The Queen’s coffin has arrived at Buckingham Palace in London after being flown from Edinburgh. The coffin will stay in the central London palace’s Bow Room overnight until the ceremonial procession to Westminster Hall for the Queen’s lying in state on Wednesday morning.
Among the planned events, there will be two national silences in the days ahead. Here is a day-by-day account of what will happen next, leading up to and including the Queen’s funeral on September 19.
Wednesday September 14:
In a tribute to his late mother, the King will lead Wednesday’s procession behind the gun carriage carrying her coffin to Westminster Hall, where the Queen’s lying in state will begin.
The coffin, adorned with the Imperial State Crown, will be transported on a gun carriage of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from Buckingham Palace.
The King, members of the royal family and senior staff of the late Queen and King’s households will walk slowly behind in a dignified silence without music on a route that will take 38 minutes.
Working members of the royal family will wear military uniform when present at five ceremonial events during this period of mourning the Queen.
The Archbishop of Canterbury will conduct a short service following the coffin’s arrival.
Those wishing to pay their respects will be able to file solemnly past the Queen’s coffin 24 hours a day from 5pm on Wednesday until 6.30am on the day of the funeral – September 19.
Senior royals are also expected to pay their own moving tribute, standing guard at some stage around the coffin – the tradition known as the Vigil of the Princes.
September 15:
Lying in state continues and a rehearsal is likely to take place for the state funeral procession.
September 16:
The King and Queen Consort are expected to travel to Wales while lying in state continues.
September 17–18:
The lying in state continues and heads of state will begin to arrive for the funeral.
Members of the public Me are invited to observe a one-minute silence at 8pm on Sunday to remember the Queen.
September 19:
There will be a national bank holiday to allow as many people as possible to watch the Queen’s funeral.
Lying in state will continue until 6.30am.
The coffin will be taken in a grand military procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey for the state funeral.
Senior members of the family are expected to follow behind – just like they did for the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh.
The military will line the streets and also join the procession.
Heads of state, prime ministers and presidents, European royals and key figures from public life will be invited to gather in the abbey, which can hold a congregation of 2,000.
The service will be televised, and a national two minutes’ silence is expected to be held.
After the service, the coffin will be taken in procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch and then travel to Windsor.
Once there, the hearse will travel in procession to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle via the Long Walk, after which a televised committal service will take place in St George’s Chapel.
Later in the evening, there will be a private interment service with senior members of the royal family.
The Queen’s final resting place will be the King George VI memorial chapel, an annex to the main chapel – where her mother and father were buried, along with the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret.
Philip’s coffin will move from the Royal Vault to the memorial chapel to join the Queen’s.
