The state funeral for Britain's Queen Elizabeth II will take place at Westminster Abbey on Monday, 19 September at 11am, the Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk has announced.
Further details were confirmed today on the carefully choreographed London Bridge plans which will include a four-day lying in state at Westminster Hall from Wednesday 14 September.
The queen's oak coffin - which is lying in the Ballroom at Balmoral Castle - will be taken by road to the Palace of Holyrood house in Edinburgh tomorrow, on a slow six hour journey by hearse, to allow mourners gathered in the towns and villages to pay their respects.
Buckingham Palace confirmed a procession will be formed on Monday at the forecourt of the Palace of Holyrood house to convey the coffin to St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh.
King Charles III and members of the royal family will take part in the procession and attend a service in St Giles' Cathedral to receive the coffin.
The queen's coffin will then lie at rest in St Giles', guarded by vigils from The Royal Company of Archers, to allow the people of Scotland to pay their respects until Tuesday 13 September, before being taken by air by RAF plane to London.
The State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen will take place at Westminster Abbey on Monday 19th September.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 10, 2022
Prior to the State Funeral, The Queen will Lie-in-State in Westminster Hall for four days, to allow the public to pay their respects.
The queen will lie in state "four clear days" in Westminster Hall, arriving there on Wednesday 14 September until 6.30am on the morning of her funeral, a senior palace official said.
Thousands of people will be able to file past to see the late monarch's coffin - and further details of how the public can attend will be announced in the coming days.
A spokesman for King Charles said the monarch's main focus will be leading the royal family and nation in mourning over the coming days.
"Whilst, in the next few days, the King will carry out all the necessary state duties, his main focus will be leading the Royal Family, the nation, the Realms and the Commonwealth in mourning Her Majesty The Queen," the spokesman said.
"This will include meeting members of the public, to share in their grief."
Buckingham Palace has announced that the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will be held at Westminster Abbey at 11am on Monday 19th September pic.twitter.com/zia6z5A4lf
— Westminster Abbey (@wabbey) September 10, 2022
Westminster Abbey said it would be closed for visiting and worshipping while preparing for the Queen's funeral.
Announcing the news on Twitter, a statement read: "Buckingham Palace has announced that the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will be held at Westminster Abbey at 11am on Monday 19th September.
"As a royal church, the Abbey had a special relationship with the Queen.
"It was here that she married Prince Philip in November 1947, and her coronation was held in the Abbey in June 1953.
"The Abbey will be closed for visiting and worshipping from Monday (12 September) as we prepare for the state funeral, which will be broadcast live on television, radio and online."
