This liveblog is closing now. You can find all our coverage of the Queen here. Thank you for reading
Updated
The announcement of the queue’s closure had been expected throughout the day on Sunday as waiting times hit a peak of 14 hours at 10am.
By 9pm the waiting time was seven hours as the last crowds filed through, with people collecting wristbands for entry at London Bridge.
The final mourner will view the coffin at 6.30am on Monday before the state funeral.
Updated
The royal family and the country will say a “last farewell” to Queen Elizabeth II during a state funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday in which nine-year-old Prince George and his seven-year-old sister, Princess Charlotte, will walk behind their great-grandmother’s coffin.
George and Charlotte, now second and third in line to the throne, will follow their parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, as the coffin is carried through the abbey in front of a 2,000-strong congregation including world leaders. Police have described the security operation, with more than 10,000 officers on duty, as the biggest in Britain’s history.
Eighteen members of Queen Elizabeth II’s family, led by the King, and including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will be present.
Here are some further details about Monday’s state funeral.
Members of Foreign Royal Families, Heads of State, and Overseas Government Representatives are received at the Great West Door by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster and are conducted to their seats in the Lantern.
Readings include 1 Corinthians 15: 20–26, 53–end, and Psalm 42: 1–7.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will take the sermon.
Queue closes
The queue to visit the lying in state of Queen Elizabeth II has been closed, and no one will now be allowed to join it, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport announced at 10.40pm on Sunday.
On Wednesday afternoon, a ceremonial procession transported the coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where the Lying-in-State period began.
The queue to attend Her Majesty The Queen's Lying-in-State is at final capacity and is now closed to new entrants
— Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (@DCMS) September 18, 2022
Please do not attempt to join the queue
Stewards will manage those already nearby
Thank you for your understanding pic.twitter.com/4aJ3JRo5nZ
Updated
An unseen portrait of the Queen has been released by Buckingham Palace on the eve of her funeral.
The photograph, taken in May before the platinum jubilee celebrations, shows the monarch smiling in her Windsor Castle home.
The Queen is wearing her favourite three-strand pearl necklace, pearl earrings and her aquamarine and diamond clip brooches which were an 18th birthday present from her father George VI in 1944.
She wore the brooches when she addressed the nation on the 75th anniversary of VE Day in 2020 and for her diamond jubilee televised speech in 2012.
The image was taken by photographer Ranald Mackechnie, who also took the jubilee portrait of the monarch.
Updated
For the Queen’s state funeral, which will take place at 11am at Westminster Abbey on Monday, the service is conducted by The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle MBE, Dean of Westminster.
The service is sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey and the Choir of the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, (Joseph McHardy, Director of Music) under the direction of James O’Donnell, Organist and Master of the Choristers, Westminster Abbey.
The State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry are led by Trumpet Major Julian Sandford. The Fanfare Team of the Household Division Bands is conducted by Lieutenant Colonel David Barringer MBE, Commanding Officer, Household Division Bands.
The organ is played by Peter Holder, Sub-Organist, Westminster Abbey.
Before the service, the tenor bell is tolled every minute for 96 minutes, reflecting the years of Queen Elizabeth II’s life.
Updated
At the end of the service, following The Last Post, two minutes’ silence, the Reveille, and the national anthem, the Queen’s Piper, Warrant Officer Class 1 (Pipe Major) Paul Burns, will play the traditional lament Sleep, Dearie, Sleep.
Before the service, the tenor bell will be tolled every minute for 96 minutes, reflecting the years of the Queen’s life.
The Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, will say in The Bidding: “Here, where Queen Elizabeth was married and crowned, we gather from across the nation, from the Commonwealth, and from the nations of the world, to mourn our loss, to remember her long life of selfless service.”
Prince George and Princess Charlotte to attend Queen's funeral
Prince George and Princess Charlotte will attend the Queen’s state funeral, the order of service has shown.
The nine-year-old and his seven-year-old sister will walk through the gothic church with the royal family, in procession behind the Queen’s coffin as it is carried by the military bearer party.
Their grandfather, the King with the Queen Consort will process immediately behind the coffin, followed by the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, then the Duke of York, followed by the Earl and Countess of Wessex, and then the Prince and Princess of Wales.
George and Charlotte, who called the Queen “Gan Gan”, will be together, behind their parents, walking side-by-side in formation, followed by their uncle and aunt the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and other members of the royal family.
The second and third in line to the throne are also expected to be at the committal service in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle afterwards.
The prince and princess’ four-year-old brother Prince Louis is not expected to be there.
The front page of Monday’s Guardian.
Guardian front page, Monday 19 September 2022: World leaders descend as nation prepares for grandest of farewells pic.twitter.com/G06v0RN08w
— Guardian news (@guardiannews) September 18, 2022
King Charles III thanks the nation on eve of his mother's state funeral
The King said in a written message issued by Buckingham Palace: “Over the last ten days, my wife and I have been so deeply touched by the many messages of condolence and support we have received from this country and across the world.
“In London, Edinburgh, Hillsborough and Cardiff we were moved beyond measure by everyone who took the trouble to come and pay their respects to the lifelong service of my dear mother, The late Queen.
As we all prepare to say our last farewell, I wanted simply to take this opportunity to say thank you to all those countless people who have been such a support and comfort to my family and myself in this time of grief.”
King Charles III and other members of the royal family may be caught in light showers as they join the Queen’s funeral procession in Windsor where the former monarch will be laid to rest.
The crowds expected to gather in London and Windsor for the event are unlikely to experience heavy rain, but the Met Office said light showers may fall before the committal service begins at 4pm.
Temperatures along the procession route will reach highs of 18C, which is around average for this time of year, forecasters said.
The morning of the funeral at Westminster Abbey is expected to stay dry, with a slight chance of showers after 1pm.
Meteorologist Alex Burkill told the PA news agency: “There is a small chance of the odd shower through the afternoon, most likely around 3pm or 4pm.”
The state hearse is expected to join the procession, which will already be in position in Windsor, at 3.06pm.
The King and other royal family members will join the procession on foot at 3.40pm.
Ninety-six lanterns, one for each year of the Queen’s life, were illuminated in a service at a Scottish monument as mourners fell silent across the country to reflect on her reign.
The service at The Kelpies, between Falkirk and Grangemouth, took place in front of the Queen Elizabeth II Canal’s pool of reflection, where hundreds honour the memory of the monarch.
Led by the Very Rev Martin Fair, minister of St Andrew’s Parish Church and former moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, lanterns and wreaths were placed in the pool and the crowds fell silent at 8pm with others across the country.
Deputy first minister John Swinney was joined by other ministers on the steps in front of the Scottish government headquarters at St Andrew’s House in Edinburgh, where they paid their respects.
Swinney said: “In reflecting on Her Majesty’s life and legacy, many of us have considered her long and valued service to the nation and the respect and admiration she had for the people of Scotland.”
Updated
The DCMS said a “decision will be taken soon on when entry to the queue will close as it reaches final capacity”.
The queue end point is at Hayes Galleria and the estimated queuing time is eight hours.
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN'S LYING-IN-STATE QUEUE UPDATE, 9:30PM, 18 Sep
— Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (@DCMS) September 18, 2022
A decision will be taken soon on when entry to the queue will close as it reaches final capacity
Queue end point is at Hayes Galleria
Estimated queuing time is 8 hours
Tracker: https://t.co/6BYxq65Cjp pic.twitter.com/yp4ochdMZi
Updated
It has emerged that Big Ben did not actually strike before and after the minute’s silence to honour the Queen at 8pm as originally planned, Sky News reported.
A parliament spokesperson said: “We are investigating this as a matter of urgency but are confident that it will not affect the tolling tomorrow during the state funeral procession.”
Updated
Key event
Mourners continued to join the queue to pay tribute to the Queen at 9pm.
The estimated wait time is at least seven hours, down from 14 hours earlier on Sunday, according to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
It said: “Entry to the queue will close when it reaches final capacity.”
People were collecting wristbands for entry at London Bridge.
Updated
The UK has observed a minute’s silence as part of a national moment of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II.
A small crowd of people in the queue for the Queen’s lying in state stopped near London Bridge and bowed their heads to observe the national minute’s silence before applauding at 8.01pm to mark the end of the silence.
Dozens of Metropolitan police officers also assembled in silence beside mourners before singing the national anthem.
The prime minister, Liz Truss, participated in the national moment of reflection from Downing Street.
Updated
Queen Consort shares her memories of the Queen
The Queen Consort has shared a personal memory of the Queen who saw the funny side over a shoe mishap on Camilla’s wedding day.
Speaking in a televised tribute, Camilla also described the Queen’s “wonderful blue eyes” – but how her gaze could be a little withering if you “dare question” her equestrian knowledge.
The Queen Consort said the Queen had a clear demarcation between her public duties and private life and her summer breaks at Balmoral in Scotland were a moment for “her enjoyment”.
Her tribute to her mother-in-law was aired on the BBC, shortly before the national minute’s silence at 8pm.
Speaking about her wedding day on 9 April 2005, the Queen Consort said: “I remember coming from here, Clarence House, (to) go to Windsor the day I got married when I probably wasn’t firing on all cylinders, quite nervous and, for some unknown reason, I put on a pair of shoes and one had an inch heel and one had a two-inch heel.
“So, I mean talk about hop-a-long and there’s nothing I could do. I was halfway down in the car before I realised and, you know, she could see and laughed about it and said, ‘look I’m terribly sorry’ and she did, you know, she had a good sense of humour.”
Camilla also commented on the late monarch’s “passion for racing”.
The Queen Consort said: “She was able to escape to Sandringham. She had the stud next door. She could go every day, see her foals, work out, you know, the next meetings for the year. I think she always kept that as, you know, her private bit.
“You wouldn’t dare question her or argue with her on how horse are bred or how it ran because you’d get a very steely blue-eyed look back again.”
Updated
Big Ben has tolled again to mark the end of the national moment of reflection for Queen Elizabeth II with crowds gathering around the monument.
The minute’s silence will start at 8pm.
Big Ben will toll to start the beginning of the moment of reflection.
The bell will be struck once more at 8.01pm as it ends.
Tonight at 20:00 BST, a National Moment of Reflection will be marked with a one-minute silence, providing an opportunity to reflect on the life and legacy of Her Majesty The Queen. pic.twitter.com/li0jiBYzwd
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 18, 2022
An update on the queue. The DCMS said: “Entry to the queue will close when it reaches final capacity”.
The current waiting time is seven hours.
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN'S LYING-IN-STATE QUEUE UPDATE, 7:50PM, 18 Sep
— Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (@DCMS) September 18, 2022
Entry to the queue will close when it reaches final capacity
Queue end point is at London Bridge
Estimated queuing time is 7 hours
Tracker: https://t.co/6BYxq65Cjp pic.twitter.com/wFXW2AiFdw
Updated
The chairman of an equestrian society that had a lifelong association with the Queen has spoken of his pride at being invited to her funeral.
Daniel Morgan, 61, will represent the 6,000 members of the Welsh Pony and Cob Society at Westminster Abbey on Monday.
Morgan, a farmer from Lampeter, Ceredigion, said: “I am very proud. I’ve been chairman now for the second year and I never thought that this would be bestowed on me.
“I am the fourth generation of my family to be breeding Welsh cobs – they really would be proud of me now.
“Our chief executive rang me last week saying that she had had an email from the Palace asking for the representative from the society to go to Her Majesty’s funeral.”
The Queen had a passion for horses and became patron of the society aged 18 in 1944.
Updated
Minute of silence to take place at 8pm
The UK has been invited to fall silent as part of a national moment of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II at 8pm.
A recorded tribute by Camilla, the Queen Consort, will be broadcast on the BBC shortly before the minute’s silence.
Updated
People have been warned to avoid driving in parts of London on the day of the Queen’s funeral.
One of the UK’s biggest transport operations will take place on Monday, with around a million people expected to visit the capital.
Road closures will start to come in on the A4 and the A30 from 6am, with full closures in both directions after 10am, which are not likely to be lifted until the evening.
Multiple closures on local roads along the A4 route will also be in place.
People looking to drive around central, west and south-west London are advised to check before they travel, allow extra time for the journey and expect long delays.
Bus routes will also be severely affected with many routes diverted or stopping short of their destinations.
Some road closures will last into the evening. Around 250 extra rail services will run - including some overnight trains - and National Highways has suspended planned motorway closures across England.
King Charles III has hosted a Buckingham Palace reception for world leaders on the eve of the Queen’s funeral.
Presidents, prime ministers and royalty from across the globe came together as guests of the monarch for the event on Sunday evening.
The US president, Joe Biden, and his wife first lady Jill Biden were among approximately 500 people in the palace’s main state rooms.
About 200-250 leaders were invited, with most bringing their spouse, including France’s president, Emmanuel Macron who was joined by his wife, first lady Brigitte.
Updated
An update on the queue to see the Queen’s coffin. The estimated wait time is currently eight hours.
The end of the queue has moved to Tower Bridge.
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN'S LYING-IN-STATE QUEUE UPDATE, 6:30PM, 18 Sep
— Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (@DCMS) September 18, 2022
A decision will be taken today on when entry to the queue will close as it reaches final capacity
Queue end point is at Tower Bridge
Estimated queuing time is 8 hours
Tracker: https://t.co/6BYxq65Cjp pic.twitter.com/eK0rZjmQGN
Although many shops, bars and restaurants across the UK have said they will close tomorrow because of the state funeral of the Queen, one of London’s oldest bars, the Old Red Lion theatre pub, has said it will open.
An update on the venue’s website said: “We will be open from 10.30am until 10pm. The Old Red Lion has been open through the reign of 28 monarchs.”
Updated
Members of European royal families have also arrived at Buckingham Palace.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark arrived in coaches at the grand entrance of the palace.
Updated
Updated
The death of the Queen and coverage of her funeral will top the rankings of the most watched broadcasts in British television history, while newspaper publishers have seen an unprecedented boost in sales as mourners seek commemorative copies. Yet, the biggest national event in decades will not provide a commercial bonanza for media firms.
ITV has planned its largest ever outside broadcast, with all of its channels simulcasting ad-free blanket live coverage for the first time in history. The day of the funeral will also be the first time in Channel 4’s four decades on air that it has instituted a 24-hour ad block across its channels.
The BBC, which as the country’s favourite for coverage of major events is expected to capture the lion’s share of the tens of millions of viewers, has turned over flagship channels BBC One and BBC Two to broadcast the day of the funeral. Channel 4, Sky and Channel 5 are also committing significant resources and airtime.
Updated
The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, and the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, have arrived on coaches with the leaders of several Commonwealth countries at Buckingham Palace’s grand entrance.
They were joined by New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, who walked into the palace followed by the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, who smiled briefly at journalists.
The Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, also joined dozens of other guests at the reception.
Updated
The US president, Joe Biden, and the first lady, Jill Biden, have arrived at Buckingham Palace for the reception hosted by King Charles III.
The couple arrived in the presidential car in a convoy of vehicles.
Updated
The Princess of Wales has met the first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, at Buckingham Palace.
Zelenska has travelled to the UK for the Queen’s funeral after her husband, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, took time out from organising his country’s fight against Russia to sign a book of condolence for the Queen.
Updated
The UK’s prime minister, Liz Truss, has arrived at Buckingham Palace for the reception, which will be attended by around 500 guests.
Updated
The foreign secretary, James Cleverly, has arrived at Buckingham Palace for a reception for heads of state hosted by the King scheduled to start at 6pm UK time.
Former royalty and presidents have begun to arrive at Buckingham Palace in large coaches.
The president of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, arrived on a coach with the former King and Queen Consort of Spain, Juan Carlos and Sofia.
Updated
The Princess of Wales has met the first lady of Ukraine ahead of the Queen’s funeral.
Catherine held an audience with Olena Zelenska at Buckingham Palace.
Zelenska earlier visited Westminster Hall to see the Queen lying in state.
Downing Street had previously declined to confirm reports that Volodymyr Zelensky’s wife would travel to the UK for the funeral.
Updated
Speaking after seeing the Queen’s coffin and signing the book of condolence, Joe Biden said it was “an honour” to meet the Queen, who he said reminded him of his mother.
He said: “To all the people of England, all the people of the United Kingdom, our hearts go out to you and you were fortunate to have had her for 70 years, we all were. The world is better for her.”
Asked why the monarch reminded him of his mother, he said: “Just because of the way she touched when she leaned over. The way she had that look, like, ‘are you okay?
“Anything I can do for you? What do you need?’ and then also: ‘Make sure you do what you are supposed to do.’”
Updated
The end of the queue for the Queen’s lying in state is moving 1.5 miles west, from Southwark Park to Potters Fields Park near Tower Bridge, officials said.
This is due to reduced numbers in the line, staff from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said.
Chaperones at Southwark Park will direct mourners to the new end point where they will be able to collect wristbands.
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN'S LYING-IN-STATE QUEUE UPDATE, 5:00PM, 18 Sep
— Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (@DCMS) September 18, 2022
Queuing time is at least 9.5 hours
Queue end is in Southwark Park
A decision will be taken today on final queue closure time. To avoid disappointment please do not set off to join the queue pic.twitter.com/lg9W3wll7l
Around 2,300 police officers will line the route of the Queen’s final journey from Westminster Abbey to Windsor Castle.
More than 3,000 officers from forces outside London will form part of the 10,000-strong team policing the funeral on Monday, which Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy described as the “final and most complex phase” of the operation after the death of the monarch.
Speaking to the PA news agency, Cundy said: “This is a policing operation the Met has been planning for a considerable amount of time but on Monday we will enter our final and most complex phase of our policing operation.
“First and foremost, our priority is to ensure a safe and a secure state funeral and processional route, but also safe and secure for everyone who’s attending.
“As part of the route from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch, we will have 1,000 police officers alongside military personnel lining the route.
“Those officers will be engaging with the huge crowds that we’re expecting in London and I’d ask anybody, if you are coming to London, to pay your respects and to see Her Majesty the Queen: if you see anything out of the ordinary, if you hear anything suspicious, please speak to one of the thousands of police officers who will be on duty.”
The US president, Joe Biden, and the first lady, Jill Biden, are have paid their respects at the Queen’s coffin in Westminster Hall from a viewing platform.
Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia earlier paid their respects at the Queen’s coffin.
Updated
Food confiscated from people waiting in the queue for the Queen’s lying in state is being donated to charity.
People are not allowed to take food or drink inside the Palace of Westminster and any such items will be confiscated.
The Felix Project, a charity, said it expects to collect over two tonnes of food, mostly snacks including crisps, chocolate and biscuits, and is also accepting unwanted blankets.
It will distribute the items to the thousands of community groups it works with across the capital.
Brazil’s far-right president Jair Bolsonaro has been accused of using the Queen’s funeral as a political soapbox after he flew into London to deliver a speech to supporters about the dangers of leftists, abortion and “gender ideology”.
Speaking from the balcony of the Brazilian ambassador’s 19th century Mayfair home on Sunday, the South American populist voiced “profound respect” for the royal family and UK citizens and claimed honoring Queen Elizabeth II was the “main objective” of his visit to London.
But Bolsonaro – who looks poised to lose next month’s presidential election back in Brazil – then switched immediately into campaign mode, despite the moment of mourning.
“We’re on the right path,” Brazil’s president told hundreds of yellow-clad supporters who had rallied outside the listed building – less than two miles from Westminster Hall where the Queen was lying in state.
“We are a country that does not want to discuss the legalization of drugs, that does not want to discuss the legalization of abortion and a country which does not accept gender ideology,” Bolsonaro went on. “Our slogan is: God, homeland, family and freedom.”
“Bolsonaro has turned the Queen’s funeral into an election soapbox,” complained Joice Hasselmann, a right-wing politician and former Bolsonaro ally.
Public urged not to join queue for lying-in-state
The queuing time to see the Queen’s coffin at 7.50pm on Sunday was estimated to be seven hours. The lying-in-state will end at 6.30am on Monday.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said: “A decision will be taken today on final queue closure time.
“To avoid disappointment, please do not set off to join the queue.”
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN'S LYING-IN-STATE QUEUE UPDATE, 7:50PM, 18 Sep
— Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (@DCMS) September 18, 2022
Entry to the queue will close when it reaches final capacity
Queue end point is at London Bridge
Estimated queuing time is 7 hours
Tracker: https://t.co/6BYxq65Cjp pic.twitter.com/wFXW2AiFdw
Updated
The archbishop of Canterbury, who will preach the sermon at Monday’s state funeral, said he will miss the Queen “hugely” as he praised King Charles for having “the sense of service and duty, that is the equal of Her late Majesty’s”.
Justin Welby told Sky News he believes the Queen will now “unite more global leaders, possibly, than at any point in human history” as heads of state, royal families and government representatives from around the world gather at Westminster Abbey for her funeral.
Welby said he hoped and prayed that was a moment “where they will reflect on their own leadership”, looking to her example and taking “a moment where they say to themselves, ‘I would really like people to look on me in the way that they look on her’.
“She was deeply faithful and faith filled. A demonstrative, quiet Christian, who trusted in the faithfulness of God.”
Updated
Here is a view of crowds gathered at Windsor Castle a few minutes ago.
The prime minister, Liz Truss, is now in a meeting with the Polish president, Andrzej Duda, in Downing Street, PA Media reports.
It is the latest in a series of engagements for Truss today which has included an audience with King Charles at Buckingham Palace, and visits to Downing Street from the taoiseach, Micheál Martin, and Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau.
Updated
Mark Sweney reports for the Guardian that while the Queen’s funeral may break TV records, it will be no cash bonanza for the media industry:
The death of the Queen and coverage of her funeral will top the ranks of the most-watched broadcasts in British television history, while newspaper publishers have seen an unprecedented boost in sales as mourners seek commemorative copies. And yet the biggest national event in decades will not provide a commercial bonanza for media firms.
ITV has planned its largest ever outside broadcast, with all of its channels simulcasting ad-free blanket live coverage for the first time in history. The day of the funeral will also be the first time in Channel 4’s four decades on air that it has instituted a 24-hour ad block across its channels.
The BBC, which as the nation’s favourite for coverage of major events is expected to capture the lion’s share of the 10s of millions of viewers, has turned over flagship channels BBC1 and BBC2 to broadcast the day of the funeral. Channel 4, Sky and Channel 5 are also committing significant resources and airtime.
This all means the event’s total national reach, the number of individual viewers who watch at least some coverage, could surpass that of two of the most-watched live TV events ever – England’s 1966 World Cup win and Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997.
Mass media TV events are usually cash cows for commercial broadcasters, with 30-second ad breaks in an X Factor final or an England game in the latter stages of a major football tournament running to hundreds of thousands of pounds. However, there was a total TV advertising blackout following the death of the Queen, in accordance with a protocol agreement with Buckingham Palace, over most of the weekend.
“We are talking about the loss of millions and millions of pounds of advertising for media owners,” says a senior executive at a UK media agency. “It’s kind of like the mass media event that commercially never was.”
Read more of Mark Sweney’s report here: Queen’s funeral may break TV records – but it’s no cash bonanza for media industry
The taoiseach, Micheál Martin, has posted to Twitter a picture of him signing the book of condolence at Lancaster House, repeating his words from earlier that he viewed Queen Elizabeth II as having done “so much for reconciliation on these islands”. [See 1.21pm]
Today, I signed the Book of Condolence at Lancaster House.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) September 18, 2022
In sympathy with King Charles, the Royal Family, and British people, on the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth, who did so much for reconciliation on these islands. pic.twitter.com/1EYwMQ8FPN
At the same time we also have a picture from King Charles’s meeting with the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, which appears to have included some smiles and humour.
Browne has said he will call for a referendum on the country becoming a republic within three years, replacing Charles as head of state.
Updated
Emine Sinmaz is in Westminster for the Guardian:
People have been pitching up tents in Westminster and along the Mall in anticipation of Monday’s procession.
Sue Kaminski, 68, who travelled from the Isle of Wight, picked a spot outside Westminster tube station at 1.30am.
“If you want to see the funeral, you want a front row seat,” she said.
She befriended Anita Last, 66, and Ben Watts, 29, who sat beside her.
“I’ve come from Birmingham because I want to be here for the funeral. I’ve always loved the Queen and she’s always been there,” said Anita, who arrived at 6am.
“I queued up for the Queen’s lying in state for six hours on Thursday and I wanted to be here for the funeral too,” said Ben, from Guildford, who arrived at 4am. “It’s a genuine once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
My colleague Rachel Hall has written an explainer of what we can expect to see happen in the next few days after the Queen’s funeral, including where King Charles and the Queen Consort might live:
About 100 employees of Clarence House, where Charles and Camilla lived until the Queen’s death, have received notification they could lose their jobs because he will no longer live there.
Although we know King Charles is leaving Clarence House, we don’t know where he is moving. Queen Elizabeth II had several residences, including Buckingham Palace, Balmoral and Windsor Castle.
There has not yet been any official announcement, but it is expected that the new monarch will live at Buckingham Palace, which Charles is understood to consider an important symbol of the monarchy.
However, Buckingham Palace is currently undergoing a £369m taxpayer-funded refurbishment, which will not be complete until 2027. This could mean that Charles and Camilla delay their move.
You can read more here: What happens after the Queen’s funeral as Charles III’s reign begins?
Someone has bought a corgi along to Buckingham Palace today, and Clive is clearly proving a hit with the crowd.
Among representatives of the Commonwealth, the president of Singapore and the head of state of Samoa have been paying their respects at Westminster Hall.
The DCMS has said that the queuing time is now at least 11-and-a-half hours, and is still urging people not to travel to join the queue.
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN'S LYING-IN-STATE QUEUE UPDATE, 2:00PM, 18 Sep
— Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (@DCMS) September 18, 2022
Queuing time is at least 11.5 hours
Queue end is in Southwark Park
A decision will be taken today on final queue closure time. To avoid disappointment please do not set off to join the queue pic.twitter.com/P1KWvyIP0d
St John Ambulance say 98 people in queue needed medical attention overnight
St John Ambulance said in the early hours of Sunday morning – from midnight to 7am – some 98 people needed medical support, nine of whom needed to be taken to hospital.
259 people in the queue to see the Queen lying in state needed medical support on Saturday, it said.
The charity, along with London Ambulance Service, is providing medical support as crowds gather to pay their respects after the death of the monarch.
Overall, PA Media reports some 403 people in the “ceremonial areas” of London needed medical support on Saturday and 19 of these were taken to hospital.
Around 1,000 St John Ambulance volunteers will be on duty during the state funeral in London and Windsor, including 800 who will be on hand to provide medical and first aid support.
Summary of the day so far …
People have been warned not to set off from their homes to join the queue for the Queen’s lying in state, as it is due to close later this afternoon. The lying in state is scheduled to close at 6.30am on Monday morning. The DCMS said the latest estimate was that it was at least 13 hours queueing to see the coffin.
Parliament has confirmed that the bell in the Elizabeth Tower will be struck at 8pm BST on Sunday evening to mark what it called a “national moment of reflection”, in which people are encouraged to take a minute’s silence for the Queen.
Before the moment of silence, the Queen Consort is to pay a televised tribute to the Queen, praising her for carving out her own role for many years while being in the “difficult position” of being a “solitary woman” in a male-dominated world.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he is grateful for the invitation to the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and paid tribute to her contribution to reconciliation. Martin and Ireland’s president Michael D Higgins visited Westminster Hall to pay their respects to the late monarch. Martin has also held a 45 minute meeting with Britain’s Prime Minister Liz Truss at Downing Street.
Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has also visited No 10 to see Truss.
The King also received Truss at Buckingham Palace earlier, and as well as meeting heads of the realms during the day, he and the Queen Consort will host a reception for foreign heads of state and guests in London to attend the funeral.
New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has said she had no intention of instigating the process of New Zealand becoming a republic, even though she has previously suggested that would happen in her lifetime.
Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, has put out a statement in tribute to his mother.
Celtic supporters chanted “If you hate the royal family clap your hands” during a minute’s applause in memory of the Queen before their Scottish Premiership game against St Mirren.
About 1 million people are expected to visit the central London area around the royal palaces for the Queen’s funeral, making tomorrow one of the busiest days in the history of the capital’s transport network. Visitors have been warned that the network could be overwhelmed if too many people travel home directly after the funeral procession leaves Westminster shortly after noon, with transport bosses urging mourners to delay their journeys and check for travel updates.
The London markets, including the FTSE 100 and associated trading indexes, has confirmed it will not operate on the day of the monarch’s funeral, which is also a bank holiday in the UK. Commonwealth countries including Australia and New Zealand have also confirmed closures on public holidays in the coming days.
An image has been released of King Charles meeting the prime minister, Liz Truss, in the 1844 room at Buckingham Palace earlier today.
There are also photos of Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, being welcomed at 10 Downing Street, where he is meeting Truss.
Updated
The 70th minute in the Brentford v Arsenal Premier League match has been marked with a minute’s applause to mark the late Queen’s 70-year reign.
That has not been the case in Scotland today, where PA Media reports that Celtic supporters chanted “If you hate the royal family clap your hands” during a minute’s applause in memory of the Queen before their Scottish Premiership game against St Mirren.
The hosts had confirmed the planned applause days after Celtic became the subject of Uefa disciplinary proceedings when supporters displayed an banner reading “Fuck the crown” during Wednesday’s Champions League draw with Shakhtar Donetsk in Poland.
Visiting fans housed in one stand behind the goals in Paisley chanted the anti-monarchy sentiment and there was banner held up which read: “If you hate the royal family clap your hands”.
In the runup to Sunday’s game, Celtic’s manager Ange Postecoglou had called on fans to respect the tribute: “I have the same message to our fans that we always have. As I said before the game [against Shakhtar], we will abide by the protocols. We wore black armbands on Wednesday night.
“I think there’s a minute’s applause [on Sunday], we will abide by whatever obligations and responsibilities we have as a football club. We will do that in a respectful manner. We want our supporters to do the same.”
You can read more here: Celtic fans sing anti-royal family song during minute’s applause for the Queen
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Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he is grateful for the invitation to the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and paid tribute to her contribution to reconciliation. Speaking to reporters in London, PA Media quotes him saying:
I appreciate the opportunity to be here at the funeral accompanying the president to pay our tribute to Queen Elizabeth’s dedicated service to the people of the United Kingdom and of course, her contribution to reconciliation on these islands and particularly in terms of the relationship between Britain and Ireland.
We all recall that historic visit in 2011, which in many ways cemented the relationship between our two countries in the modern era.
Almost the crowning event of a whole series of events prior to that in terms of peace building, reconciliation, leading to the Good Friday agreement, and I think that was the significance of that visit.
Martin said that by “her warmth, her authentic actions, and by actions and by what she did, she made an enormous contribution”.
He added: “I think it also reflects the breadth and the depth of the relationship between Britain and Ireland. Between the British people and the Irish people, and many Irish in Britain, for whom this is a sad occasion in terms of the passing of Queen Elizabeth. She was a constant in many lives for a long, long time. An extraordinary, historic reign.”
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This graphic shows the timings and routes of the funeral on Monday as it processes first from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey, then later on to Windsor.
Big Ben to signal start of minute's silence at 8pm
Parliament has confirmed that the bell in the Elizabeth Tower will be struck at 8pm BST to mark what it called a “national moment of reflection”, in which people are encouraged to take a minute’s silence for the Queen.
The bell has been fitted with a muffler to quieten the noise of the chime, which will ring again at 8.01pm to mark the end of the moment.
Big Ben will also be tolling on Monday every minute as the funeral procession makes its way from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey for the service.
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About 1 million people are expected to visit the central London area around the royal palaces for the Queen’s funeral, making it one of the busiest days in the history of the capital’s transport network.
The Transport for London commissioner, Andy Byford, said there had been “huge numbers of additional passengers” using TfL services since the Queen’s death on 8 September, but that demand would “reach a climax” on Monday.
“We’re ready for probably one of the busiest days Transport for London has ever faced. It’s hard to say exactly how many additional people [will travel], but we’re preparing for potentially a million people just within the footprint of the royal palaces and Hyde Park,” Byford said.
Visitors have been warned that the network could be overwhelmed if too many people travel home directly after the funeral procession leaves Westminster shortly after noon, with transport bosses urging mourners to delay their journeys and check for travel updates.
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'Dear Mummy, Mother, Your Majesty': statement from Prince Andrew
Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, has put out a statement in tribute to his mother:
Dear Mummy, Mother, Your Majesty, three in one.
Your Majesty, it has been an honour and privilege to serve you.
Mother – of the nation, your devotion and personal service to our
nation is unique and singular; your people show their love and respect in
so many different ways and I know you are looking on honouring their
respect.
Mummy, your love for a son, your compassion, your care, your
confidence I will treasure forever. I have found your knowledge and
wisdom infinite, with no boundary or containment. I will miss your
insights, advice and humour. As our book of experiences closes, another
opens, and I will forever hold you close to my heart with my deepest love
and gratitude, and I will tread gladly into the next with you as my guide.
God save The King.
Tributes have been paid to the late Queen this morning at Newmarket, where some of the Queen’s horses have been ridden on the gallops wearing her colours during the Henry Cecil Open Weekend.
Flowers have been left by a statue of Queen Elizabeth II in Newmarket as well.
Updated
The taoiseach, Micheál Martin, has had a 45-minute meeting with the British prime minister, Liz Truss, during which the Northern Ireland protocol and the collapse of power sharing in Northern Ireland was expected to have been discussed.
No statements are being issued by either side due to the continuing period of mourning for the Queen.
It was one of just five meetings with world leaders Downing Street had organised ahead of tomorrow’s funeral, giving rise to hopes of a thaw in the icy relations with the EU and the UK will return to talks in the next few weeks.
The Irish foreign minister, Simon Coveney, said on Friday he was cautiously optimistic there would be an “opening of an honest effort to try to settle some of these issues that have been outstanding for far too long”.
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A few moments ago King Charles III returned to Buckingham Palace by car. He is scheduled to meet the prime minister, Liz Truss, at 12.15.
Updated
Among the visitors to Westminster Hall this morning have been the president of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, and his wife Sabina, alongside the taoiseach, Micheál Martin, paying their respects to the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II.
Martin spent an hour at Downing Street earlier. As well as meeting the recently appointed British prime minister, Liz Truss, he was photographed on the steps of No 10 saying hello to Larry, the resident cat.
Updated
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has issued a series of photographs showing world leaders who are in London to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II signing a book of condolence at Lancaster House.
Leaders and representatives of countries around the world have been signing the Book of Condolence at Lancaster House in memory of Her Majesty The Queen.
— Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) September 18, 2022
See the pictures on our Flickr page: https://t.co/PSBDfuzGPD pic.twitter.com/cC6WQeG0Y6
Here is an image from earlier this morning of members of the public at the end of the queue in Southwark Park as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state.
Like the nation itself, Guardian readers are divided over whether they will be spending Monday watching the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, or getting on with something else entirely. Clea Skopeliti has spoken to some of them for us.
Dinah, 65, a researcher in London said she had “no interest at all”, adding “It feels like it’s becoming obligatory to be a monarchist, rather than letting people make their own choice. I find it really horrible. I’ll just go for a walk with my family and make the most of a day off.”
Angela Dennis, 47, and a business manager at a charity in Suffolk, has a very different view, telling the Guardian “I watch all royal events, especially weddings on the TV, with my daughter. We both love all the ceremony and following the story of the day as it moves from early preparations to the main event and then the closing. We will be watching the funeral together with her partner, and we have planned a homemade buffet which is always a part of our royal TV days. We have called our event ‘the Queen’s wake’.”
You can read more from them and other readers here: G&T and scones or ‘no interest at all’ – how readers will watch Queen’s funeral
Earlier it was being reported in some places that a station announcement at South Kensington tube station had told travellers that the queue to file past the Queen was “closed”. TfL have now confirmed to PA Media that the message was read in error.
However, the DCMS advice remains that people should not set off from home to join the queue at this point, as it will be closing at some point later today.
London Stock Exchange has confirmed it will close on Monday to mark the death of the Queen.
The London markets, including the FTSE 100 and associated trading indexes, will not operate on the day of the monarch’s funeral, which is also a bank holiday in the UK. Commonwealth countries including Australia and New Zealand have also confirmed closures on public holidays in the coming days.
Trading terminals in London have operated every day since the Queen’s death was announced on Thursday 8 September, and the exchange opened and closed at the usual times the following day.
The stock exchange normally closes for bank holidays and weekends.
The London Stock Exchange Group said last week: “We are deeply saddened at the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
“Our sympathies and condolences are with the royal family.”
It said: “On the day of the funeral of Her Majesty the Queen, the London Stock Exchange would be closed for trading.
“It is to remain open for trading as usual during the official period of mourning.
“More information on our business days is available via our website.”
Businesses are not required to close on the day of the funeral, although many have decided to pause trading in a mark of respect.
The London Metal Exchange has been criticised by some members for its decision to remain open on Monday.
The exchange will open its electronic market but close its pit on the day of the funeral, meaning many traders will have to work, the Financial Times reported.
The Guardian has contacted LME for comment.
Meanwhile, the Canadian government has declared Monday a federal holiday to mark the funeral, but the Toronto Stock Exchange will continue to trade as normal.
In Australia, Monday will be a normal working day, but Australians will get a public holiday on Thursday 22 September, when Sydney’s Australian Securities Exchange will be closed.
New Zealand’s exchange will close on Monday 26 September, which is to be a bank holiday.
Updated
The DCMS tracker that has been indicating wait times for the queue to pass the Queen’s coffin has changed to a static screen repeating the earlier message “A decision will be taken today on final queue closure time. To avoid disappointment please do not set off for the queue.”
In a tweet at 11.07am, the DCMS said that the “queuing time is at least 13 hours”, which is the latest figure they have given.
Updated
The Royal Parks has issued advice for those intending to visit central London today to view or leave floral tributes. It has said:
The Green Park and St James’s Park are expected to be exceptionally busy today. You may prefer to visit the Hyde Park Floral Tribute Garden and walk from Victoria Station or arrive via Bayswater or Knightsbridge.
The Green Park and St James's Park are expected to be exceptionally busy today. You may prefer to visit the Hyde Park Floral Tribute Garden and walk from Victoria Station or arrive via Bayswater or Knightsbridge. To plan your journey visit https://t.co/hV5s87aktG pic.twitter.com/ZEfvzBbtb1
— The Royal Parks (@theroyalparks) September 18, 2022
The King’s itinerary for today includes meeting the prime minister and several heads of state.
Charles will meet Liz Truss at 12.15 in Buckingham Palace, and that will be followed at 1pm by a meeting with prime ministers of the realms which will include the prime minister of Tuvalu, Kausea Natano, the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, and the prime minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape.
At 6pm the King and Queen Consort will be hosting a reception for heads of state and officials overseas guests who have come to London for the funeral.
Yesterday, Charles met prime ministers from Commonwealth countries including Justin Trudeau, Anthony Albanese, Jacinda Ardern, Philip Davis and Andrew Holness.
Updated
There are a few more quotes from the New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern’s BBC interview this morning. She said she had no intention of instigating the process of New Zealand becoming a republic, even though she has previously suggested that would happen in her lifetime. She said:
I think even the Queen herself has observed and acknowledged the evolution over time in our relationships. My observation is that there will continue to be an evolution in our relationship. I don’t believe it will be quick or soon, but over the course of my lifetime.
We have complex arrangements, the treaty of Waitangi - a very important founding document for Aotearoa, New Zealand, signed between Māori and the Crown. This is why it’s not a process I have any intent of instigating, but if and when it does occur, it will take time, and it will need to be very carefully worked through.
PA Media also quotes her saying that the transition from Queen to King will not be “jarring”, explaining: “He shares many passions and interests that New Zealanders do, and I think that means that relationship already exists.”
Updated
DCMS tells people 'please do not set off to join the queue'
People have been warned not to set off from their homes to join the queue for the Queen’s lying-in-state, as it is due to close later.
PA Media reports the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said in a statement:
A decision will be taken today on when entry to the queue for Her Majesty the Queen’s lying-in-state will close as it reaches final capacity. Queue times are already 13.5 hours and may increase. To avoid disappointment please do not set off to join the queue.
Updated
The New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, has told the BBC that in her conversation with King Charles he expressed gratitude for the condolences of the people who had come out to take part in the week’s events. PA Media reports she said:
I’ll keep my comments here very, very general because we always try to keep in close confidence the conversations we are lucky enough to have with His Majesty.
But the overriding sentiment was just the gratitude for the great effort that people were putting into coming and paying their respects, and by that I mean not just leaders, but people.
You could see that it meant a huge amount to have seen the sheer scale and outpouring of people’s love and affection for Her Late Majesty.
Ardern also expressed surprise that it had become such a topic of conversation that world leaders would be travelling together by bus to the funeral on Monday.
She said: “I don’t think the bus warrants too much fuss. When we came here for the Commonwealth heads of government meeting we used buses for transport. It just makes good sense. We’re a very practical people.”
Updated
The former archbishop of York, Lord Sentamu, has been interviewed on the BBC this morning as part of the Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme. PA Media reports he told viewers that the Queen did not want a “boring” funeral service, saying:
What you’re going to expect is the best of funeral services, the prayer book service, the words which were an inspiration to Shakespeare.
You’re going to hear this wonderful English at its best, also you’re going to hear angelic voices of the choir of the abbey plus the Chapels Royal, you really hear voices that are singing to the glory of God.
The Queen does not and did not want what you call long, boring services. You’re not going to find boredom, but you’re going to be lifted to glory as you hear the service. The hearts and people’s cockles will be warmed.
Updated
If you were planning on doing something other than watching the funeral tomorrow in the UK, you may find your choices a little bit limited.
PA Media reports that a raft of the country’s biggest retailers have said they will shut their stores so workers can pay tribute to the Queen, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Lidl and Aldi. Marks & Spencer and Primark have also said they will shut for the day, and cinema chains Cineworld and Odeon have announced plans to keep their venues shut.
Tesco says it will open its Express convenience stores from 5pm. Asda said it will shut its stores for the funeral, but all its supermarkets will open from 5pm, with colleagues working on Monday evening receiving double pay.
Updated
The government has issued some advice for members of the public as to how they can watch some of the ceremonial parts of tomorrow’s state funeral. It says:
At 10.44am, the Queen’s coffin will be moved from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey. Two thousand guests are expected to attend, which will begin at 11am and [be] followed by a national two-minute silence at 11.55am.
A public procession will begin at 12.15pm as Her Majesty’s coffin travels from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch in London.
The procession will travel along Broad Sanctuary, Parliament Square, Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade, Horse Guards Road, The Mall, Constitution Hill and end at London’s Wellington Arch.
Space dedicated for those with accessibility requirements is available at the Green Park side of The Mall and the St James’s Park side of The Mall. The Albert Memorial viewing areas will have British Sign Language interpreters and a hearing loop.
Away from London, there are many events to commemorate the life of Queen Elizabeth II taking place today.
These include remembrance services taking place at various times in cathedrals including Blackburn, Bradford, Canterbury, Chichester, Durham, Gloucester, Lichfield, Liverpool, Manchester, Norwich, Sheffield and Worcester.
The government website has provided a list of events taking place today here.
Peter Stanford, the author of How To Read a Graveyard: Journeys in the Company of the Dead, has written for the Observer today about the rituals of death and the meaning of grief. In it, he says:
However much we feel in the peak of life, with full diaries and every possibility in front of us, the ritual of attending a funeral – or watching one on our screens on a day set aside as a national holiday for us to do so – is both an unconditional invitation to reflect on our own mortality, and an opportunity openly to recall those who have gone in our lives, to mourn them afresh. We will remember, as we watch the Queen’s children and grandchildren try to hold back the tears, how we have done the same in similar circumstances.
And grief for those we loved, and whose death leaves a space never filled in our lives, never ever goes. We just get used to living with it, learning to shed our tears for lost parents, siblings, partners, children, friends, in private rather than in public. The Queen’s funeral will lift that veil for a day at least.
You can read more of Peter Stanford’s piece here: A ritual of life – In mourning the Queen we are confronted with our own mortality
Tonight at 8pm in the UK there is scheduled to be what is described as “a national moment of reflection”, with people urged to observe one minute of silence. That will follow a pre-recorded televised address by the Queen Consort, as Nadeem Badshah reports:
The Queen Consort is to pay a televised tribute to the Queen on Sunday, praising her for carving out her own role for many years while being in the “difficult position” of being a “solitary woman” in a male-dominated world.
In prerecorded words, she will also recall the late monarch’s “wonderful blue eyes” and say: “I will always remember her smile.”
The Queen Consort’s tribute to her mother-in-law is to be broadcast shortly before the national minute’s silence at 8pm.
Camilla will say: “She’s been part of our lives for ever. I’m 75 now and I can’t remember anyone except the Queen being there. It must have been so difficult for her being a solitary woman.
“There weren’t women prime ministers or presidents. She was the only one so I think she carved her own role.”
Remembering the late monarch, Camilla will add: “She’s got those wonderful blue eyes, that when she smiles they light up her whole face. I will always remember her smile. That smile is unforgettable.”
You can read more of Nadeem Badshah’s report here: Camilla to pay tribute to Queen in TV broadcast
Just as a note, if you had missed the news, during this process there had been an accessible route, which started at Tate Britain, and which had timed slots for people with access requirements to be able to play their part in the national mourning.
That has now permanently closed, with all the time slots and wristbands allocated, and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has said:
The accessible queue for lying in state has reached full capacity and is now permanently closed. Wristbands for all time slots are allocated so that as many people as possible can pay their respects. Please do not join the queue at Tate Britain. Thank you for your understanding.
You can read more about that in Charlie Moloney’s report here: Accessible queue for Queen’s coffin permanently closes after reaching ‘full capacity’
How long is the queue?
Currently the DCMS tracker says that people should expect to wait 13-and-a-half hours in the queue to pay their respects to the late monarch.
With the lying in state scheduled to end at 6.30am on Monday morning, that suggests that at some point later this afternoon – at the present time it would be about 5pm – the authorities will have to begin preventing people joining the queue.
Updated
Good morning from London. Today is the last full day of lying in state for the Queen’s coffin, ahead of tomorrow’s state funeral.
Heads of state and members of foreign royal families are expected to start arriving in London later for funeral.
The King is also due to hold an audience with Liz Truss at Buckingham Palace, while the King and Queen Consort will host heads of state and official overseas guests at the palace, in what the King’s spokesman described as an “official state event”.
A service of reflection will be held for the Queen at the Kelpies sculptures near Falkirk, Scotland, and members of the public are invited to observe a one-minute silence at 8pm to remember the Queen.
We will bring you all the latest developments throughout the day. I’m Martin Belam, and you can reach me at martin.belam@theguardian.com
