the death of queen elizabeth ii has launched an intricate period of mourning that will culminate in a grand state funeral on september 19 honoring his life of devotion and constant service.
Codenamed “Operation London Bridge”, arrangements for Britain’s longest-serving monarch they have been carefully studied over the years by the many agencies involved, with the Queen herself signing off on every detail before her death. However, these details were kept secret until the acting sovereign, King Charles III, gave his final stamp of approval.
Finally, the Queen will rest in St. George’s Chapel, in the grounds of Windsor Castle, next to her. “strength and permanence” of 73 years, Prince Philip. Here, we’ve put together a day-by-day guide to what’s going on between now and the state funeral.
On Sunday morning, the rangers took him to a waiting hearse, and then the beloved monarch left Balmoral for the last time. On the first leg of the Queen’s latest trip, the royal cortege took a six-hour trip to Edinburgh and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the British monarch’s official residence in Scotland. The road trip normally takes around three hours, however it was driven slowly to allow people to watch the procession and bow their heads as they passed.
An honor guard from the Royal Regiment of Scotland greeted the hearse in Edinburgh with a royal salute before a group of military bearers carried the coffin into the Throne Room.
Meanwhile, back in London, the King met with the Commonwealth Secretary-General before hosting a reception for High Commissioners from the realms of which he is now head of state in the Bow Room at Buckingham Palace.
On Monday morning, the King began the day with a trip to westminster hall where both Houses of Parliament expressed their condolences. him and his Camilla wife they then flew to Edinburgh, where they headed straight to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
In the afternoon, the King led a procession that carried the Queen’s coffin to St. Giles Cathedral for a service of prayer and reflection attended by members of the Royal Family as well as a congregation made up “from all walks of life.” Scottish society. according to a senior palace official. Afterwards, the coffin rests there for 24 hours for the Scottish public to view.
After the service, the king had an audience with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and a meeting with the Speaker of the Scottish Parliament. Carlos, accompanied by the queen consort, also went to the Scottish Parliament to receive a motion of condolence.
At night, the King and members of the Royal Family were expected to mount their own guard, or vigil, for the Queen’s coffin.
On Tuesday, the King and Camilla will take a trip to Belfast, Northern Ireland. The couple will visit Hillsborough Castle and see an exhibition about the Queen’s long association with Northern Ireland. The King will then meet the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland as well as other party leaders, and will receive a message of condolence from the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Back in Scotland, the Queen’s only daughter, Princess Anne, will prepare to accompany her mother’s body on her flight back to London. At 5 pm (12 pm ET), the coffin will travel 8.2 miles (13.2 kilometers) in a hearse to Edinburgh Airport, from where it will depart for RAF Northolt.
A state hearse will deliver the monarch’s remains to Buckingham Palace, where the king, queen consort and other members of the Windsor clan will be awaiting the arrival of the coffin around 8 pm (3 pm ET). The Dean of the Chapels Royal will conduct prayers and a group of bearers found by The Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards will place the coffin on trestles in the center of the Fore Room to rest for the night.
Wednesday will see an extraordinary silent procession carrying the coffin in a carriage of arms from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the Palace of Westminster, where the Queen will rest until the morning of the funeral.
For this trip, the coffin will be adorned with the Imperial State Crown and a wreath. The procession route will start at 2:22 pm (9:22 am ET) along The Mall, across Horse Guards Parade, past Downing Street towards Westminster.
In what is likely to be a poignant moment, members of the Royal Family will walk behind their beloved matriarch. They will be followed by senior staff from the royal houses, as well as close staff and members of the Household Division. As crowds watch the procession, which will last around 40 minutes, Big Ben will sound and cannon fire from The King’s Troop’s Royal Horse Artillery in Hyde Park will echo across the capital.
The Queen’s coffin will be placed on a raised platform, or catafalque, in the center of the room and will be guarded 24 hours a day by officers from the Household Division, the King’s Royal Guard or the Royal Company of Archers.
Upon arrival at Westminster Hall, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will conduct a short service, after which the hall will open from 5pm (noon ET) for the public to pay their respects.
Members of the public will be able to parade past the Queen’s coffin during its first full day at Westminster Hall on Thursday.
The hall will be open 24 hours a day until 6:30 a.m. (1:30 a.m.) on the day of the Queen’s funeral. The UK government has warned that those wishing to pay their respects “will have to queue for many hours, possibly overnight”. Everyone attending the funeral will go through “airport-style” security and only small bags are allowed.
Brass plaques in the 11th-century hall mark the place where Edward VII lay in 1910, George V in 1936, George VI in 1952, and Queen Mary a year later. The room, which is 900 years old, is also where British Prime Minister Winston Churchill lay in wartime in 1965.
On Friday, the pit will continue for a second full day. Large numbers of people are expected to line up in central London for the chance to visit the coffin and be a part of this historic moment.
Separately, King Charles and Camilla will visit Wales on Friday, closing their tour of the four nations that make up the UK.
Public access to the lying state continues through the weekend.
Sunday marks the last full day that the queen’s body will be laid to rest in Westminster Hall.
The UK public has also been invited to observe a minute’s silence at 8pm (3pm ET) in a national moment of reflection.
On the morning of Monday 19 September, declared a public holiday throughout the UK, the Queen’s ceremony will end. The coffin will then travel in procession once more to Westminster Abbey for the state funeral, details of which are likely to be known in the coming days.
Westminster Abbey, founded in 960 AD by Benedictine monks, is one of London’s most recognizable landmarks. The historic church has been the site of every coronation since 1066, and was where then-Princess Elizabeth married Prince Philip in 1947. But there hasn’t been a monarch’s funeral there since George II’s in 1760.
Heads of state and dignitaries from around the world are expected to be invited to the British capital to join members of the Royal Family in celebrating the life of the Queen and her unwavering service to the nation and the Commonwealth. While a guest list has not yet been announced, US President Joe Biden plans to attend the funeral.
Other familiar faces on the televised service will be some of the 15 prime ministers who have served during the Queen’s reign.
Upon completion, the coffin will travel in procession to Wellington Arch, before making its final journey from London to Windsor.
Your destiny is the now familiar Chapel of Saint George within the grounds of Windsor Castle. It is where Prince Philip’s memorial service was held, as well as more jubilant occasions such as the nuptials of the queen’s grandchildren.
Following the service for the Duke of Edinburgh in 2021, his coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault, located below the chapel, where many members of the Royal Family rest. However, it is expected that he will be relocated to rest alongside the Queen in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, located elsewhere within St. George’s Chapel.