The nation will come to a halt in nine days’ time as the Queen is laid to rest following her tragic death.
Britain’s longest-serving monarch is expected have the first state funeral for more than half a century at Westminster Abbey on Monday, September 19.
As well as being the first since Winston Churchill’s in 1965, it will also be the first at the abbey for any monarch since George II’s back in 1760.
Since then, such funerals have been held at St George’s Chapel, Windsor but the Queen, who played an active role in planning her final send-off, decided hers should be in the much larger abbey.
It can hold a congregation of 2,000, compared with 800 at St George’s Chapel and its central London location makes it a better spot for large crowds.
The abbey is steeped in significance for the Queen because it is where she was crowned and married. The Queen Mother’s funeral was also held there in 2002.
The date has yet to be confirmed and details of the funeral have yet to be announced. However, King Charles III announced today that the occasion will be a bank holiday.
But it is known that the funeral’s planning began as long ago as in the 1960s. It is expected that after lying in state in Westminster Hall for five days, the Queen’s coffin will be moved by a bearer party to a gun carriage outside.
The original plans are for the coffin to be pulled to the abbey on the gun carriage by naval ratings - sailors - using ropes rather than horses.
Senior members of the family are expected to follow behind - as they did for the funeral of Princess Diana and the Duke of Edinburgh. The military will also join the procession.
Heads of state, prime ministers and presidents, European royals and key figures from public life will be invited to gather in the abbey.
