Final details for Queen Elizabeth’s farewell confirmed
THE Queen’s state funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey on September 19 at 11am, the Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk, announced last night.
Schools will close on the day of the funeral giving thousands of youngsters the chance to watch the televised service and pay their respects, Government sources revealed.
Further details were confirmed on the carefully choreographed plans, which will include a four-day lying in state at Westminster Hall from September 14.
The Queen’s oak coffin – which is lying at rest in the Ballroom at Balmoral Castle covered in a Royal Standard of Scotland with a wreath of flowers on top – will be taken by road to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh today, on a slow six-hour journey by hearse, to allow mourners gathered in the towns and villages to pay their respects.
On Tuesday, the coffin, which will be at rest in the Throne Room, will be taken from Holyroodhouse in procession along the Royal Mile to St Giles’ Cathedral, before being taken by air by RAF plane to London.
The Queen will lie in state for “four clear days” in Westminster Hall, arriving there on Wednesday afternoon, remaining 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 the King said the monarch’s main focus will be leading the nation in mourning over the coming days.
“While, 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. This will include meeting members of the public,” the spokesman said.
The Earl Marshal, who has overall responsibility for delivering the funeral, said it would be a chance to repay a heartfelt debt by carrying out the Queen’s last wishes. The duke added: “While His Majesty the King was speaking about his family, I think it applies to us all when he said in his broadcast yesterday that ‘We owe her the most heartfelt debt’.”
Among the details released were the plans for the Scottish elements – known as Operation Unicorn. After the coffin moves today, it will rest in the Throne Room until tomorrow afternoon.
It will then travel in a procession to St Giles’ Cathedral in the capital, along the Royal Mile, with the King and other key royals following behind on foot, and Camilla, now Queen Consort, and other royals following by car.