At 10.56am, the cortege arrives at the West Door of Westminster Abbey and the commentary is handed over to the Scottish actor, Tom Fleming. His solemn voice has been used by the BBC for state occasions since the 1950s. The coffin is hoisted from the Gun Carriage and carried inside by the Welsh Guards as Big Ben chimes eleven o'clock in the background. The Houses of Parliament are just around the corner from the entrance to Westminster Abbey. The British national anthem is sung as the camera zooms in on the Royal coat of arms in Westminster Abbey's stained glass: God save our gracious Queen, Long live our noble Queen, God save the Queen! Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us; God save the Queen! The coffin begins its journey to the Catafalque to sound of the Funeral Sentences: I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. (St. John 11:25,26) I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another. (Job 19:25-27) 19/4/10: The commentator, Tom Fleming, died today aged 82. Diana's Funeral was one of his many broadcasting triumphs. He was the voice of British state occasions and will be missed. Rest in Peace.
Keywords: Diana, Princess, of, Wales, Funeral, 1997, BBC, Death, London, Welsh, Guards, Westminster, Abbey, Celebrity, Britain, tragedy, Tom, Fleming
