Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and a rock of stability across much of a turbulent century died on Thursday. The whole world is mourning her loss. Now, details for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and the days leading up to the service have been revealed.
The Royal Family announced via Twitter on Saturday, “The State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen will take place at Westminster Abbey on Monday 19th September at 1100hrs BST. The tweet also said, “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,” According to the Palace, the Queen’s coffin is currently resting in the Ballroom at Balmoral Castle and will travel to Edinburgh on Sunday.
It will then rest in the Throne Room at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, until Monday afternoon. A procession will form on the forecourt of the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Monday to transport the coffin to St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. The procession will include King Charles III and other members of the royal family.
“Her Majesty’s Coffin will then lie at rest in St Giles’ Cathedral, guarded by Vigils from The Royal Company of Archers, to allow the people of Scotland to pay their respects,” t
The Queen’s coffin will then travel from Scotland on a Royal Air Force plane to RAF Northolt on Tuesday. Princess Anne is expected to be on board the aircraft. From there, the coffin will be taken to Buckingham Palace by road, to rest in the Bow Room.
“On the afternoon of Wednesday 14th September, the Coffin will be borne in Procession on a Gun Carriage of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster, where The Queen will Lie-in-State in Westminster Hall until the morning of the State Funeral,”
The procession will wind its way via Queen’s Gardens, The Mall, Horse Guards and Horse Guards Arch, Whitehall, Parliament Street, Parliament Square and New Palace Yard, no doubt to give people a chance to line the streets and show their respects. According to the government’s longstanding plan for the late Queen’s death, dubbed “Operation London Bridge,” the service of remembrance will be attended by her royal family members, the Prime Minister, as well as a small number of senior ministers.
Additionally, William and Kate appear to have extended an olive branch to Harry and Meghan as they invited them to Windsor Castle to take the public tributes for the Queen. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were on hand Saturday, standing shoulder to shoulder with the new Prince and Princess of Wales as they stepped out and observed the scores of flowers and cards left by commoners outside the palace gates. Stay tuned to Thirsty for further updates.
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