Historic Service to Reflect the Queen’s Legacy, Bringing Together Millions Around the World

The Queen’s state funeral will serve as a powerful tribute to her unparalleled reign, bringing together people from all corners of the globe to honour her memory. Described as both an “honour” and a “great responsibility” by the Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk, this momentous occasion will be an emotional and unifying event for people of all faiths.

The funeral ceremony will take place on Monday at Westminster Abbey, where 2,000 guests, including world leaders and foreign royals, will gather for the final farewell to the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Following the service, the committal ceremony will take place at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, with approximately 800 attendees, including royal staff and those closely connected to the Queen.

The Queen’s final resting place will be the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle, where she will be laid to rest beside the Duke of Edinburgh in a private family service later that evening. As this deeply personal occasion takes place, the King, alongside other members of the royal family, will honour the Queen’s memory through a vigil around her coffin in Westminster Hall on Friday evening.

Throughout this period of mourning, the nation has been coming together to pay their respects. The Prince and Princess of Wales paid their own tribute by visiting the sea of flowers at Sandringham, and in Manchester, the Earl and Countess of Wessex lit candles in memory of the Queen. In Westminster Hall, the public continues to file past the Queen’s coffin, with queues stretching over four miles as people express their sorrow and respect.

The state funeral on Monday will feature poignant moments, including the sounding of the Last Post at 11:55 am, followed by a two-minute silence observed by millions, including the congregation in Westminster Abbey. This will be followed by the National Anthem, a Reveille, and the Lament by the Queen’s Piper, marking the solemn end of the service.

Following the funeral service, the Queen’s coffin will be transported from Westminster Abbey to Windsor. The procession, led by a 123-year-old gun carriage, will be accompanied by a massed band of Scottish and Irish Regiments, the Brigade of Gurkhas, and the Royal Air Force.

The Earl Marshal highlighted the significance of the Queen’s passing, noting that her death has left a profound sense of loss worldwide. He expressed the hope that the funeral and its proceedings would honour the Queen’s remarkable life and provide a fitting tribute to a reign that spanned decades.