State funeral of Queen Elizabeth II: timing & procedure
The meticulously planned events at Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral on Monday follow a tight schedule.
The funeral ceremony will officially end at Westminster Hall and the doors are closed to the public, ready for the transfer of her coffin to nearby Westminster Abbey. Westminster Abbey opens its doors to around 2,000 guests, including world leaders such as US President Joe Biden and the reclusive Emperor of Japan Naruhito.
Pallbearers lift the coffin from the catafalque, a raised platform on which the Queen’s Flag-draped coffin has been placed, and carry it to the State Gun Wagon which awaits outside the north door of Westminster Hall. The State Gun Carriage embarks on a short procession from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey, pulled by 142 young Royal Navy sailors.
The coach arrives at the West Gate of Westminster Abbey, followed on foot by the Queen’s eldest son and successor, King Charles III, and other members of the royal family.
The porters lift the coffin and carry it to the abbey.
The state funeral will begin, presided over by the Dean of Westminster, David Hoyle, with the sermon of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.
The Last Post’s horn rings, followed by a two-minute rural silence. The service ends with the national anthem “God Save the King” and a Lament, a musical expression of pain. The coffin is carried on the carriage to Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner near Buckingham Palace. This is followed by the King, members of the Royal Family, and a motorcade comprising detachments from the armed forces of the 56-nation Commonwealth grouping led by the Queen.
The British Parliament’s “Big Ben” bell and cannon shots are fired continuously every minute. The coffin arrives at Wellington Arch, is carried to the royal hearse, and heads for Windsor Castle, west London.
The hearse arrives at Windsor and heads towards the castle via the wide Long Walk Avenue. The king and elder royalty join the walking procession from the Windsor Castle Quadrilateral before the procession stops at St George’s Chapel at 3:53 pm. The televised engagement service begins with the presence of royalty, prime ministers, and former and current members of the Queen’s family.
State funeral of Queen Elizabeth II: timing & procedure
After about 45 minutes, the coffin is lowered into the royal crypt to the lament of a lone bagpiper. A private funeral service will be held at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, with the Queen buried next to the remains of her father, King George VI, her mother, also known as Queen Elizabeth, and the ashes of her younger sister, Princess Margaret.
The coffin of her late husband, Prince Philip, will be buried there at the same time.
