The Queen's funeral is set to break centuries of royal tradition as it will take place at Westminster Abbey - following a period of national mourning. The funeral, which is expected to take place on Monday, September 19, is being held for a British monarch at Westminster Abbey for the first time since George II in 1760.
Funerals for British kings and queens have normally been at St George's Chapel in Windsor. But the Queen decided to break tradition as Westminster Abbey is more accessible and will allow many more people to take part.
Only invited guests will be allowed to attend the funeral and private committal service of Her Majesty The Queen and there are expected to be around 2,000 heads of state, dignitaries, presidents, European royals, and other key figures invited to Westminster Abbey.
It will be a strict all-black affair with mourning bands worn. The state funeral will be televised.
Huge crowds are expected to gather along the Mall from the Abbey in London to pay their respects to the Queen as senior members of the family are expected to walk behind the coffin.
There will be a national two-minute's silence at midday following the funeral.
The Queen's coffin is expected to be transferred from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey on a gun carriage and the funeral will start shortly after at around 11am on the day. The date of the funeral is expected to be a public holiday, according to reports.
The Queen will be buried alongside her parents, sister and the Duke of Edinburgh at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle and a procession is expected in Windsor. In the evening there will be a private interment attended just by members of the family.
