Royal Family Leads Procession to Westminster Hall, Where the Queen Will Lie in State for Four Days
The late Queen Elizabeth II was solemnly handed over to the nation as she began her lying in state at Westminster Hall. The procession, marked by pomp and reverence, saw the royal family follow behind her coffin as it was transported to the historic hall, with thousands of mourners lining the route to pay their respects.
The Queen’s coffin, draped with the Royal Standard and topped with the Imperial State Crown, was carried on a gun carriage, the same one that had borne the coffins of her parents. The procession, under clear skies and accompanied by funeral marches played by military bands, moved through central London, evoking an emotional response from onlookers, some of whom wept, while others captured the moment on their phones.
The King, Charles III, led the royal family as they walked behind the coffin. The Princess Royal, the Duke of York, and the Earl of Wessex followed him closely, with the Queen’s grandsons – Peter Phillips, the Duke of Sussex, and the Prince of Wales – following in line. The late monarch’s son-in-law, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of Gloucester, and the Queen’s cousin, the Earl of Snowdon, were also part of the procession.
The coffin, placed on the George Gun Carriage, had previously been used for the funeral of King George VI and the Queen Mother. As it made its way past Horse Guards Parade, mourners applauded and Big Ben’s bells tolled every minute in tribute.
In a poignant moment, Harry, no longer a working royal, and his uncle, the disgraced Duke of York, were not permitted to wear military uniforms. As the royal family passed the Cenotaph, the royals in uniform saluted, while Harry bowed and Andrew performed “eyes right” in respect to the memorial.
The Queen’s coffin was escorted into Westminster Hall by soldiers from the Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, who had been flown back from Iraq for this significant duty. The Guardsmen, who had a unique bond with the late monarch, carried the coffin onto a raised platform, where a brief service was held before the public was allowed to pay their respects.
The service was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who offered prayers for the Queen and all the departed. Members of the royal family stood in reverence, including King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla, with the monarch’s siblings, sons, and their spouses by their side.
As the Queen’s children, including the King, continue to participate in the centuries-old vigil, the public was invited to file past the coffin. The first vigil was carried out by four officers from the Household Division, with more planned throughout the four days the Queen will lie in state.
Afterward, the King returned to his Gloucestershire residence, Highgrove, to reflect privately. The Queen’s lying in state marks a significant and emotional moment as the nation and the royal family pay their respects to the Queen’s remarkable life and service.
