Date set for Queen’s funeral – as details of lying-in-state released

UK

The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will take place at 11am on Monday 19 September at Westminster Abbey, it has been announced.

Details of the service and events in the coming days have been released by Buckingham Palace and the Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk, who is responsible for the arrangements.

It was announced earlier that the day of the funeral will be a bank holiday.

Members of the public will be able to pay their respects as the Queen‘s coffin is taken to St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh on Monday 12 September and the Palace of Westminster in London on Wednesday 14 September.

Bank holiday approved on day of Queen’s funeral – latest updates

The Queen’s coffin – which is currently in the ballroom at Balmoral – will be carried by six gamekeepers from the Balmoral Estate tomorrow, Sunday 11 September, at 10am.

It will be driven by hearse to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, a journey expected to last six hours.

The coffin will:

• Reach Ballater at around 10.12am
• Make its way through Aboyne, Banchory, Peterculter
• Arrive in Aberdeen at around 11.20am, moving through the city’s suburbs
• Move through Porthleven, Stonehaven before heading inland
• Head through the Angus countryside and past Brechin
• Arrive in Dundee at around 2.15pm, where it will go around the city on the Kingsway
• Head towards Perth, across the Friarton Bridge and down the M90
• Go over the Queensferry Crossing towards Edinburgh
• Enter Edinburgh from the west, skirt by Edinburgh Castle
• Down the full length of the Royal Mile to the Palace of Holyroodhouse by about 4pm

The coffin will rest in the Throne Room to allow staff at the palace to pay their respects.

Watch Sky News live from 10am tomorrow as a cortege takes the Queen’s coffin from Balmoral to Edinburgh

On Monday 12 September, the King and Queen Consort will travel to Edinburgh to join a procession from Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral.

The procession will leave at 2.35pm, with the King and some members of the Royal Family following on foot.

At 2.55pm, the coffin will be carried into the cathedral with the Crown of Scotland on top.

The coffin will rest in the cathedral, and members of the public can pay their respects. That evening, at 7.20pm, the King and other members of the Royal Family will mount a vigil.

Read more:
Line of succession: Who’s now closer to the throne
King Charles in pictures – life of royal as he becomes monarch

Her Majesty to leave Scotland on Tuesday

On Tuesday 13 September at 5pm, a hearse will take the coffin to Edinburgh airport arriving at 6pm. The Princess Royal will fly with the coffin for the 55-minute flight to RAF Northolt.

Guards of honour will salute the departure from Scotland and the arrival in England.

The state hearse will take the Queen’s coffin to Buckingham Palace, where it will be placed in the centre of the Bow Room to give members of the royal household the chance to pay their respects.

The King and Queen Consort along with other members of the Royal Family will be there and prayers will be conducted.

The following day, on Wednesday 14 September, the Imperial State Crown and a wreath of flowers will be placed on top of the coffin.

At 2.22pm, it will be taken in procession by gun carriage from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster, with the King and other royals, as well as staff from the royal household walking behind.

A senior palace official said this silent procession will be “relatively small and personal”.

Read more:
What we learned from King Charles’s first address
Photos show difference between Queen and King’s accession

Four ‘clear days’ of lying in state

The coffin will arrive at the Palace of Westminster at 3pm where the Archbishop of Canterbury will conduct a short service.

The lying in state will begin afterwards, during which members of the public will be able to file past and pay their respects. Details of this will be released by the government, but huge crowds are expected.

She will lie in state for “four clear days” in Westminster Hall, a senior palace official said.

The funeral will take place at 11am on Monday 19 September, after which the Queen’s coffin will be taken to Windsor for a committal.

Details of who will attend as well as the order of service are expected next week.

Leave your tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

A busy period for the new King

And for the new King, it is a busy period, starting with meeting the Commonwealth secretary-general at Buckingham Palace tomorrow.

For a full day-to-day guide of the King’s itinerary until the Queen’s funeral, click here.