The Queen’s funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey on Monday, September 19, at 11 a.m., royal aides confirmed today.
Her body will lie in state at Westminster Hall for four days before that, giving thousands of people the opportunity to pay their respects. The Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal, outlined plans for the coming days.
“The Queen is currently in the Ballroom at Balmoral Castle,” he explained. Her Majesty’s Coffin will be transported by road to the Palace of Holyroodhouse at 10 a.m. tomorrow, arriving in Edinburgh at 4 p.m.
“On Monday, it will be taken in procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse at 2.35pm to St Giles’ Cathedral, where it will rest until Tuesday, September 13th, when it will fly to London, arriving at 8pm.”
“On Wednesday, September 14th, at 2.22pm, the Coffin will be transferred from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall for Lying-in-State, which will conclude on the morning of the State Funeral.”
“The Coffin will be carried in Procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey for the State Funeral Service on Monday, September 19 at 10.44 a.m.
“Following the State Funeral, the Coffin will be paraded from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch.
“The Coffin will travel to Windsor from Wellington Arch.
“Once in Windsor, the Hearse will make its way down the Long Walk to St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
“There will then be a Committal Service in St George’s Chapel.”
At a press conference at Buckingham Palace, he told journalists: “As the person in overall charge of the funeral, let me conclude by saying that, along with so many colleagues from The Royal Household, the Armed Forces, the Police, and other institutions of Church and State, we will carry out our duty with the heaviest of hearts in the coming days.
“But also with a firm determination to ensure a fitting farewell to one of our defining figures; a monarch whom we were truly privileged to have as Head of State of our country and the Realms, as well as Head of the wider Commonwealth.
“While His Majesty The King was speaking about his family, I believe he meant it for all of us when he said in his broadcast yesterday, ‘We owe her the most heartfelt debt.’
“I believe we can repay that debt in some way by carrying out her final wishes in delivering Her Majesty The Queen’s Funeral.”
In the ballroom of Balmoral Castle, the Queen’s body is currently resting in an oak coffin covered with the royal standard of Scotland and topped with a floral wreath.
A senior palace official described the scene as “quiet dignity.”
According to Buckingham Palace, the King will continue to lead the Royal Family, the nation, the realms, and the Commonwealth in mourning the Queen.
Tomorrow, September 11, the King will meet with the Commonwealth Secretary General at Buckingham Palace. The King will then entertain Realm High Commissioners and their spouses in Buckingham Palace’s Bow Room.
On Monday, he will travel to Westminster Hall, where both Houses of Parliament will gather to mourn The Queen’s d3ath. The response will come from the King.
After that, the King and Queen Consort will fly to Edinburgh. Their Majesties will begin their journey at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The King will inspect the Guard of Honour there.
The Ceremony of the Keys will take place on the forecourt of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Before returning to Holyrood, the King will attend a Service of Prayer and Reflection for the Queen’s Life at St Giles’ Cathedral.
The King will meet with the First Minister of Scotland at the Palace, followed by the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament.
Following that, the King and Queen Consort will attend the Scottish Parliament to receive a Motion of Condolence. The response will come from the King.
That evening, the King will attend a Vigil at St Giles’ Cathedral with members of the Royal Family.
The King and Queen Consort will fly to Belfast and then to Hillsborough Castle the following morning, on Tuesday, September 13. They will see an exhibition about the late Queen’s long association with Northern Ireland there.
The King will then meet with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and party leaders before receiving a condolence message from the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly. The response will come from the King.
Following a brief reception at Hillsborough, the King and Queen Consort will travel to St Anne’s Cathedral for a prayer and reflection service. Before the service, His Majesty will meet with leaders of Northern Ireland’s major faiths. The King and Queen Consort will then depart for London.
The King will lead the procession behind the Gun Carriage carrying Her Majesty’s Coffin to Westminster Hall on Wednesday, September 14, where the Lying in State will begin.
The King and Queen Consort will visit Wales on Friday, September 16. More information will be released.
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