Queen’s Funeral: Full burial, procession schedule revealed
The order of service for the Queen’s state funeral has been released. See how the historic event will unfold.
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Around 2000 people will gather in Westminster Abbey to remember Queen Elizabeth II, as millions watch the televised service across the globe.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte will walk through the gothic church with the royal family, in procession behind the Queen’s coffin as it is carried by the military bearer party.
Their grandfather, King Charles with the Queen Consort Camilla will process immediately behind the coffin, followed by the Princess Royal Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, then the Duke of York Prince Andrew, followed by Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, and then the Prince and Princess of Wales, William an Kate.
George and Charlotte, who called the Queen “Gan Gan”, will be together, behind their parents, walking side-by-side in formation, followed by their uncle and aunt the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and other members of the royal family.
At the end of the service, following The Last Post, two minutes’ silence, the Reveille, and the national anthem, the Queen’s Piper, Warrant Officer Class 1 (Pipe Major) Paul Burns, will play the traditional lament Sleep, Dearie, Sleep.
Before the service, the tenor bell will be tolled every minute for 96 minutes, reflecting the years of the Queen’s life.
The Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, will say in The Bidding: “Here, where Queen Elizabeth was married and crowned, we gather from across the nation, from the Commonwealth, and from the nations of the world, to mourn our loss, to remember her long life of selfless service.”
He will speak of the Queen’s “unswerving commitment to a high calling over so many years” as Queen and Head of the Commonwealth.
“With affection we recall her love for her family and her commitment to the causes she held dear,” the Dean will say.
One of the hymns - The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want - was sung at the Queen’s wedding, when she married the Duke of Edinburgh in the same abbey, as a 21-year-old bride in 1947.
It was also sung at the funeral of the Queen’s father George VI in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in 1952, but with slightly different wording.
The others hymns are: The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended; and Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.
The latter has often featured at royal weddings including William and Kate’s, Charles and Camilla’s wedding blessing, and Princess Eugenie’s.
Prayers will be said by the Reverend Dr Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, for “Queen Elizabeth’s long life and reign, recalling with gratitude her gifts of wisdom, diligence, and service”.
The Bishop of London Dame Sarah Mullally will say a prayer for “our most gracious Sovereign Lord King Charles, Camilla the Queen Consort, William Prince of Wales, and all the royal family”.
Reverend Canon Helen Cameron, Moderator of the Free Churches Group, will praise the Queen’s “unstinting devotion to duty, her compassion for her subjects, and her counsel to her ministers”.
What is the date of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral?
The Queen’s state funeral will take place on Monday, September 19 at 8pm AEST at Westminster Abbey in London. The Queen’s funeral will be the first funeral for a monarch at the abbey since King George II in 1760. Westminster Abbey has been a special place throughout the Queen’s life. It was where she witnessed her father, King George VI’s coronation on May 12, 1937.
It’s also where Her Majesty married Prince Philip and was crowned Queen.
What time will the funeral be broadcast in Australia?
Sky News’ Queen funeral coverage will start at 5.30am AEST with Peter Stefanovic and Annelise Nielsen live from Buckingham Palace. Chief News Anchor Kieran Gilbert takes over at 10am, with local and international news updates, followed at 2pm by Laura Jayes, Peta Credlin, Paul Murray, and Peter Stefanovic live in London, covering the end of the lying-in-state, the procession to Westminster Abbey, state funeral and burial.
Watch on Foxtel and Sky News Regional, Stream on Flash.
For people on the east coast — Queensland, NSW, the ACT, Victoria and Tasmania — the funeral will start at 8pm. In the Northern Territory and South Australia it is 7.30pm CST, while in Western Australia it is 6pm AWST.
The funeral will also be streamed live on News Corp Australia masthead websites.
What will be the route of the Queen’s funeral?
At 3.30pm AEST on September 19, the day of the funeral, the Queen’s lying in state at Westminster Hall will end and Her Majesty’s coffin will be taken in procession from Westminster Hall to nearby Westminster Abbey for the funeral.
After the service, the coffin will travel in procession to the majestic Wellington Arch, behind Buckingham Palace, where it will be taken to Windsor.
In Windsor, the coffin will travel to St George’s Chapel via the Long Walk, where a private committal service will see the Queen finally laid to rest.
What about royal funeral protocol?
In terms of protocol at the Queen’s funeral, all working members of the royal family must wear military uniforms.
As a non-working royal, Prince Andrew will not wear a uniform except as a special mark of respect for the queen at the final vigil.
Prince Harry was also granted permission to wear the uniform for the vigil held by the Queen’s grandchildren.
The Duke of Sussex served for 10 years in the British Army and referred to the Queen as his “commander in chief” in his touching tribute to her.
As is custom for funerals and mourning ceremonies, other attendees at the funeral will likely wear black.
According to etiquette bible Debrett’s, a strict dress code must be observed at state funerals. “An all-black formal dress code is always respected,” Debrett’s states.
“Ladies wear black knee-length dresses, or coats, black hats, and may also wear face-covering veils.”
Gentleman can wear military attire or black morning coats with medals.
History of Queen Elizabeth’s final resting place
The Queen will be buried in the King George VI memorial chapel at Windsor Castle, alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
The monarch’s father, King George VI, and mother Queen Elizabeth are also buried, along with the Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret.
Once the Queen’s funeral has taken place, the Queen’s late husband Prince Phillip will be moved from the royal vault of St George’s Chapel to Windsor Castle’s King George VI Memorial Chapel, where he will be laid alongside his beloved wife.
List of Celebrities/dignitaries attending Queen’s funeral
Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott is among the nine “everyday” Australians who travelled to London for the official funeral service on Monday, alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Governor-General David Hurley.
British Prime Minister Liz Truss will attend, as well as Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer.
Irish premier Micheal Martin has confirmed he will be travelling to London for the event, and the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, is also expected to be there.
US President Joe Biden has confirmed he will attend, as will his wife, First Lady Jill Biden.
Donald Trump has been left off the list — no former US presidents will be attending.
Other world leaders who say they will be there include New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol, and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
Members of Europe’s royal families, from countries including Spain, the Netherlands, Monaco, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, and Greece, are also likely to fly to London for the funeral.
Australian-born Crown Princess Mary and her husband Crown Prince Frederik will represent Denmark.
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito says he plans to attend, while Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida may also attend, according to Japanese media.
And away from high profile figures, some of the Queen’s closest staff, including her ladies-in-waiting and footmen, will be there to say a final goodbye.
Originally published as Queen’s Funeral: Full burial, procession schedule revealed
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