Royal Family Mourns the Passing of Queen Elizabeth II and Beloved Cousin

In the wake of Queen Elizabeth II's recent passing, the Royal Family finds themselves in a period of mourning as they bid farewell to not just one, but two beloved members.

The passing of Queen Elizabeth II, who peacefully departed at her Balmoral residence earlier this month, has plunged the Royal Family into a state of sorrow that will extend until Monday.

However, a recent development has revealed that the grieving family is not only mourning the loss of the monarch but also grieving the departure of John Bowes-Lyon, a cousin of Her Majesty.

John, the offspring of Major-General Sir Francis Bowes-Lyon, who was the first cousin of the Queen Mother, served as a gentleman usher to the Royal Household.

Descended from the 13th Earl of Strathmore, Sir Francis's son, John Francis, passed away peacefully on September 18, 2022.

Described as a well-liked individual by Fiona and David, his siblings, the tragic news surfaced following the poignant funeral service held for the late king at Westminster Abbey on Monday.

The funeral service saw the Queen's relatives, along with 2,000 dignitaries from across the globe, bidding their final farewells to the monarch who reigned for an impressive 70 years.

King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and their respective partners, including the Queen Consort, Vice-Admiral Timothy Lawrence, and the Countess of Wessex, were all in attendance.

Following the Queen's funeral, a committal service took place at St. George's Chapel in Windsor under the guidance of the Dean of Windsor, the Right Reverend David Connor, KCVO.

With the Queen now reunited with her beloved husband, Prince Philip, as well as other family members like King George VI, the Queen Mother, and Princess Margaret, the entire royal family is set to be laid to rest in the King George VI Memorial Chapel.

Prior to being reinterred beside his wife, Prince Philip had been resting in repose within the Royal Vault.

Looking ahead, Prince William is gearing up for a significant appearance at an upcoming summit, set to take place at the Science Museum in London on Tuesday, October 4.

The event, known as the Global Summit of United for Wildlife (UFW), will see Prince William delivering a keynote address emphasizing the severity and organized nature of illegal wildlife crime and its adverse impacts on global biodiversity and local populations.

Established in 2014 by Prince William and the Royal Foundation, United for Wildlife aims to combat the illicit trade threatening endangered species.

Over 300 officials from law enforcement, conservation, and business sectors are expected to participate in the summit, showcasing their efforts to drive policy reforms and enhance criminal investigations in the fight against illegal wildlife trade.

The summit, spearheaded by Lord Hague, head of the Prince and Princess of Wales Royal Foundation, aims to address the global threat posed by the illegal wildlife trade, estimated to be worth up to $20 billion annually.

Speakers at the event, including prominent figures like Raja Kumar, Akin Gijsman, Stephen Kavanaugh, and Zolosile Kanyel, will unveil new legislation and international alliances to combat the criminal activities of poachers and traffickers dealing in wildlife and its derivatives.

The summit will honor wildlife rangers on the front lines against commercial poaching while stressing the importance of cross-sector collaboration in safeguarding endangered species from extinction.