The Queen’s death at the age of 96 has plunged the United Kingdom into mourning for a monarch who had reigned for 70 years.
The full-scale ceremonial procession on the day of the Queen’s funeral is likely to be one of the biggest the country has ever witnessed and will pose a huge security challenge.
Royalty, presidents and other world leaders are expected to attend, although certain nations, including Russia, Afghanistan, and Syria, were not extended invites.
In total, foreign office officials have handwritten around 1,000 invitations for Monday’s funeral and a reception with King Charles on Sunday.
The deadline to accept funeral invitations passes on Thursday, after which officials will finalise the seating plan.
Commonwealth officials, world leaders and other dignitaries are expected to begin arriving in the UK on Friday 16 September ahead of the state funeral.
The King is expected to meet Governors General and Prime Ministers from the Commonwealth nations.
The next day, on the eve of the funeral, Charles will welcome foreign royal families. During this time, funeral preparations are being finalised.
Day of the funeral
The Queen’s lying in state closes at 6.30am. The Queen’s coffin will be carried from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy.
It’s believed senior members of the Royal Family will follow in procession.
Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey, to begin at 11am (local time). The abbey is where Britain’s monarchs are crowned, and is also the location of the Queen’s wedding to Prince Philip in 1947.
Two minutes of silence will be observed across the nation. The service, which is expected to be one hour, will be followed by a ceremonial procession accompanying the coffin to Hyde Park, where it will be carried from a gun carriage to state hearse to travel to Windsor.
A final service will be held at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The Queen’s final resting place is believed to be King George VI memorial chapel, an annex to the main chapel.
This is where the Queen’s mother and father were buried and is the location of Princess Margaret’s ashes.
Prince Philip’s coffin will be transported from the Royal Vault to the memorial chapel.
