Queen Elizabeth II, who ruled the UK for the longest time and passed away on September 8 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, will be buried today at Westminster Abbey in London.
The UK royal family has announced that the Queen’s state funeral will be held on Monday at 1100 BST. In London’s Westminster Hall, Queen Elizabeth’s coffin is currently lying in state for mourners to pay their respects to the monarch while it is covered in the Royal Standard.
Right before the funeral, the lying-in-state will come to an end, and the coffin will be transported in a procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey, where the State Funeral Service will be held.
Following the state funeral, the coffin will be transported in a procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch, where it will continue its journey to Windsor. From there, the State Hearse will be transported in procession along the Long Walk to St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Queen Elizabeth II will thereafter be laid to rest in the King George VI Memorial Chapel in the castle following a committal service at St. George’s Chapel.
Many visitors, including political leaders of many nations, members of the various royal families, and dignitaries from all over the world, will travel to the UK for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. Since Winston Churchill’s funeral in 1965, the UK has not held a state funeral until the one for the Queen.
When there is a state funeral, the UK government formally declares the following day to be a holiday.
On September 17, President Droupadi Murmu arrived in London for Queen Elizabeth II’s state burial and expressed condolences on behalf of the Indian government.
US President Joe Biden also sent the royal family his condolences on Sunday.
As he lamented her departure, Biden reflected on Queen Elizabeth’s genuine candour and remarked, “The way she touched when she leaned over. The manner in which she asked, “Are you okay? Do you need anything from me? Which do you require? Then, adding that she reminded him of his mother, Biden replied, “Make sure you do what you’re meant to do.”
In addition, senior citizens and children are among those camped out along the funeral routes, in some cases for more than 48 hours, to say their final goodbyes to Queen Elizabeth II on Monday.