Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral: What to expect
Following the Queen’s death, her oak coffin — draped with the Royal Standard for Scotland and a wreath of flowers — sat in the ballroom at Balmoral, where estate staff had the chance to pay their last respects. On Sunday morning, six of her gamekeepers carried the coffin to a waiting hearse.
At 10 a.m. (5 a.m. ET), the beloved monarch’s coffin embarked on its journey to the nation’s capital. However, it will not go there directly. It will first make a six-hour journey to Edinburgh and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. The trip by road ordinarily takes around three hours, however, it will be driven slowly so as to allow people to witness the hearse along the route and bow their heads as it passes.
An honor guard made up of the Royal Regiment of Scotland will greet the arriving hearse in Edinburgh with a royal salute before it is transferred to the Throne Room by a military bearer party.
Meanwhile back in London, the King will meet with the Commonwealth secretary general before he hosts the high commissioners from the realms of which he is now head of state in Buckingham Palace’s Bow Room.
At 2:35 p.m. (9:35 a.m. ET), the Queen’s coffin will proceed to St Giles’ Cathedral for a service of prayer and reflection attended by the King and Queen Consort and royal family members, as well as a congregation made up “from all areas of Scottish society,” according to a senior palace official. Afterward, the coffin will rest there for 24 hours to allow the Scottish public to see it, in a tradition known as lying in state.
Following the service, the King will return to Holyrood where he will have an audience with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, followed by a meeting with the presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament. Charles, accompanied by the Queen Consort, will later go to the Scottish Parliament to receive a motion of condolence.
That evening, at 7:20 p.m. (2:20 p.m. ET), the King and members of the royal family will mount their own guard — or vigil — of the Queen’s coffin.
On Tuesday, the King and Camilla will make a trip to Belfast, Northern Ireland. The couple will visit Hillsborough Castle and view an exhibition on the Queen’s long association with Northern Ireland. The King will then meet the secretary of state for Northern Ireland in addition to other party leaders, and receive a message of condolence led by the speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Back in Scotland, the Queen’s only daughter Princess Anne will prepare to accompany…
Read More: Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral: What to expect