Queen Elizabeth II dies — follow the latest news as the world mourns
The state funeral of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II will be held at Westminster Abbey on Monday, September 19, the Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk, announced on Saturday.
It will start at 11am in London (2pm UAE time).
Further details were confirmed of the carefully choreographed London Bridge plans, which will include a four-day lying in state at Westminster Hall from Wednesday September 14.
The king on Saturday approved an order that the day of the Queen's funeral will be a bank holiday.
The Lord President of the Council, Penny Mordaunt, said: "Drafts of two proclamations. One — appointing the day of her late Majesty's state funeral as a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
"Two — appointing the day of Her late Majesty's state funeral as a bank holiday in Scotland. And of two orders in council, directing the Lord Chancellor to affix the great seal to the proclamations."
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A well-wisher kisses the hand of King Charles III outside Buckingham Palace after the death on Thursday of Queen Elizabeth II. King Charles, who spent much of his 73 years preparing for the role, on Friday planned to meet the prime minister and address a nation grieving the only British monarch most of the world had known. He takes the throne in an era of uncertainty for his country and the monarchy itself. AP -
King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla arriving at Buckingham Palace, London, after travelling from Balmoral following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday. PA -
King Charles and the queen consort outside Buckingham Palace. PA -
King Charles and the queen consort view tributes left outside Buckingham Palace, London, after the death of Queen Elizabeth on Thursday. PA -
King Charles greets well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace. AP -
King Charles and the queen consort read messages left by mourners at Buckingham Palace in London. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch and a rock of stability through much of a turbulent century, died on Thursday, after 70 years on the throne. She was 96. AP -
King Charles greets well-wishers at Buckingham Palace after the death on Thursday of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. AP -
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla view tributes left outside Buckingham Palace after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. PA -
Outside Buckingham Palace on the first day of public mourning after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The queen's death at the age of 96 marks the start of a tumultuous 10 days for the UK in which a queen is buried, a nation will mourn its longest-reigning monarch, and a new king is proclaimed. Bloomberg -
King Charles during a walkabout to view tributes left outside Buckingham Palace. PA -
King Charles outside Buckingham Palace on Friday. AP -
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla surrounded by crowds of well-wishers in London. Reuters -
The car carrying King Charles and the queen consort arrives at Buckingham Palace with the Union Flag at half mast. Getty Images -
People gather at the Queen Victoria Memorial opposite Buckingham Palace on Thursday night after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Reuters -
People gather at the Queen Victoria Memorial opposite Buckingham Palace after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. PA -
Mourners gather outside Buckingham Palace on Thursday night. PA -
Tributes and candles left outside Buckingham Palace in London after the queen's death was announced. PA -
Police officers stand among floral tributes left outside Buckingham Palace. PA -
A member of the royal household staff posts a notice on the gates of Buckingham Palace announcing the death of Queen Elizabeth. AFP -
Royal follower John Loughrey, wearing a Union Jack hat, photographs the official announcement of the queen's death. EPA -
Mourners outside Buckingham Palace. Reuters -
A man with a Union flag umbrella shelters from the rain near the Queen Victoria Memorial. AFP -
Mourners on the Queen Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace. PA -
The crowds outside Buckingham Palace on Thursday night. PA -
Mourners at the vigil outside Buckingham Palace. PA -
Mourners at the vigil outside Buckingham Palace. PA -
Londoners walk down The Mall that leads to Buckingham Palace on Thursday night. PA -
Taxis lined up along The Mall leading to Buckingham Palace in London after the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth. PA -
The advertising screens in Piccadilly Circus in London mark the death of the queen. Getty -
An image of Queen Elizabeth II is displayed on The BT Tower in London. Getty -
A bus stop on Tottenham Court road in London displays an image of the queen. Getty -
Mourners gather outside Windsor Castle, Berkshire. PA -
Flowers are left under the Queen Victoria statue outside Windsor Castle. PA -
Candles and flowers form a makeshift memorial at the Queen Victoria statue outside Windsor Castle. PA -
People lay floral tributes outside Balmoral Castle, Scotland, on Thursday night. EPA -
People lay floral tributes outside Balmoral Castle, Scotland, Britain, 08 September 2022. EPA -
People pay their respects at the gate of Sandringham House in Norfolk. PA -
People pay their respects at the gate of Sandringham House in Norfolk. PA
Charles answered: "Approved."
The late monarch's oak coffin — which is lying in the Ballroom at Balmoral Castle — will be taken by road to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh on Sunday September 11, on a slow six-hour journey by hearse, to allow mourners gathered in the towns and villages to pay their respects.
On Monday, the coffin will be taken from Holyroodhouse in procession to St Giles’s Cathedral where it will lie at rest until Tuesday, September 13, before being taken by air by a Royal Air Force plane to London. The queen's daughter Princess Anne will accompany the coffin on the flight.
The cortege is expected to leave Balmoral at 10am on Sunday.
Well-wishers are expected to gather along the route the cortege will take as it travels from Balmoral to the Scottish capital.
It will first head to the nearby town on Ballater, where it is expected at approximately 10.12am, then to Aberdeen, Dundee and on to Edinburgh.
Scotland's political leader Nicola Sturgeon and other politicians in Scotland are expected to observe the coffin as it goes past the Scottish Parliament.
From there it will be taken into the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where it will remain for the night.
The queen will lie in state “four clear days” in Westminster Hall, arriving there on Wednesday September 14 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 more information about how the public can attend will be announced in the coming days.
On Saturday, there was a surprise four-way appearance of Prince William, his wife the Princess of Wales , Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have appeared outside Windsor Castle.
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Britain's William, Prince of Wales, second left, his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, left, along with Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, look at floral tributes as they walk outside Windsor Castle. Reuters -
Left to right: The Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex at Windsor Castle. AFP -
The royals meet people outside Windsor Castle. AP -
Walking together outside Windsor Castle. Reuters -
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are staying at Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate, just a stone's throw from Prince William and his wife Kate's new home, Adelaide Cottage. PA -
The royals speak and shake hands with different sides of the cheering crowds. AP -
A pause to look at floral tributes laid by members of the public on the Long Walk at Windsor Castle. AFP -
Prince Harry points at a floral tribute. Reuters -
In his first speech as king on Friday, Charles, 73, spoke of his love for his second son and daughter-in-law. AP -
The two couples had last been seen together at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in 2020. Reuters
A spokesman for King Charles III said the monarch’s main focus would be leading the royal family and nation in mourning over the coming days.
“Whilst, 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, to share in their grief,” the spokesman said.
