Queen’s death: Guide to lying in state and her state funeral
Following the death of Britain’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, details of official events are Her Majesty’s funeral is being released.
Here is a guide to the key events coming up, find out how to pay your own tribute, what it means to lie in state and what a state funeral will look like – (the last full state funeral was Winston Churchill’s in 1965).
HM Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral will take place on Monday 19 September and will be attended by world leaders and the royal family.
- Queen to lie at rest at St Giles’ Cathedral until Tuesday afternoon
- Queen will lie in state from Wednesday 14 September from 17:00 BST until 06:30 BST on Monday 19 September
- Queen’s state funeral to take place Monday 19 September at Westminster Abbey from 11:00 BST
The Queen’s lying in state
The Queen will lie at rest in Scotland at St Giles’ Cathedral until Tuesday afternoon, allowing members of the public to file past the coffin from around 17:30 BST on Monday.
On Wednesday 14 September, the Queen will lie in state in Westminster Hall from 17:00 BST until 06:30 BST on the day of her funeral, Monday 19 September.
Whilst lying in state the hall will be open for 24 hours a day for members of the public to walk past the coffin and pay their respects and say final goodbyes.
The last member of the royal family to lie in state in the hall was the Queen Mother in 2002 – more than 200,000 people queued to see her coffin.
The Queen’s coffin will rest on a raised platform – known as a catafalque. A continuous vigil by soldiers from units that serve the Royal Household will stand on each corner.
On Wednesday 14 September she will be brought to Westminster Hall from Buckingham Palace in a slow procession, accompanied by a military parade.
The procession route for lying in state in London
The Queen’s coffin will be carried on a gun carriage of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery with the king and members of the royal family walking behind it.
The coffin is expected to arrive at Westminster Hall at 15:00 BST.
The coffin will be draped in the Royal Standard and once it arrives in Westminster Hall it will be topped with the Imperial State Crown, orb and sceptre.
Guns will be fired from Hyde Park at one-minute intervals throughout the procession.
You’ll be able to watch the procession in person along the route or at a screening site in Hyde Park.
The viewing areas and screenings will open at 11:00 BST on Wednesday 14 September.
A short service will be held, attended by the King and members of the royal family, once the coffin is placed in the hall. The public will then be allowed to enter.
Officials have already warned of long queues and airport-style security.
The Queen’s funeral plans
The state funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey at 11:00 BST on Monday 19 September.
The day has already been declared a Bank Holiday.
The Abbey is a historic church in London, it’s where Britain’s Kings and queens are crowned as well as royal weddings (Prince William and Princess Kate) as well as funerals, including Diana, Princess of Wales.
Heads of state from across the world will be descending on London for the funeral. Senior politicians, religious leaders and royals will be in attendance.
The funeral day guide
The Queen’s coffin will be carried from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy.
Senior royals, including the King, are likely to walk behind the coffin.
The service will most likely be conducted by the Dean of Westminster David Hoyle with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby giving the sermon.
And the new prime minister Liz Truss may give a reading.
After the funeral service, the coffin will be drawn in a walking procession in front of the abbey to Wellington Arch, at Hyde Park Corner before heading to Windsor by hearse.
The coffin will make its final journey that afternoon to St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
Related Stories
- Queen’s death: Day-to-day guide – Monday’s key events
- Queen’s death: Day-to-day guide – Tuesday’s key events
- Queen’s death: Day-to-day guide – Wednesday’s key events