The State Funeral for Her Majesty The Queen
|The official state funeral for Her Majesty The Queen occurred at Westminster Abbey on Monday, the 19th of September at 11 a.m. The solemn occasion, including the funeral service and accompanying ceremonial proceedings, honored The Queen’s exceptional reign and her dedicated life of service as Head of State, Nation, and Commonwealth.
The funeral was broadcast globally on television, radio, and The Royal Family’s YouTube Channel, enabling people from around the world to join in mourning the loss of The Queen.
Procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey
The Queen’s coffin had been lying in state since the evening of Wednesday, the 14th of September. At 6:30 a.m. on the morning of Monday, the 19th of September, the lying-in-state concluded.
At 10:44 a.m., the coffin was solemnly carried in procession on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey for the State Funeral.
Directly following the coffin were The King, accompanied by Members of the Royal Family and members of The King’s Household.
The State Funeral Service
The State Funeral Service was officiated by the Dean of Westminster, while The Sermon and the Commendation were delivered by the Archbishop of Canterbury. You can peruse the Order of Service for further details.
During the service, the Prime Minister and the Secretary General of the Commonwealth read lessons, while prayers were offered by 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.
To signify the conclusion of the service, The Last Post was sounded, followed by a two-minute silence observed in the Abbey and across the United Kingdom. The Service was concluded with the rendition of the National Anthem.
The State Funeral Service was attended by Heads of State and representatives from overseas governments, including foreign royal families, governors general, and prime ministers from the realms. Additionally, representatives from the Commonwealth, various orders of chivalry, recipients of the Victoria Cross and George Cross, government officials, parliamentarians, representatives from devolved parliaments and assemblies, members of the Church, patrons of Her Majesty, and other public dignitaries comprised the congregation.