The Queen’s Funeral: What We Know So Far

By Kerry McDermott

Britain is observing a period of national mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022. In accordance with the wishes of the new King Charles III, it will continue until seven days after the Queen's state funeral, which will take place at 11am on Monday 19 September. The King confirmed during his historic Accession Council that the day of the funeral will be a bank holiday.

On Thursday 15 September, members of the public were queueing for up to 30 hours for the chance to file past the Queen's coffin, which is currently lying in state in Westminster Hall, to pay their respects. King Charles III issued a statement of thanks on behalf of the royal family for the condolences that have been pouring in from around the globe in the wake of his mother's death. "The Royal Family has been deeply moved by the global response and affection shown for The Queen as people join them in mourning the loss of Her Majesty," the statement said.

Buckingham Palace also confirmed that the Queen will be buried alongside the Duke of Edinburgh, her husband of 73 years.

Below, exactly how the country will say goodbye to its longest-reigning monarch.

By Hayley Maitland

Yes. The Queen is lying in state at Westminster Hall, where her coffin will remain until the morning of her state funeral on 19 September.

On Sunday 11 September, the Queen's coffin was brought from Balmoral, where she died peacefully on 8 September, to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, where it rested in the Throne Room until the following afternoon.

On Monday 12 September, the King and other members of the royal family joined a procession to convey the coffin to St Giles's Cathedral in the city, where a service was held. The Queen's coffin then remained at rest, guarded by Vigils from The Royal Company of Archers, as the people of Scotland were given an opportunity to pay their respects.

On the afternoon of Tuesday 13 September, the Princess Royal accompanied her mother's coffin as it travelled from Scotland by RAF aircraft from Edinburgh Airport to RAF Northolt. It was then conveyed to Buckingham Palace by road, to rest in the Bow Room. The following afternoon, the Queen's coffin was borne in procession on a Gun Carriage of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery to the Palace of Westminster. There, the Archbishop of Canterbury conducted a short service, attended by the King and members of the royal family, including the new Prince and Princess of Wales, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

By Hannah Jackson

By Emma Spedding

By Alice Cary

The Queen, Prince Charles and the Duke of Edinburgh, and behind them Prince William and Prince Harry, at the Queen Mother's funeral in 2002.

The Queen's state funeral will take place on Monday 19 September.

The Queen's funeral will take place in Westminster Abbey, the same historic church in which she married the Duke of Edinburgh in 1947, and where her Coronation was held six years later.

The lying in state will come to an end at 6.30am on the morning of 19 September, and at 10.44am the coffin will be borne in procession on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey for the funeral, which will be conducted by the Dean of Westminster. The King, members of the royal family, and members of the King's royal household will follow the coffin in procession. The sermon will be given by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Towards the end of the service, the Last Post will sound, followed by a two minute silence observed in the Abbey and across the country. The National Anthem will bring the state funeral to a close at 12pm.

By Hannah Jackson

By Emma Spedding

By Alice Cary

After the service, the Queen's coffin will be returned to the State Gun Carriage for a procession to Hyde Park Corner, with the royal family once again following behind. Big Ben will toll for the duration of the procession. At Wellington Arch, the coffin will be transferred to the state hearse to travel to Windsor.

When the coffin reaches Windsor, a final procession will be formed to travel via the Long Walk to St George's Chapel for the committal service. The service will begin at 4pm, and will see the King and members of the royal family joined by past and present members of the Queen's Household. The service will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor, with prayers said by the Rector of Sandringham, the Minister of Crathie Kirk and the Chaplain of Windsor Great Park. The Choir of St George's Chapel will sing.

After the Queen's Coffin is lowered into the Royal Vault, the Sovereign's Piper will play a lament and the Archbishop of Canterbury will pronounce the blessing. The National Anthem will be sung at the conclusion of the service. A private burial will take place in the King George VI Memorial Chapel later that evening. The Queen will be buried together with the Duke of Edinburgh.

The funeral service will be broadcast on television. More than 13 million viewers in the UK watched the coverage of the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral in April 2021.

The Duke of Edinburgh's funeral in April 2021. Prince Philip's coffin was carried on a customised Land Rover hearse that he had designed himself.

Members of the public have an opportunity to view the Queen's coffin while she is lying in state in Westminster Hall. Mourners will be able to line the Mall to pay their respects as the Queen's coffin is carried in procession from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey. Royals including King Charles III will walk behind the coffin in procession.

By Hannah Jackson

By Emma Spedding

By Alice Cary

Almost 200 people who were recognised in The Queen's Birthday Honours earlier this year will be among the congregation at the funeral, Buckingham Palace said, including those who made extraordinary contributions during the response to the pandemic, and have volunteered in their local communities.

After the funeral, the Queen's coffin will travel by hearse to her final resting place, St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, where she will be buried together with her late husband, Prince Philip. The chapel has been the setting for royal family occasions including the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018, Princess Eugenie's wedding to Jack Brooksbank later that same year, and most recently, the funeral of the Queen's late husband, Prince Philip, on 17 April 2021.

The Queen at Westminster Abbey in March 2022, at a service of thanksgiving for Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Yes. On 10 September, as Charles was officially announced as King in an historic ceremony at St James's Palace in London, it was confirmed that the day of the Queen's state funeral will be a public holiday.

Government guidance states that organisations are not obliged to suspend business during the period of national mourning, however in the wake of the news of the Queen's death, the Premier League suspended fixtures, and the British Horseracing Authority cancelled races. Burberry also cancelled its planned spring/summer 2023 show, due to take place during London Fashion Week on 17 September.