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Queen Elizabeth II, the United Kingdom’s longest-reigning monarch, was laid to rest on Monday, September 19, 2022, after 10 days of official mourning. The Queen’s lying-in-state came to an end, following which Westminster Abbey was opened to the congregation attending the state funeral. Lying-in-state is the formal occasion in which a coffin is placed in view to allow the public to pay their respects to the deceased before the funeral ceremony. Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin had been in view to the public in Westminster Hall since September 14.
After the end of the lying-in-state, Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin was carried to Westminster Abbey. Then, the procession, along with the bearer party, which includes members of the Queen’s guard, arrived at Westminster Abbey, to carry the coffin from the state gun carriage. Over 2,000 guests, including world leaders, attended Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral at Westminster Abbey.
The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, and Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra formed the official Indian delegation at the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, and arrived at Westminster Abbey in a procession alongside other Commonwealth heads of state and government.
A two-minute silence in remembrance of the Queen was held throughout the United Kingdom. After the two-minute silence, the national anthem of the United Kingdom was played, bringing the state funeral service to a close. Then, Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin was carried to the state gun carriage. After this, the Queen’s coffin was carried to Wellington Arch. There, the coffin was placed in the state hearse, following which it left in a car for Windsor.
Here are the key highlights from Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.
Queen’s Lying-in-state came to an end: At around 6:30 am British Summer Time (11:00 am IST) on Monday, Queen Elizabeth II’s lying-in-state came to an end. The Queen’s closed coffin had been in view to the public at Westminster Hall since September 14.
Lady Usher of the Black Rod, Sarah Clarke, a senior officer in the House of Lords, bowed once to the coffin and walked to the end of Westminster Hall.
An estimated 300,000 people queued to pay their respects. The queue went on for days and stretched up to eight kilometres, winding along the Thames. The last people to pay their respects left Westminster Hall just before 6:30 am BST (11:00 am IST).
Westminster Abbey opened: At around 8 am BST, Westminster Abbey was opened to the congregation attending the Queen’s funeral.
King Charles III’s Guards trooped through the gates of Abbey. At the metal gates, two soldiers were stationed.
Bells began to toll at Westminster Abbey: At around 9:30 am BST (2:00 pm IST), the first bells started to toll for the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Westminster Abbey. The bells tolled once every minute in the run-up to the funeral to mark every year of the 96-year-old monarch’s life.
World leaders took their seats in Westminster Abbey: From around 10 am BST (2:30 pm IST), world leaders started taking their seats in Westminster Abbey. The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, arrived at Westminster Abbey, along with his wife, Brigitte Macron.
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, and his wife, Jill Biden, also arrived at Westminster Abbey.
The former prime ministers of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, and John Major arrived at Westminster Abbey, along with their spouses, to pay their last respects to Queen Elizabeth II.
At around 10:30 am BST (3:00 pm IST), the prime minister of the United Kingdom, Liz Truss, arrived at Westminster Abbey, along with her husband, Hugh O’Leary.
King travelled down the Mall: King Charles III made his way to Westminster Hall, along the Mall, a road in the city of Westminster, and through Horse Guards Parade, at around 10:30 am BST (3:00 pm IST). King Charles III was travelling with his two sons, the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex.
Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin left Westminster Hall: At around 10:35 am BST (3:05 pm IST) the Queen’s coffin was lifted from the catafalque where it has been resting since September 14. After this, 142 sailors from the Royal Navy started carrying the coffin on the state funeral gun carriage from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey, for the Queen’s funeral service.
Procession to Westminster Abbey began: At around 10:50 pm BST (3:20 pm IST), the procession to Westminster Abbey began. King Charles III, joined by royal family members as well as members of the Royal Household, followed the coffin as it made its journey from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey.
Queen Elizabeth II’s children, King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward followed her coffin as it made its journey. Camilla, the Queen Consort, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and Sarah, Duchess of York, also followed.
The tradition of 142 sailors from the Royal Navy carrying the monarch’s coffin on the state funeral gun carriage from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey dates back to the funeral of Queen Victoria in 1901.
Queen’s coffin arrived at Westminster Abbey: The procession carrying Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin arrived at the West Gate of Westminster Abbey at around 10:55 pm BST (3:25 pm IST) on Monday.
The bearer party, made up by members of the Queen’s guard, carried the coffin from the gun carriage and into the funeral service.
Service was led by the Dean of Westminster: At around 11:10 am BST (3:40 pm IST), the service, led by the Dean of Westminster, Dr David Hoyle, began. The sermon was delivered by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.
The King and the Queen Consort sat in the ornate Canada Club chairs. Camilla was sitting next to the Princess Royal. Next to her, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence sat. Sitting next to him was the Duke of York. The Earl and Countess of Wessex sat next to the Duke of York.
The Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, and then Peter Philips and Zara and Mike Tindall, sat across the aisle.
The Duke of Sussex was directly behind the King.
Archbishop of Canterbury gave the sermon: The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, delivered the sermon for the state funeral service of Queen Elizabeth II. The Archbishop said that the Queen vowed in a 21st birthday broadcast that her whole life would be dedicated to serving the nation and Commonwealth, and that “rarely has such a promise been kept so well”.
He also said that “few leaders receive the outpouring of love we have seen” for Queen Elizabeth II.
Last Post heard before two-minute silence: At around 11:57 pm BST (4:27 pm IST), the Cavalry Last Post was played. The Last Post was sounded by the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry before the Nation fell silent in remembrance of Her Majesty The Queen.
It was followed by a two-minute silence in remembrance of Queen Elizabeth II, throughout the United Kingdom.
Congregation sang the national anthem for King Charles III: The congregation sang the national anthem for King Charles III following the two-minute silence. After this, the Sovereign’s Piper played the traditional lament, ‘Sleep, dearie, sleep’.
Queen’s Coffin left Westminster Abbey: At around 12:15 pm BST (4:30 pm IST), the Queen’s coffin was being carried outside of Westminster Abbey. The coffin began its journey to St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin was followed by King Charles III and the Queen Consort. They were being followed by the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex.
The Prince and Princess of Wales followed with their children George and Charlotte.
Procession to Wellington Arch began: The procession, led by King Charles III, was made up of several groups, each accompanied by a service band. The procession began at around 12:20 pm BST (4:50 pm IST).
Every minute during the procession, guns were being fired in Hyde Park by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.
Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin arrived at Wellington Arch: The Queen’s coffin arrived at Wellington Arch at around 13:20 pm BST (5:50 pm IST).
Bearer party moved queen’s coffin to state hearse: At around 13:35 pm BST (6:05 pm IST), the bearer party lifted the Queen’s coffin from the state gun carriage and placed it in the state hearse before the car left for Windsor.
A royal salute, and the National Anthem of the United Kingdom, were played.
The Wellington Arch was an original entrance to Buckingham Palace, and later became a victory arch commemorating the Duke of Wellington’s defeat of Napoleon.
Queen’s Coffin arrived at Windsor: At around 3:08 pm BST (7:38 pm IST), Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin, which was placed inside the state hearse, arrived at Windsor.
The convoy arrived at Shaw Farm Gate in Albert Road, Windsor. The coffin joined a procession up the Long Walk to Windsor Castle.
King Charles III, and members of the royal family joined the procession before moving to St George’s Chapel for the committal service.
Procession arrived at Long Walk: The procession following the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, aboard the State Hearse, arrived at The Long Walk in Windsor on September 19, 2022, to make its final journey to Windsor Castle, after the State Funeral Service of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
King Charles III joined the procession at Windsor: King Charles III, accompanied by other members of the Royal Family, joined the procession at the Quadrangle in the grounds of Windsor Castle. King Charles, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex, the Prince of Wales, and the Duke of Sussex were among those who joined the procession at the Quadrangle, as it moved towards Engine Court.
Camilla, the Queen Consort, followed in a car along with Catherine, Princess of Wales, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
The procession headed towards the west steps of St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
The bearer party lifted the coffin from the hearse and carried it in procession into the chapel before the committal service.
The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, fired minute guns from a position on the East Lawn. As the hearse continued its journey, the Castle’s Sebastopol and Curfew Tower bells tolled.
Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin reached St. George’s Chapel: At around 16:10 pm BST (8:40 pm IST), the hearse carrying Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin arrived outside St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The Queen’s coffin, draped in the royal standard, was withdrawn, and carried inside the Chapel. The coffin was followed by members of the Royal Family.
Bearers placed Queen’s Coffin on the catafalque in St. George’s Chapel: At around 16:20 pm BST (8:50 pm IST), the bearers lowered and placed the Queen’s coffin on the catafalque in St. George’s Chapel.
The committal service then continued as the Russian Kontakion of the Departed was sung. This was sung at the funeral of Prince Philip last year.
Dean of Windsor gave the bid to open the service: The Dean of Windsor, Right Reverend David Connor, gave the bid to open the service, at around 16:25 pm BST (8:55 pm IST).
“Here in St George’s Chapel, where she so often worshipped, we are bound to call to mind someone whose uncomplicated but profound Christian faith bore so much fruit, fruit in a life of unstinting service to the nation, the Commonwealth, and the wider world,” Right Reverend David Connor said.
“But also in kindness, concern, and reassuring care for her family, friends and neighbours,” he said.
The Rector of Sandringham, the Minister of Crathie Kirk, and Chaplain of the Royal Chapel, Windsor Great Park gave their prayers after the Dean of Windsor.
Sceptre, Orb, Crown removed from coffin: At around 16:40 pm BST (9:10 pm IST), the sceptre was removed from the Queen’s coffin, followed by the orb and the imperial state crown. The crown was given to the Queen’s Bargemaster.
The Dean of Windsor placed these symbols of sovereignty on the altar.
The Queen’s Bargemaster and Serjeant of Arms bowed at the Dean of Windsor.
King Charles II stepped out to place the Queen’s Company Colour on the coffin, after receiving it from the Regimental Lieutenant Colonel of the Grenadier Guards.
King Charles placed it on the end of the coffin, and stepped backwards.
The Lord Chamberlain broke his wand of office which signals the end of the reign. After that, the committal service began, with the Dean of Windsor reading Psalm 103.
Queen’s Piper played a lament: At around 16:55 pm BST (9:15 pm IST), Queen Elizabeth II’s piper played a lament from the North Quire Aisle. Queen Elizabeth II regularly attended Crathie Kirk, the local chapel for Balmoral Castle.
Queen Elizabeth II laid to rest at Windsor Castle: Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin has been lowered into the family vault beneath St. George’s Chapel. The Queen was laid to rest at Windsor Castle alongside her husband, Prince Philip, her sister, Princess Margaret, and her parents, Queen Elizabeth and King George VI.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, read the blessing. The congregation and choir sang the first verse of God Save the King. The service ended with a Bach prelude and fugue played.
The Royal Family will return at 7:30 BST on September 19 (12:00 am IST on September 20) for a final, private, funeral away from the cameras, where they will bury the Queen.
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