Queen Elizabeth II: This is how the state funeral works

The state funeral on Monday September 19 in London will be the culmination of the mourning period following the death of Elizabeth II.

Hundreds of heads of state, royalty and other dignitaries from around the world will attend the funeral service at Westminster Abbey.

The Queen will then be buried at Windsor Castle with close family.

Westminster Abbey in the heart of London was last used in 1760 by King George II for a funeral service for a monarch.

Thereafter, St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle was the preferred venue for such occasions.

However, Elizabeth II opted for a larger frame during her lifetime.

The funeral service for the Queen will be the first state funeral since 1965, when Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister during World War II, was buried.

The security forces face an enormous challenge.

According to a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police, the effort is greater than at the 2012 Olympic Games. Around 10,000 police officers were on duty at the sporting event every day.

That will now be exceeded.

In addition to the largest operation in the history of the London police, it is also the largest operation to protect international guests of state, dignitaries and other important people, the spokesman continued.

The Queen's Last Voyage

According to the BBC, about 300 government employees were busy around the clock preparing for the state ceremony, who were pulled from various ministries and agencies.

An overview of the plans for the process, times and content of the state ceremony:

7.30am (CEST):

The four day coffin laying in Westminister Hall, with the opportunity for the public to say goodbye, ends.

11:44 a.m.:

The coffin is carried in procession from Parliament's Westminster Hall to nearby Westminster Abbey on a carriage drawn by 98 marines, a military wagon.

The four children of the dead queen walk behind the coffin: the new King Charles III, 73, Princess Anne, 72, Prince Andrew, 62, and Prince Edward, 58. Behind them are the heir to the throne Prince William, 40, and his brother Prince Harry , 38, and Princess Anne's son Peter Phillips, 44, as well as other male royals and members of the royal household.

11.52am:

The coffin arrives at Westminster Abbey, where it is carried to a dais in the choir.

Up to 2200 people can be seated in the historic church.

12 noon:

The funeral service begins at Westminster Abbey.

The Dean of Westminster, David Hoyle, will lead the service.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will preach.

The scripture readings will be given by Prime Minister Liz Truss and Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland.

"Elements of the service and associated ceremonial will reflect the Queen's exceptional reign and distinguished life of service as head of state, nation and commonwealth," the palace said in a statement.

In addition to members of the royal family, the invited guests include British Prime Minister Liz Truss and several of her predecessors.

About 500 heads of state and government, members of royal families and other dignitaries from all over the world are expected.

According to the palace, there are also representatives from the Commonwealth nations and holders of various orders.

Germany will be represented by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender.

Aristocratic guests also travel to London.

Exceptions for Biden and Herzog, all other guests probably drive the bus

US President Joe Biden has also promised to come - and not least because of him there will be extensive security precautions.

Biden is supposed to drive up in his armored limousine “The Beast”.

A similar exception is likely to be made for Israeli President Izchak Herzog, the BBC reports.

Most of the other guests, on the other hand, are planning to travel together in buses.

The kings of Belgium, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands, but also heads of state and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would be driven to Westminster Abbey in luxury buses from a secret meeting point in the west of the British capital.

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako, whose visit is considered a special honor, are also expected to board a bus.

There have been criticisms of the proposal and the exceptions (read more about it here).

According to the BBC, the organizers are defending the scheme against criticism.

“It's not about vehicles.

It's about making sure the right people are in the right place at the right time," the broadcaster quoted a British government official as saying.

"Do the math, they just can't come in separate cars."

The countries with which Great Britain has diplomatic relations received invitations to the funeral service.

According to a government official, Russia and Belarus are not included.

The reason is therefore the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, which was also started from Belarusian territory.

Representatives of North Korea and the military junta in Myanmar are also not invited, according to the information.

Syria, Venezuela and Afghanistan will also not be represented.

12:55 p.m.:

The “Last Post” horn sounds.

This is followed by a two-minute silence in the church and across the country.

1:00 p.m.:

The national anthem is sung.

The coffin is then carried out of the church and taken by procession to Wellington Arch.

The route leads from Parliament via White Hall and the Horse Guards Parade parade ground to The Mall and past Buckingham Palace and Green Park.

Again, the royals follow the coffin on foot in the same order.

King's wife Camilla, 75, Catherine, 40, who now bears the title Princess of Wales, Duchess Meghan, 41, and Countess Sophie, 57, Prince Edward's wife, drive by car.

Deputations from the armed forces of Great Britain and other Commonwealth countries also take part in the procession.

Big Ben bangs throughout the procession and a gun salute is fired in Hyde Park.

2pm:

The coffin arrives at Wellington Arch where it is transferred to a hearse for transport to Windsor.

The soldiers bid farewell to the Queen with a military salute and the national anthem.

The Royal Family then makes their way to Windsor.

On entering Windsor, the hearse slows and joins another procession moving down the Long Walk, a long avenue, towards Windsor Castle.

In the courtyard of the castle, the royals also join the funeral procession, which then leads to St. George's Chapel.

Prince Harry and Meghan got married there in May 2018, and Prince Philip's funeral service took place there in April 2021.

The chapel is also regularly used for royal baptisms.

5pm:

Funeral service begins at St. George's.

In addition to the Royal Family, the members of the royal household and the heads of government of the countries whose head of state was Elizabeth II, as well as the governors-general who represented them there, take part.

A total of 800 guests are expected.

The service will be led by the Dean of Windsor, David Conner.

Before the last song, the crown, scepter and orb are removed from the coffin and placed on the altar.

Then the coffin is lowered into the royal tomb.

The national anthem ends the service - and the public part of the funeral service.

8:30 p.m .:

The Queen will find her final resting place at a private funeral in King George VI.

Memorial Chapel, a special part of the main chapel.

Only close family members will attend.

The Queen's parents and her younger sister, Princess Margaret, are also buried there.

Prince Philip's coffin is now also being transferred from the royal tomb to the memorial chapel.

wit/jpz/dpa/AFP