On the afternoon of September 8, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully at her Scottish estate, where she had spent much of the summer. And during her funeral on September 19, 2022, millions of people worldwide tuned in to witness it.

Most people were focused on the funeral proceedings, but those with eagle eyes could not help but notice that an uninvited guest had shown up – a spider.

Many people have pointed out on social media that a spider was spotted crawling across the queen’s casket and flowers during the proceedings. One person commented: “Throughout the full of the Queen’s funeral, I keep thinking about the spider I saw on her flowers and where the [expletive] it is now???? Wouldn’t catch me picking her back up I’d be out of there.” This person wrote: “Whoever left the #interflora card on the queen’s flowers didn’t notice, what is now the world most famous spider.” And this person even jokes, saying: “Could we get David Attenborough to narrate this scene? I want to know the species and its natural history.”

It looked like the spider was having a good time with the funeral flowers that King Charles had ordered. The flowers were gathered from the gardens of Buckingham Palace and other royal houses owned by Queen Elizabeth.

Her son King Charles III said that the death of his beloved mother was a “moment of great sadness” for him and his family. He adds that her loss would be “deeply felt” worldwide. He said, “We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the realms, and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”

King Charles III also said that during the coming mourning period, he and his family would be “comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the Queen was so widely held.”

After the Queen’s doctors expressed health concerns earlier in the day, the senior royals gathered in Balmoral. After doctors put the Queen under medical monitoring, her children went to Balmoral, not far from Aberdeen. Prince William, her grandson and the heir to the throne, was there, as was his brother, Prince Harry.

On September 19th, a state funeral service was held at Westminster Abbey, and a committal service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle followed. The King George VI Memorial Chapel at St. George’s was where the Queen was laid to rest.

Several Commonwealth countries and the United Kingdom declared holidays for the day of her state funeral. The state funeral was the most watched royal event of the 21st century in the United Kingdom, surpassing the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

The Queen’s health, which had been excellent for the majority of her life, began to deteriorate after the death of her husband, Prince Philip on April 9, 2021. In October of 2021, the most obvious evidence that she was not in her best health was when she started using a walking stick during public appearances.

Queen Elizabeth II changed the monarchy for this less subservient age through walkabouts, royal visits, and presence at popular events. She never wavered in her dedication to the Commonwealth and made it a point to visit every member nation at least once.