There Was a Rainbow Over London Just Before the Queen's Funeral

On the first anniversary of the Queen's death, we're taking a look back at the rainbow that surfaced just before the late monarch's funeral.

On September 8, 2022, Buckingham Palace announced that Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in UK history, had passed away at the age of 96. That day, skies over Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace were brightened by rainbows, bringing a moment of poignant beauty to the somber occasion. Yesterday, the colorful display was echoed once again in London, when another rainbow appeared in the skies as the capital prepared for the Queen's official state funeral at Westminster Abbey.

People in the UK quickly took to Twitter to share the images as the colorful arch spread over the Palace of Westminster, where the Queen was lying in state.

The prismatic display underlined the colorful life of the late Queen, who was renowned for her brilliant wardrobe, as well as highlighting the mourning black that would overtake the Palace today when thousands gathered to pay their final respects to the monarch, who marked 70 years on the throne earlier this year.

Attendees at the somber ceremony included most of the British royal family, including the Queen's four children (newly-minted King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward) and all her eight grandchildren (Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Lady Louise Windsor, and James, Viscount Severn). Also present were several of their spouses: Queen Consort, Camilla, Kate Middleton, and Meghan Markle as well as the two older children of the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Royal families around the world, and President and First Lady Biden were in attendance, as well.

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