‘It felt like a light of the world had gone out’: Queen’s Pageantmaster, who was instrumental in organising events including three Jubilees, pays tribute to the ‘gracious’ and ‘kind’ monarch
- Bruno Peek, the Royal Pageantmaster spoke to GB News after 30 years service
- On hearing the news, he said: ‘I felt like a light of the world gone out’
- He praised the ‘gracious’ Queen and said she was ‘always so kind’
- Full coverage: Click here to see all our coverage of the Queen’s passing
The Queen’s Royal Pageantmaster has praised the ‘gracious and kind’ monarch and said hearing the news of her death ‘felt like a light of the world had gone out’.
Bruno Peek, who served in his role for over 30 years, helped organise the Queen’s high profile celebrations including three Jubilees.
Speaking on GB News Weekend Breakfast as the Queen’s coffin left Balmoral and headed to Edinburgh, he said: ‘I know it’s so sad, so sad. I was actually in Turkey on holiday when I heard and I just had to go back to my room. And I don’t mind admitting I shed a few tears, because it signals the end of an era.
Bruno Peek, who served in his role for over 30 years, helped organise the Queen’s high profile celebrations including three Jubilees. Pictured, Mr Peek (left) with the Queen in 2005
Speaking on GB News Weekend Breakfast as the Queen’s coffin left Balmoral and headed to Edinburgh, Mr Peek reflected on the loss
Bruno Peek, Pageantmaster of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Beacons, poses at the Tower of London on May 1, 2012, with the Jubilee Crystal Diamond
‘And I just felt the light of the world had gone out, you know, because she’s such a good and gracious lady.
‘I’ve been involved with her jubilees; the Golden Jubilee, Diamond Jubilee, Platinum Jubilee, and 90th birthday and other events. And she was also always so gracious. And so kind when I was by her side, undertaking these duties for her.’
Discussing her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, which took place in June this year, Peek added: ‘When I do these events, I build a team around me of people, lots of people who really know what they’re doing.
‘So there is that comfort value of bringing people together, not just in celebration, but the people who need to be with you when you’re organising these events.
‘We’ve had some funny moments during rehearsals, especially rehearsing the lighting of the principal beacon on several occasions, where things went wrong, but that’s why you have rehearsals.
‘But I can honestly say in all the 30 years I’ve been organising these events for Her Majesty the Queen, we’ve not had one report of an accident in 30 years. People really took notice of what we were saying, and what we were asking them to do.’
The first Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Alan West looks on (right) as Bruno Peek helps Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II to light the Trafalgar Weekend Beacon during her visit to Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory in Portsmouth, Friday 21 October 2005 on the 200th anniversary of the famous naval victory over France and Spain at Trafalgar
The Queen’s funeral has been announced for September 19, and will be declared a Bank Holiday across Great Britain.
Peek said: ‘The detail is part of what I enjoy, because it’s the detail that helps the pageantry, and the public enjoy or mark these special occasions.
‘I always enjoy getting down into the detail of these events. It’s so much fun, and I’m going to miss her.’
He added: ‘It’s very sad. Her passing words to me on Jubilee night were ‘Thank you’. And I’ll never forget that she just looked at me and gave me a wonderful smile, and just said thank you. I’ll never forget those words.’
It comes as tearful well-wishers paid a fond farewell to the Queen after her coffin left Balmoral accompanied by a sombre Princess Anne to begin a six-hour journey to Edinburgh, where she will lie in state.
The hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland, passes through Ballater
Most people stood in silence as the convoy passed through the village of Ballater, while others filmed the moment on their phones
As bright sunshine broke through the morning mist, the hearse carrying the late monarch passed through the gates of her beloved Highland home, with the gentle rush of the River Dee one of the few sounds that could be heard as a small gathering of local people watched on in silence.
Minutes later, the hearse passed through Ballater where villagers – many of whom knew the monarch personally – threw flowers onto the road. A hushed silence descended as people bowed their heads and the Lord Lieutenants from Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire stood to attention outside Glenmuick church.
Now with a single motorbike outrider leading the way and six vehicles following, the hearse is travelling at a stately pace through the stunning Aberdeenshire countryside, with Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence following directly behind in a state Bentley.
A sombre Princess Royal in a Bentley limousine behind the Queen’s hearse as it travels through Aberdeenshire to Edinburgh
Princess Anne (pictured), her husband Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the minister of Crathie Kirk and a representative of the Lord chamberlain’s Office are in the convoy following the Queen’s coffin
Earlier, the Queen’s oak coffin – draped in the Royal Standard for Scotland – was carried in the hearse by six of the Balmoral estate’s gamekeepers after they were allowed time to say their last goodbye. The wreath is made up of flowers from the Balmoral estate including sweet peas – one of the Queen’s favourite flowers – dahlias, phlox, white heather and pine fir.
Following a 170-mile journey to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the coffin will rest overnight in the oak-panelled throne room. Proclamations will be read in the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland devolved parliaments in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.
Today, huge crowds have started to gather in front of Edinburgh’s Mercat Cross ahead of the proclamation of King Charles III. Thousands of people have lined the Royal Mile, with dozens holding up their phones and cameras to take pictures of the cross.
Tomorrow, the Scottish capital will become the focus of national mourning, with the Queen’s coffin carried in a procession from the palace to St Giles Cathedral, where a Vigil of the Princes is expected to take place before it lies in state for 24 hours.
The Queen’s poignant final journey will eventually end at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, where she will be buried alongside her beloved husband, Prince Philip, alongside her father, George VI, the Queen Mother, and her sister, Princess Margaret.
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