Queen Elizabeth II dies — follow the latest news as the world mourns
Features symbolising the end of Queen Elizabeth II's reign will surround her committal service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, next week.
King Charles III, the royal family, realm prime ministers, governors-general and mourners from the queen’s household past and present, including personal staff from across her private estates, will form a congregation of 800 people in the gothic church on Monday.
Following the state funeral at Westminster Abbey, the service will take place at 4pm.
The queen’s coffin will be driven from London to Windsor in the state hearse, and make its way up the Long Walk, which will be lined with members of the armed forces.
The king and other members of the royal family will join the procession on foot behind the hearse in the castle’s quadrangle, with the queen consort, the Princess of Wales, the Duchess of Sussex and the Countess of Wessex following by car.
During the service, which will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor David Conner, the Imperial State Crown, the Orb and the Sceptre will be lifted from the queen’s coffin by the Crown Jeweller, separating the queen from her crown for the final time.
Practice makes perfect: rehearsal at dawn for Queen Elizabeth's funeral — in pictures
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An early morning rehearsal took place on Thursday for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London. All photos: PA -
The funeral will take place in London on Monday. -
A procession down The Mall during the early morning rehearsal. -
Members of the military take part. -
The procession makes its way through central London as Big Ben looms. -
Soldiers outside Westminster Abbey. -
The eyes of the world will be on Westminster Abbey.
With the help of the Bargemaster and Serjeants-at-Arms, the priceless Crown Jewels will be passed to the dean, who will place them on the High Altar.
At the end of the last hymn, the king will step forward and place the Grenadier Guards Queen’s Company Camp Colour — a smaller version of the Royal Standard of the Regiment — on the coffin.
The Grenadier Guards are the most senior of the Foot Guards regiments and the queen was their colonel in chief.
Only one Royal Standard of the Regiment is presented during a monarch’s reign, and it served as the Queen’s Company Colour throughout her lifetime.
Floral tributes to the Queen — in pictures
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King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla inspect floral tributes left for his late mother Queen Elizabeth II outside Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland. Getty -
A picture of Queen Elizabeth is among flowers left by mourners outside Buckingham Palace in London. AFP -
Members of the public leave flowers and tributes at The Long Walk gates in front of Windsor Castle in Windsor, England. Getty -
Members of the public look at flowers and tributes left in Green Park in London. AFP -
Flowers and tributes placed by mourners at the Cambridge gate outside Windsor Castle, west of London. AFP -
A child lays flowers in remembrance of Queen Elizabeth outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. AP
At the same time, former MI5 spy chief Baron Parker — the Lord Chamberlain and the most senior official in the late queen’s royal household — will “break” his Wand of Office and place it on the coffin.
The ceremonial breaking of the white staff signifies the end of his service to the queen as sovereign.
As the coffin is lowered into the royal vault, the Dean of Windsor will say a psalm and the commendation before the Garter King of Arms pronounces the many styles and titles of the queen.
The Sovereign’s Piper will play a lament from the doorway between the chapel and the Dean’s Cloister and walk slowly away so the music gradually fades.
The public pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster — in pictures
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Members of the public pay their respects as they pass the coffin of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as it lies in state inside Westminster Hall, London. AFP -
People queue in Westminster Hall to pay their respects. Getty -
Queen Elizabeth's coffin arrived at Westminster Hall after a procession from Buckingham Palace. AFP -
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth lies in Westminster Hall. PA -
Long lines of mourners pass through Westminster Hall. AP -
Queen Elizabeth will lie in state in Westminster Hall from Wednesday until a few hours before her funeral on Monday. AFP
The Archbishop of Canterbury will pronounce the blessing, and God Save The King will be sung.
The king and members of the royal family will leave via the Galilee Porch, but will return for a private burial service in the evening, when the queen will be interred alongside her late husband the Duke of Edinburgh in the King George VI Memorial Chapel in St George’s.
A committal service is perhaps the most solemn moment of a Church of England funeral service, and it usually takes place at the graveside, in a crematorium chapel or in the church before a burial or cremation.
The majority of those attending St George’s Chapel will not have been in the funeral service at Westminster Abbey.
Many of the household and private estate staff spent years working for and supporting the late monarch, with the committal service a chance to pay their last respects.
Queen Elizabeth II's coffin procession from Buckingham Palace — in pictures
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King Charles III, Prince William and Princess Anne salute alongside Prince Harry and Prince Andrew, as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrives at the Palace of Westminster, following a procession from Buckingham Palace. AFP -
Queen Elizabeth lies in state in Westminster Hall before the public is allowed in to pay their respects. Getty Images -
Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, walk in the procession as it arrives at Westminster Hall. AP -
Britain's Prime Minister Liz Truss at Westminster Hall. AP -
The choir performs at Westminster Hall. Reuters -
A view of the London skyline during the procession of the coffin. AP -
Zara Tindall, her husband Mike Tindall and Princess Eugenie arrive at Westminster Hall. AP -
The imperial state crown sits on top of the coffin carrying Queen Elizabeth into Westminster Hall. Getty Images -
The coffin is laid to rest in Westminster Hall. Getty Images -
Prince Harry, Prince William, and Prince Edward follow the bearer party carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth into Westminster Hall. PA -
A woman wipes away tears as she joins people sitting in Hyde Park. AP -
Life Guards, a unit of the Household Cavalry, stand guard outside the Palace of Westminster. Getty Images -
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry depart after the procession. Getty Images -
The coffin is carried down The Mall. PA -
A man overcome with emotion in Hyde Park. AP -
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is carried on a horse-drawn gun carriage of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery. PA -
Mourners watch the procession at Hyde Park. Getty Images -
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth, adorned with the royal standard and the imperial state crown, and pulled by a gun carriage of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, during the procession from Buckingham Palace in London. AFP -
The procession leaves Buckingham Palace. Getty Images -
King Charles follows the coffin of Queen Elizabeth. PA -
The imperial state crown on the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II. AFP -
Catherine, Princess of Wales, is driven behind the coffin. AFP -
King Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry walk behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth. AFP -
King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward walk behind the coffin. Getty -
The cortege makes its way along The Mall from Buckingham Palace. Getty -
Prince William and Prince Harry follow the coffin. AP -
Grenadier Guards flank the coffin of Queen Elizabeth. AP -
Royal Navy soldiers march ahead of the procession near Big Ben. Getty -
Coldstream Guards prepare outside Buckingham Palace, before the ceremonial procession. PA -
King Charles waves to the crowds after leaving Clarence House in central London, before the procession. AFP -
Crowds gather along The Mall. Reuters -
Members of the Life Guards leave Wellington Barracks ahead of the procession. AP -
Mourners gather to watch the procession in Hyde Park. Getty -
A mourner at The Mall decorated with images of Queen Elizabeth. PA -
Queen Consort Camilla arriving at Buckingham Palace. AFP
Prayers will be said by the Rector of Sandringham, the Minister of Crathie Kirk and the Chaplain of Windsor Great Park, and by the Dean of Windsor.
The state hearse will approach the castle through Shaw Farm Gate on Windsor’s Albert Road, moving via the Long Walk, Cambridge Gate, Cambridge Drive, George IV Gate, Quadrangle, Engine Court, Norman Arch, Chapel Hill, Parade Ground and Horseshoe Cloister Arch.
Leading the procession and walking ahead of the coffin will be a dismounted detachment of the Household Cavalry Regiment, followed by a mounted division of the Sovereign’s Escort, a Massed Pipes and Drums of Scottish and Irish Regiments, the Bands of the Coldstream Guards and the Household Cavalry, officers of the Household Division, the Kings, Heralds and Pursuivants of Arms and members of the queen’s personal staff.
In the centre of the procession, the state hearse will be flanked by the pall bearers and an escort party consisting of two officers and 24 rank-and-file of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.
The Queen’s Company Colour, the Royal Standard of the Regiment of Grenadier Guards, and a Sovereign’s Standard of the Household Cavalry will be positioned in the front and rear of the hearse.
Procession of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin through Edinburgh — in pictures
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Members of the royal family arrive to attend a vigil at St Giles' Cathedral, in Edinburgh, on Monday for Queen Elizabeth II. AFP -
People queue to enter St Giles' Cathedral where Queen Elizabeth's coffin arrived earlier on Monday. It will rest there for 24 hours to enable the people of Scotland to pay their last respects. AP -
The hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrives at St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh, for a service of prayer and reflection. -
The Earl and Countess of Wessex and the Duke of York leave St Giles' Cathedral after the service of prayer and reflection for the queen's life on Monday. -
The Princess Royal, her husband Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, King Charles III and the Queen Consort leave St Giles' Cathedral after the service of prayer and reflection for Queen Elizabeth II's life. -
People attend the procession of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin, from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles' Cathedral, on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Monday. AP -
The Crown of Scotland sits on the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II inside St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. AFP -
King Charles, Princess Royal Anne, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence walk behind the hearse as it moves along the Royal Mile from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland. Getty -
King Charles III follows Queen Elizabeth II's coffin as it enters the cathedral for a service of prayer and reflection at St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh. PA -
King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward follow the hearse carrying the coffin of their mother, Queen Elizabeth, on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Reuters -
King Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew walk behind the hearse. Reuters -
The Royal Company of Archers, the King's Bodyguard for Scotland, arrive at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. AFP -
The hearse carrying the coffin of the queen travels slowly on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Reuters -
Members of the public gather to watch the procession, from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral, on the Royal Mile. AFP -
Royal guards carry Queen Elizabeth's coffin at the start of the procession. PA -
Royal archers outside St. Giles' Cathedral. Getty -
British Prime Minister Liz Truss attends a Service of Prayer and Reflection for the Life of Queen Elizabeth at St Giles' Cathedral. PA -
Crowds gather near Mercat Cross ahead of the procession in Edinburgh. PA -
King Charles with Lord Provost of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge at the Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh. PA -
King Charles inspects the Guard of Honour as he arrives for the Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Getty -
A young girl holds a Paddington bear and a Corgi dog stuffed toys while waiting to watch the procession. Getty -
The Keys of the City of Edinburgh, to be offered to King Charles, during the Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. AFP -
Crowds gather to watch the procession in Edinburgh. AP -
King Charles talks with Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as he arrives at Edinburgh Airport. Reuters -
A convoy of cars with King Charles heads to Holyroodhouse. AP -
The honour guard outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse. AFP -
Police officers keep guard ahead of the arrival King Charles in Edinburgh. Reuters
To the rear of the coffin will be members of the queen’s, the king’s and the Prince of Wales’s households, followed by further mounted and dismounted detachments of the Household Cavalry.
Minute guns will be fired by the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery from a position on the East Lawn as the coffin moves in procession from Shaw Farm Gate to the West Steps of St George’s.
Both the Sebastopol Bell — captured in Crimea in 1856 — and the Curfew Tower Bell will be tolled concurrently at the castle.
Queen to be interred alongside Philip in tiny King George VI Memorial Chapel
The queen will be reunited with her beloved Duke of Edinburgh when she is interred alongside her husband in the King George VI Memorial Chapel.
The king and the royal family will gather for a “deeply personal” private burial service on Monday evening in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, following the queen’s state funeral and committal service.
The tiny King George VI Memorial Chapel houses the remains of the queen’s father George VI, her mother and sister Princess Margaret.
When Prince Philip died 17 months ago, his coffin was interred in the Royal Vault of St George’s — ready to be moved to the memorial chapel when the queen died.
First mourners pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II — video
“The service and burial will be entirely private, given it is a deeply personal family occasion,” said a senior palace official.
It will take place at night, beginning at 7.30pm, conducted by the Dean of Windsor.
It will be attended by King Charles, the queen consort, the queen’s children, the Prince and Princess of Wales and other members of the royal family.
The central feature of the pale stone memorial chapel annexe, which was added on to the north side of St George’s behind the North Quire Aisle in 1969, is a black stone slab set into the floor.
It is inscribed with “George VI” and “Elizabeth” in gold lettering and accompanied by their years of birth and death.
This is the moment Queen Elizabeth II left Buckingham Palace for the last time — video
Princess Margaret, who died in 2002, was cremated and her ashes were initially placed in the Royal Vault, before being moved to the George VI memorial chapel with her parents’ coffins when the queen's mother died weeks later.
The princess wanted to be cremated because she found the alternative royal burial ground at Frogmore in Windsor Great Park too “gloomy”.
Queen Elizabeth II's lying in state explained — video
Lady Glenconner, a lifelong friend of the princess, said in 2002 that the princess preferred the memorial chapel.
“She told me that she found Frogmore very gloomy,” Lady Glenconner said. “I think she’d like to be with the late king, which she will now be. There’s room, I think< for her to be with him now.”
King George VI died in 1952, but was first interred in the Royal Vault and moved to the memorial chapel when it was built 17 years later.
