The longest-reigning British
monarch is set to lie in state at Westminster Hall for four days until the
morning of her funeral on 19 September, when her coffin will be taken in
procession to Westminster Abbey. No doubt the roads will be lined with members of
the public on a sad day, while the royal family and world leaders are among
those expected to attend the ceremony.
However, heads of state and
their partners from each country have reportedly been banned from traveling
via helicopters or their own state cars. Instead, they are being encouraged to
fly into the UK on commercial flights and will arrive and depart in escorted
coaches from a site in west London, according to documents obtained
by Politico.
The publication also reported
that they have been invited to a Buckingham Palace reception hosted by King
Charles III on Sunday 18 September, and they will have the opportunity to
attend the Queen’s lying-in-state and sign the condolence book at Lancaster
House.
As well as foreign leaders,
Queen Elizabeth’s funeral will also see royals gather in their masses to mourn
the monarch, who was a doting mother and grandmother to many. King Charles and
the Queen Consort, Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Andrew and
his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex are all
expected to be among the attendees, as well as the monarch’s grandchildren,
including the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank,
and more.
Following the funeral, the
Queen’s coffin will travel in procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington
Arch and on to Windsor. Once there, the state hearse will travel in procession
to St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, where a committal service will take
place.
 |
The monarch will be laid to rest alongside her family at Windsor Castle
The Queen’s final resting
place is expected to be the King George VI memorial chapel, which
houses the remains of the Queen’s sister Princess Margaret, who died in 2002,
and her parents, King George VI and the Queen Mother.
Her Majesty’s husband Prince
Philip was originally laid to rest in the Royal Vault of St George’s Chapel,
but he will be transferred to join his wife of 73 years.
