie, Arabella and Elithia, stand next to flowers and messages placed for Queen Elizabeth II at Green Park memorial next to Buckingham Palace in London, Sept. 12, 2022. Because she reigned and lived for so long, Queen Elizabeth II's death was a reminder that mortality and the march of time are inexorable. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 50mm | F-Stop: 1.2 | Shutter Speed: 1/125 | ISO: 50
Photos of Queen Elizabeth II are on display as people queue to pay respect to her at Westminster Hall in London, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. The Queen will lie in state in Westminster Hall for four full days before her funeral on Monday Sept. 19. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 24mm | F-Stop: 7.1 | Shutter Speed: 1/125 | ISO: 800
People sit at a terrace bar next to a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in central London, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 50mm | F-Stop: 1.2 | Shutter Speed: 1/800 | ISO: 50
Pedestrians are seen reflected in the glass of a store displaying a portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II in London, Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 50mm | F-Stop: 14 | Shutter Speed: 1/60 | ISO: 1000
Police officers are backdropped by a photograph of Queen Elizabeth II in London, Friday, Sept.16, 2022. The Queen will lie in state in Westminster Hall for four full days before her funeral on Monday Sept. 19.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 70-200mm | F-Stop: 2.8 | Shutter Speed: 1/500 | ISO: 500
Flowers are attached to the gate of Buckingham Palace in London, Friday, Sept. 9, 2022. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch and a rock of stability across much of a turbulent century, died Thursday Sept. 8, 2022, after 70 years on the throne. She was 96. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 70-200mm | F-Stop: 2.8 | Shutter Speed: 1/250 | ISO: 640
A postcard of Queen Elizabeth II on sale at a street shop in London, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 35mm | F-Stop: 1.8 | Shutter Speed: 1/640 | ISO: 100
A man stands in front of a portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II and flowers in Green Park, in London, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 50mm | F-Stop: 1.2 | Shutter Speed: 1/640 | ISO: 160
A T-shirt with portraits of Queen Elizabeth II is seen in a shop window, Monday, Sept. 12, 2022, in Windsor, England. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch and a rock of stability across much of a turbulent century, died Thursday Sept. 8, 2022, after 70 years on the throne. She was 96. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 24mm | F-Stop: 1.4 | Shutter Speed: 1/20000 | ISO: 100
The image of Queen Elizabeth II is projected onto a large screen and reflected in a rainy street at Piccadilly Circus, in London, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch and a rock of stability across much of a turbulent century, died Thursday after 70 years on the throne. She was 96. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 24-70mm | F-Stop: 5 | Shutter Speed: 1/30 | ISO: 500
A man walks past a painting of Queen Elizabeth II displayed at a gallery in London, Sept. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 35mm | F-Stop: 8 | Shutter Speed: 1/160 | ISO: 5000
A woman walks past the sunset on Big Ben People as she queues to pay their respects to late Queen Elizabeth II who's lying in state at Westminster Hall in London, England, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022. The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, takes place on Monday. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 50mm | F-Stop: 1.2 | Shutter Speed: 1/6400 | ISO: 2500
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