The Queen’s Funeral: What To Expect In The Upcoming Days
With the death of Queen Elizabeth on September 8th, Operation London Bridge, the U.K. government’s long-established plan for arrangements in the event of Her Majesty’s passing, has been officially started and is underway as we speak. This means that in the days leading up to the Queen’s state funeral, which will be next Monday, September 19th, there is a list of things that will happen each day accordingly.
As the Queen peacefully passed away at the age of 96 at her beloved Balmoral Castle in Scotland, the location-specific Operation Unicorn is currently in progress. The Queen’s coffin is already en route to London on the pre-planned path.
This is just a simple rundown of what will be happening in the national period of mourning before the Queen’s funeral.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
The Queen’s coffin had departed from Balmoral Castle around 10 a.m. GMT, heading south towards London. The coffin is decorated with flowers picked at Balmoral and draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland. It spent the night at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh before it continued on its journey in the morning.
On Sunday also the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish Parliaments read the new King’s proclamations.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
On the fifth day after the monarch’s passing, the Queen’s coffin passed along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile to St Giles Cathedral.
In London, the now King Charles III heard both Houses of Parliament express their condolences before he and Queen Consort Camilla headed off for a tour of the four nations of the United Kingdom.
The Queen’s children hold a Vigil beside Her Majesty’s coffin in St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh. pic.twitter.com/8VCFQ9SAp9
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 12, 2022
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
The Queen’s coffin has been flown to London early in the morning. As it arrived at Buckingham Palace, rehearsals for the coffin’s procession to the Palace of Westminster started immediately.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
After her coffin is ceremonially brought to London, the Queen’s lying in state is expected to start in Westminster Hall. This four-day tradition allows thousands of people to be able to pay their respects as they pass by the coffin. This is also known as Operation Marquee. Traditionally senior royals stand guard throughout, in what is known as the Vigil of the Princes.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
Her Majesty’s lying in state will continue, with a rehearsal of the state funeral procession also being scheduled to be carried out on this day.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 THROUGH SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
The lying in state will continue until Sunday, while the funeral attendees will be arriving before the official day of the service.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
The state funeral will happen at Westminster Abbey. The Queen’s coffin will be escorted by Navy officials using a gun carriage, using ropes to pull it. The King and the rest of the royal family will follow the coffin in a silent procession. The event will be televised and attended by heads of state and major figures from all over the world.
Following the funeral at Westminster Abbey, the coffin will be taken to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle for another service, which will also be televised.
After that, there will be a private service for senior royals and finally, the late monarch’s body will be laid to rest in the King George IV memorial chapel, where Queen Elizabeth’s mother and father were buried and where the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret, rest. Shortly after Prince Philip’s body will also be transferred to the chapel as well, laying him to rest beside his wife of 70 years.