Queen Elizabeth's Personal Piper Played Lament That Laid Her to Rest

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Joe Giddens - WPA Pool/Getty

Queen Elizabeth’s piper played a poignant part in Queen Elizabeth’s committal ceremony.

On Monday, the Piper to the Sovereign closed her committal ceremony as he played her final lament. Pipe Major Paul Burns of the Royal Regiment of Scotland played the lament “Sleep, Dearie, Sleep.”

Pipe Major Burns began playing from the doorway between the chapel of St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle and the Dean’s Cloister, walking away as he played.

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As he walked away from the Dean’s Cloister, the music gradually faded out as the late monarch was lowered into the Royal Vault.

Mike Tindall, husband ofZara Tindall, shared a video of the poignant moment on his Instagram Story.

The Piper to the Sovereign is a historic position that dates back to Queen Victoria, who became enamored with bagpipe music after she and husband Prince Albert visited Scotland in 1843. Each morning, the Piper is required to play a 15-minute tune under the Monarch’s balcony every morning before changing uniform and ushering dignitaries, celebrities and foreign heads of state through the protocol of meeting the British monarch.

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Since then, 17 pipers have held the role, with Burns taking over last year. Prior to Burns, Scott Methven served in the role and formed an unexpectedly close connection to the late monarch.

During his time as Piper to the Sovereign, Methven tragically lost both of his parents and later, his wife to terminal cancer, within a span of months during his four-year service.

“For me, it was just her humility as a person,” Methven, 47,previously told PEOPLEof the Queen’s caring reaction to his devastating personal news. “Of course, she’s Her Majesty the Queen, but to me, she was the person who probably got me through this all the way along.”

The late monarch was laid to rest beside her husband of 73 years,Prince Philip, during aprivate burial service, Buckingham Palaceconfirmed.

The Palace alsopaid tributeto the Queen on social media alongside a beautiful photo of her enjoying the great outdoors, writing, “‘May flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest.’ In loving memory of Her Majesty The Queen. 1926 - 2022.”

Buckingham Palace confirmed details of the private burial with a simple statement onsocial mediaearlier Monday.

“This evening a Private Burial will take place in The King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor. The Queen will be Laid to Rest with her late husband The Duke of Edinburgh, alongside her father King George VI, motherQueen ElizabethThe Queen Mother and sister Princess Margaret,” the palace wrote, sharing a vintage, undated photo of the five royals.

source: people.com