Hundreds of royal admirers gathered outside Windsor Castle on Thursday to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II, as the chapel where she was buried opened to the public for the first time since her death.

According to the queen’s death certificate, the 96-year-old monarch died of old age. Elizabeth died at Balmoral Castle in Ballater, Scotland, on September 8, at 3.10 p.m., according to the certificate, which was issued on Thursday by National Records of Scotland. Princess Anne, the queen’s daughter, signed the contract.

Many people desire to go to the grave of the country’s longest-reigning queen. A slab of hand-carved Belgian black marble marks the spot within the King George VI Memorial Chapel, which is part of St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The queen’s name is carved in metal letter inlays on the ledger stone, together with the names of her husband, mother, and father.

Anne Daley, 65, of Cardiff, was among the early attendees, arriving at the castle at 7:30 a.m., far ahead of the 10 a.m. start time. It’s opening time. She was also among the first in line as tens of thousands of people crowded into Westminster Hall over four days to witness the queen lie in state before her burial.

Daley said she was moved to tears thinking of the monarch’s death on Sept. 8 and Prince Philip, her husband who died last year.

“The castle feels like empty, gloomy. Nobody’s living in it. You know, you’ve lost the queen, you’ve lost the duke, you lost the corgis,” Daley added, referring to Elizabeth’s favorite dogs. “It’s like when you’ve sold your house and all the history is gone.”

To visit the chapel, royal admirers must first purchase a ticket to Windsor Castle. Adults pay 26.50 pounds ($28.75) Sunday through Friday, and 28.50 pounds on Saturdays.

The memorial chapel is housed within the walls of St. George’s Chapel, which is home to numerous members of the royal family. It has also hosted multiple royal weddings, including Prince Harry’s wedding to former Meghan Markle in 2018.

Credits: Fox11

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