What is the Long Walk? Windsor's role in the Queen's funeral

The design of the hearse was approved by late monarch to give the public a clear view of her coffin

Members of the public on the Long Walk watch the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on big screens. Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II has embarked on her final journey to Windsor following a state funeral service in Westminster Abbey.

The queen’s coffin was transported from the abbey in a procession which took her along Horse Guards Parade and The Mall, past Buckingham Palace and on to Wellington Arch.

Hundreds of mourners, including members of the queen’s staff, lined the route to see her coffin. This was covered in the Royal Standard, with flowers and the Imperial State Crown on top.

Running about half an hour behind schedule, the coffin was transferred to the state hearse at Wellington Arch for the final leg of the journey.

The design of the hearse was approved by the UK’s longest-serving monarch herself to give the public a clear view of her coffin, with its glass roof and wide side windows.

The vehicle was used for the first time last week to take the coffin to Buckingham Palace after arriving from Edinburgh.

Monday’s route from Albert Road to St George’s Chapel in Windsor will include the Long Walk, a 4.25-kilometre-long straight path, which links Snow Hill in Windsor Great Park with Windsor Castle. Snow Hill is believed to be where King Henry VIII sat and waited to hear about the execution of his second wife, Queen Anne Boleyn.

King Charles III in Westminster Abbey for the state funeral of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. PA

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is carried into St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle for the committal service. PA

The hearse arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service. Getty Images

Flowers are seen on the hearse as it arrives at Windsor Castle. AP

King Charles and Prince William join the procession in the Quadrangle inside Windsor Castle. AFP

The procession, led by the dismounted detachment of the Household Cavalry, followed by massed Pipes and Drums of Scottish and Irish regiments, the Brigade of Gurkhas, the Royal Air Force and the Band of the Grenadier Guards, arrives at Windsor Castle. Getty Images

The hearse travels along the Long Walk as it makes its way to Windsor Castle. Reuters

The ceremonial procession travels down the Long Walk in Windsor. PA

The hearse travels to Windsor. Reuters

The royal corgis await the cortege at Windsor Castle. Reuters

A member of the Coldstream Guards walks past flowers at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. AP

A mourner throws a flower towards Queen Elizabeth's hearse as it is driven to Windsor from London. Reuters

Members of the royal family pay their respects as the hearse carries the coffin of Queen Elizabeth in London. Reuters

The state gun carriage carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth arrives at Wellington Arch during the ceremonial procession following her state funeral. PA

The funeral procession marches down The Mall following the service at Westminster Abbey. AP

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is carried from her state funeral at Westminster Abbey. PA

King Charles walks with Princess Anne, Prince Harry and Prince Andrew behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth as it is pulled on a gun carriage through the streets of London following her funeral service. AP

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Queen Consort Camilla, Prince George, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, stand outside Westminster Abbey after the funeral. PA

Buckingham Palace household staff pay their respects. AFP

Mourners pause for two minutes' silence during the funeral service in London. Reuters

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth, draped in a Royal Standard and adorned with the Imperial State Crown and the sovereign's orb and sceptre, arrives in Westminster Abbey. AP

Prince William, his wife Catherine, the Princess of Wales, and their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte arrive at Westminster Abbey. AP

Members of the public watch the funeral from Horse Guards Road in London. PA

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby speaking during the funeral. PA

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is carried into Westminster Abbey, followed by King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla for the state funeral in London. PA

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is carried by the Bearer Party into Westminster Abbey. Getty

King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward arrive at Westminster Abbey. AFP

Prince William and Prince Harry make their way to Westminster Abbey. PA

The State Gun Carriage carries the coffin of Queen Elizabeth through central London. PA

Members of the public on the Mall become emotional during the funeral. PA

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is placed on a gun carriage for her state funeral service in central London. AP

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth leaves Westminster Hall. AP

The Yeoman of the Guard arrive in Westminster Abbey. AP

Guests take their seats inside Westminster Abbey in London for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth. AFP

The Royal Marines band marches to Westminster Abbey. Getty Images

US President Joe Biden arrives for the funeral. PA

French President Emanuel Macron and wife Brigitte walk into Westminster Abbey. PA

Metropolitan Police Officers walk in formation down The Mall in preparation for the state funeral Of Queen Elizabeth II. Getty

A Pearly king and queen, who raise money for charity, on the procession route in London. AFP

People line the funeral procession route. Getty

Mourners take a moment to rest on The Mall in London. Reuters

At 6.28am on the day of her funeral, the final members of the public pay their respects at the coffin of Queen Elizabeth at the Palace of Westminster, London. PA

London's Westminster Abbey on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. Reuters

Black Rod, the House of Lords' senior figure, walks through Westminster Hall at 6.30am after paying her respects on the final day of the lying in state at the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in London. PA

Police on patrol in Whitehall before Queen Elizabeth II's funeral at Westminster Abbey in London. EPA

People in London camp during the night before the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Reuters

Vehicles in the motorcade of US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II in London. Getty Images

US President Joe Biden accompanied by the First Lady Jill Biden signs a book of condolence at Lancaster House in London. PA

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro signs a book of condolence at Lancaster House in London, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Reuters

The first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska (R) views the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall in London. Getty Images

Oman's Sultan Haitham arrives for a reception hosted by Britain's King Charles III for heads of state and official overseas guests, at Buckingham Palace in London, the night before the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. AP

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, arrives for a reception hosted by Britain's King Charles III for heads of state and official overseas guests, at Buckingham Palace in London, before the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. AP

Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati and his wife May sign a book of condolence at Lancaster House in London, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. PA

From there, the procession will travel along Cambridge Gate, Cambridge Drive, George IV Gate, the Quadrangle, Engine Court, Norman Arch, Chapel Hill, Parade Ground, Horseshoe Cloister Gate and Horseshoe Cloister.

King Charles III and other members of the royal family who are walking in the procession will join at the Quadrangle on the north side as it moves towards Engine Court.

Camilla, the Queen Consort; Catherine, the Princess of Wales; Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, will follow by car.

The procession will halt at the bottom of the West Steps of St George's Chapel in Horseshoe Cloister, where the bearer party will lift the coffin from the state hearse and carry it up the steps.

Construction of the chapel began in 1475 and was finished about 50 years later by King Henry VIII.

It sits within the walls of Windsor Castle, which the queen used as a private home and where she spent most weekends during her reign.

She moved to the castle during the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020, and made it her permanent residence earlier this year.

The queen will be laid to rest alongside her husband, Prince Philip, her mother, father and sister in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle's St George's Chapel.

Before his premature death, George VI enjoyed a happy family life with his wife and two daughters, referring to the tight-knit foursome as "us four".

The death of the queen means that all four will finally be laid to rest together.

The Queen Mother, also called Elizabeth, was buried in the chapel on April 9, 2002, after her death aged 101.