Today, the Queen's coffin makes its final journey from London to Windsor Castle, where the late monarch will be buried alongside her husband Prince Philip. This morning's grand state funeral at Westminster Abbey is just one aspect of the royal family's final goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II.
The plans for the funeral and mourning period of the Queen, referred to by the name Operation London Bridge, have been in place for years. Her death, on September 8, triggered a series of events, culminating in today, the day of her funeral, committal and burial.
Following the funeral, attended by a congregation of around 2,000 members of the royal family, world leaders and specially invited guests, the Queen's coffin will be led in procession through London once more. The King and other members of the Royal family will walk with the coffin to Hyde Park as members of the public watch on.
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From there, the Queen's coffin will be taken to Windsor Castle, her beloved Berkshire residence and her final resting place. A committal service will take place with around 800 attendees, before the Queen is buried at St George's Chapel in a private ceremony in the evening.
Here are the events which will take place on Monday afternoon, following the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
Procession led by King
After the funeral service, the royal family will walk in a procession with the coffin to Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner. The procession will set off from Westminster Abbey at approximately 12.15pm and arrive at its destination around 45 minutes later.
The procession route will go via Broad Sanctuary, Parliament Square (South and East sides), Parliament Street, Whitehall, Horse Guards including Horse Guards Arch, Horse Guards Road, The Mall, Queen’s Gardens (South and West sides), Constitution Hill and Apsley Way.
The King will lead the procession alongside his siblings Anne, Edward, and Andrew. Behind them will be the Queen’s grandsons Peter Phillips, the Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales. They will be followed by the late monarch’s son-in-law Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Queen’s cousin the Duke of Gloucester, and her nephew the Earl of Snowdon.
During the procession, guns will be fired in Hyde Park and the bells at Big Ben will toll. On arrival at Wellington Arch, the Queen's coffin will be placed in the state hearse and transported to Windsor.
Arrival at Windsor Castle
The Queen’s coffin will be driven from London to Windsor in the state hearse. On arrival at the castle, it will make its way up the Long Walk, which will be lined with members of the Armed Forces.
The King and other royals will arrive at Windsor by car. Those walking in the procession will join on foot behind the hearse in the castle’s Quadrangle. The Queen Consort, the Princess of Wales, the Duchess of Sussex and the Countess of Wessex will follow by car.
Committal service
The procession will arrive at St George's Chapel for a committal service due to start at 4pm. The service, conducted by the Dean of Windsor David Conner, will feature traditions symbolising the end of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
The committal service is perhaps the most solemn moment of a Church of England funeral service, and it usually takes place at the graveside, in a crematorium chapel or in the church before a burial or cremation.
The Queen's committal service will be attended by a congregation of around 800 people including the King, the royal family, realm prime ministers, governors-general and mourners from the Queen’s household past and present, including personal staff from across her private estates. The majority of those attending will not have been at the funeral service at Westminster Abbey.
During the service, the Imperial State Crown, the orb and the sceptre will be lifted from the Queen’s coffin by the Crown Jeweller, separating the Queen from her crown for the final time. The priceless jewells will be passed to the Dean who will place them on the High Altar.
At the end of the last hymn, the King will step forward and place the Grenadier Guards’ Queen’s Company Camp Colour – a smaller version of the Royal Standard of the Regiment – on the coffin. At the same time, former MI5 spy chief Baron Parker – the Lord Chamberlain and the most senior official in the late Queen’s royal household – will “break” his Wand of Office, a white staff, and place it on the coffin, signifying the end of his service to the Queen.
As the coffin is lowered into the royal vault, the Dean of Windsor will say a psalm and the commendation before the Garter King of Arms pronounces the many styles and titles of the Queen. At the end of the service, God Save The King will be sung and the King and members of the royal family will leave via the Galilee Porch.
Private burial
Finally, away from the cameras, the King and the royal family will gather for a private burial service at St George’s Chapel at 7.30pm. A senior palace official said: “The service and burial will be entirely private, given it is a deeply personal family occasion.”
The service will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor and attended by King Charles III, the Queen Consort, the Queen’s children, the Prince and Princess of Wales and other members of the royal family.
The Queen will be buried alongside her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, whose coffin was interred in the Royal Vault of St George’s – ready to be moved to the memorial chapel when the Queen died.
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