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State funeral for Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey UPDATE (3)
September 19, 2022 - The state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II is held at Westminster Abbey. First consecrated in 1065 for King Edward the Confessor, the Abbey has witnessed the most significant events of British royal history.
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Events on Monday will begin with the funeral procession, which will see the Queen's coffin conveyed from Westminster Hall, where she is lying in state, to the nearby Abbey.
The Queen's coffin will be carried on the State Gun Carriage, last seen in 1979 for the funeral of Lord Mountbatten. The carriage will be pulled by 98 sailors using drag ropes, with 40 behind acting as brake.
The navy’s role in hauling the gun carriage dates to Queen Victoria’s funeral in 1901. At one stage during that procession, as the cortege was heading towards Windsor Castle, there was a mishap with one of the horses drawing the carriage that threatened to disrupt the solemn proceedings.
A contingent of sailors forming an honour guard along the route was quickly organised to replace the horse team and, using improvised ropes, hauled the carriage bearing Queen Victoria’s coffin to St George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
Towards the end of the service for Queen Elizabeth, the Last Post will be played, followed by a national two-minute silence. The conclusion of the state funeral, expected at 12:00, will be marked by a lament played by the Queen’s piper.
After the Abbey service, the Queen's coffin will be carried in a further procession to Wellington Arch - led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and members of NHS staff.
It will then be conveyed to Windsor by road to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.