Queen Elizabeth’s death: Everything you need to know about the Queen funeral

As a host of Australians prepare to attend Queen Elizabeth II’s day-long state funeral on Monday, Buckingham Palace has confirmed final details before she is laid to rest.

Pallbearers place the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II onto a Catafalque in Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster in London. Picture: AFP

Buckingham Palace has announced details of Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral, with the day long program beginning on Monday evening 7.44pm (AEST) and finishing after 4.30am on Tuesday morning.

On the day of the State Funeral, the Lying-in-State will end at 3.30pm Monday and the final members of the public, who have queued for many hours to see the Queen’s coffin in the Westminster Hall, will be admitted.

At 7.44pm the Coffin will be borne in a short procession on the century old State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey.

Following the coffin will be The King, Members of the Royal Family and members of The King’s Household.

The procession will arrive at the West Gate of Westminster Abbey at 7.52pm where the Bearer Party will lift the coffin from the State Gun Carriage and carry it into the Abbey.

The Palace said attendees at the funeral are Heads of State, including foreign Royal Families, Governors General and realm Prime Ministers. Other representatives of the realms and the Commonwealth, the Orders of Chivalry including recipients of the Victoria Cross and George Cross, government, parliament, devolved parliaments and assemblies, the Church, and Her Majesty’s Patronages will form the congregation, along with other public representatives.

Pallbearers from The Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards carry the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II into Westminster Hall. Picture: AFP

Almost 200 people who were recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours earlier this year will also join the congregation, including those who made extraordinary contributions to the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and have volunteered in their local communities.

The funeral will be conducted by the Dean of Westminster. During the Service, Prime Minister Liz Truss and the Secretary-general of the Commonwealth Patricia Scotland will read lessons. The Archbishop of York, the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and the Free Churches Moderator will say prayers. The sermon will be given by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who will also give the Commendation. The Dean of Westminster will then pronounce the Blessing.

Towards the end of the Service, at approximately 8.55pm, the Last Post will sound followed by two minute’s silence observed throughout the United Kingdom. The national anthem will bring the state funeral service to a close at about 9pm.

After the service, Her Majesty’s coffin will be borne through the Abbey, returning to the State Gun Carriage for the procession to Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, arriving at 10pm. The King and members of the Royal Family will again follow the Queen’s coffin in procession. The procession will include detachments from the Armed Forces of the Commonwealth. Minute guns will be fired in Hyde Park by The King’s Troop and Royal Horse Artillery, and Big Ben will toll throughout the duration of the Procession.

At Wellington Arch, the coffin will be transferred to the state hearse to travel to Windsor. As the hearse departs Wellington Arch, the parade will give a Royal Salute and the National Anthem will be played. His Majesty The King and members of the Royal family will then depart for Windsor.

Members of the public pay their respects as they pass the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall. Picture: Getty Images

When the coffin reaches Windsor, the hearse will slow to join a procession to be formed on Albert Road to travel via the Long Walk to St George’s Chapel, Windsor for the Committal Service. Members of the Royal family will join the procession in the quadrangle at Windsor Castle. Minute Guns will be fired at Windsor Castle by The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, and Sebastopol Bell and the Curfew Tower Bell will be tolled.

The procession will halt at the bottom of the West Steps of St George’s Chapel where a guard of honour, found by the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, will be mounted. The Queen’s coffin will be borne in procession into the chapel.

The committal service will begin at 1am AEST, and alongside His Majesty The King and members of the Royal family, the congregation will be made up of past and present members of the Queen’s household, including from the private estates. Also in attendance will be governors general and realm prime ministers.

The service will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor, with prayers said by the Rector of Sandringham, the Minister of Crathie Kirk and the Chaplain of Windsor Great Park. The choir of St George’s Chapel will sing during the service.

Prior to the final hymn, the Imperial State Crown, the Orb and the Sceptre will be removed from Her Majesty the Queen’s Coffin, and placed on the altar. At the end of the final hymn, the King will place the Queen’s Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on Her Majesty’s coffin. At the same time, The Lord Chamberlain will “break” his wand of office and place it on the coffin.

As the Queen’s coffin is lowered into the Royal Vault, the Dean of Windsor will say a psalm and the Commendation before Garter King of Arms pronounces Her Majesty’s styles and titles.

The Sovereign’s Piper will play a Lament and The Archbishop of Canterbury will pronounce the blessing. The national anthem will be sung at the conclusion of the service.

At 4.30am AEST a private burial will take place in The King George VI Memorial Chapel, conducted by the Dean of Windsor. The Queen is to be buried together with The Duke of Edinburgh.