On Monday, September 19, Queen Elizabeth will be laid to rest after her passing on September 8 and days of people standing in line to pay respects to her coffin. Not everyone can get in the infamous Queue, but many people who follow the lives of the royal family will wish to bid their adieus from wherever they are. Here’s is everything you need to know about the Queen’s funeral.
Where will Queen Elizabeth’s funeral be held?
Queen Elizabeth’s funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey, the ancient church that is the traditional location for elite weddings and funerals. Her casket has been lying in state at nearby Westminster Hall since last Wednesday, and will be carried to the Abbey by the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy.
What will happen at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral service?
Before the procession begins, the Queen’s Royal Standard-draped coffin will be topped with the Orb and the Scepter, symbols of her reign. The procession itself will be led by the newly crowned King Charles III, followed by the rest of Elizabeth’s children, uniformed troops, and then palace staff, including the queen’s pages. They will pass through crowds gathered to pay their respects. The Abbey itself seats 2,000 people who will mostly be other high-ranking officials, relatives, and favored member of the palace. To close the ceremony, the archbishop of Canterbury will give a blessing and the national anthem will be played.
Following the service, the coffin will be moved to the Royal Hearse after a second procession to the Wellington Arch and past Buckingham Palace.
Where will Queen Elizabeth be buried?
After the casket is placed in the hearse, it will be taken to St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. This is where her parents, King George VI and his consort, Queen Elizabeth, later the Queen Mother, are also laid to rest. Beside them are her sister Princess Margaret and her husband, Philip. It will be taken via the Long Walk and a second service called the committal service will take place. This portion of the event will be private.
What time is Queen Elizabeth’s funeral?
The doors to Westminster Hall close at 6:30 a.m. U.K. time on Monday to make way for preparations. Invited guests will be allowed to enter at 8 a.m. The procession to the Abbey takes approximately ten minutes, and there are two minutes of silence scheduled for 12 p.m. to mark the end of the service. The private part of the ceremony is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Where can people watch Queen Elizabeth’s funeral?
Pretty much every network in the United Kingdom and many in the United States will be broadcasting the events live, but PBS is specifically airing the BBC’s coverage beginning at 4 a.m. that day.
Aimée Lutkin is the weekend editor at ELLE.com. Her writing has appeared in Jezebel, Glamour, Marie Claire and more. Her first book, The Lonely Hunter, will be released by Dial Press in February 2022.
