Millions of people are tuning in around the world today as the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II takes place. The funeral of the UK's longest-serving monarch, who died aged 96 on September 8, will see well-wishers, world leaders and close family and friends pay their respects to the Queen at Westminster Abbey on Monday morning with the funeral starting at 11am.
The service is being broadcast live across most mainstream channels with thousands also expected to gather around the UK to watch the historic event on large screens.
The order of service, published by Buckingham Palace ahead of the funeral, includes some the Queen's favourite hymns, prayers and recitals, chosen by the monarch herself. Before the service, the tenor bell tolled every minute for 96 minutes, reflecting the years of Queen Elizabeth II's life.
In a touching nod to Prince Philip, the service will hear the same hymn that was sung on their wedding day in 1947 - The Lord is my Shepherd.
Read more: The Queen's funeral plans: The full hour-by-hour timetable of what will happen
Here’s all the music that has been chosen to celebrate the late Queen and her 70 years of service.
The service will be led by the Dean of Westminster with music sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey and the Choir of His Majesty’s Chapel Royal. The choirs will be led by Westminster Abbey’s Organist and Master of the Choristers James O’Donnell, and the organ will be played by the Abbey’s sub-organist, Peter Holder. Before the service Matthew Jorysz, assistant organist, will play a series of pieces:
- Fantasia of four parts: Orlando Gibbons (1583–1625)
- Romanza (Symphony no 5 in D): Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)
- Reliqui domum meum Peter Maxwell Davies (1934–2016)
- Meditation on ‘Brother James’s Air’ Harold Darke (1888–1976)
- Prelude on ‘Ecce jam noctis’ Op 157 no 3 Healey Willan (1880–1968)
- Psalm Prelude Set 1 no 2 Herbert Howells (1892–1983)
- In the Country Op 194 no 2 Charles Villiers Stanford (1852–1924)
- Fantasy on ‘O Paradise’ Malcolm Williamson (1931–2003)
- Elegy Op 58 Edward Elgar (1857–1934)
- Andante espressivo (Sonata in G Op 28) Edward Elgar
- Sospiri Op 70 Edward Elgar arranged by Peter Holder (b 1990)
During the ceremony the congregation will join in singing three hymns; ‘The day Thou gavest Lord is ended’, ‘The Lord’s my Shepherd’ and ‘Love Divine, All Loves Excelling’. With the congregation seated the choir will perform ‘My soul, there is a country’ by English composer Sir Hubert Parry.
Two new pieces written for the ceremony will also be performed by the choir; a setting of a text from the New Testament’s Epistle to the Romans by Sir James MacMillan and ‘Like as the Hart’, an unaccompanied musical setting of Psalm 42 from the Book of Common Prayer by British composer Judith Weir CBE. Near the end of the service the choir will sing the national anthem ‘God Save the King’ after a two-minute silence.
The Queen’s Piper, Warrant Officer Class 1 (Pipe Major) Paul Burns, will then play ‘Sleep, dearie, sleep’ a traditional Lament. When the coffin and procession leaves the church, Holder will then perform Johann Sebastian Bach’s ‘Fantasia in C minor’. After the ceremony 'Allegro maestoso' (Sonata in G Op 28) by Edward Elgar will be played.
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