The Queen’s coffin has arrived in London – What now?
The Queen’s Coffin is being carried today in a ceremonial procession to Westminster Hall, the oldest existing part of the Palace of Westminster, where it will then lie in state for public viewing.
The coffin procession left Buckingham Palace at 14.22, having arrived in London last night, and was met with crowds of thousands of mourners standing in the rain.
The procession then made it’s way to Westminster, with King Charles III, Prince William and Prince Harry walking behind the coffin, which will is adorned with the Imperial State Crown. Gun salutes were fired from Hyde Park while Big Ben’s bells are tolling.
Thousands have gathered along the Mall to watch the procession, whilst a queue – that could eventually stretch as far as Southwark park in Bermondsey – has already started to form along the South Bank, with many having queued overnight.
More than 1,000 volunteers, stewards and Metropolitan police officers have been brought in to manage the queues, with a number of professional football matches being cancelled due to limited police resources.
Reports suggest that mourners could face queues of up to 30 hours.
After a short service in Westminster Hall, attended by members of the Royal Family, the public will be able to pay their respects from 17:00 today..
The queen’s body will lie in state in the hall, which will be open 24 hours a day for four full days, until 6:30am on Monday 19 September, the day of the funeral.
The coffin, which will be placed on a raised platform, will be guarded throughout this time by soldiers serving the Royal Household.
On Sunday evening, there will be a nationwide one-minute silence at 20:00, with Britons invited to reflect on the life and legacy of the Queen.
And then on Monday the coffin will be taken to Westminster Abbey at 10:44, for the funeral beginning at 11:00. The Queen’s state funeral could see 4.1 billion tuning in worldwide, breaking global viewing records, according to WatchTVAbroad.
Following the state funeral, the late Queen’s coffin will finally be taken to Windsor, where a committal service will take place at St George’s Chapel, where she will be buried beside her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip.