Buckingham Palace has revealed plans for Her Majesty’s state funeral which is set to broadcast in Australia at 8pm (AEST) tonight.
Prior to the state funeral, The Palace has said that the tenor bell at Westminster Abbey will be rung every minute for 96 minutes, to reflect on The Queen’s life.
The service will then start at 11am local time where the procession will be led by religious representatives from around the UK followed by members of the royal family.
It’s expected 2000 people will be at the state funeral.
The Queen’s grandchildren hold a Vigil beside Her Majesty’s coffin at Westminster Hall. pic.twitter.com/lChZW6OdIP
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 17, 2022
Her Majesty’s coffin will enter the Abbey to The Choir of Westminster Abbey singing several bible verses before the Dean of Westminster gives 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, and in sure confidence to commit her to the mercy of God our maker and redeemer,” Reverend Dr David Hoyle MBE will say.
Several hymns, psalms, sermons, and prayers will be read throughout the remainder of the service before The Last Post, Reveille, and The National Anthem “God save The King” are played to finish off the funeral.
The bells of the Abbey will be rung fully muffled after the state funeral with the Queen’s committal to be a ceremony that about 800 people will attend at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
During the service, the instruments of state including the orb, sceptre and crown will be removed by the crown jeweller from atop Her Majesty’s coffin where at the end of the service, her coffin will be lowered into the royal vault.
Following the committal service there will be a private interment ceremony that will only be attended by members of the Royal Family.
She will then be buried next to her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip.
The lying-in-state queue at its peak was 11km with many people waiting over 24 hours to pay their respects to the late Queen. The last wristband was handed out at 11pm London time on Sunday September 18.
Back in Westminster for the last full day of lying-in-state, and the stamina shown by those walking more than 13 hours in the queue to pay their respects is impressive. pic.twitter.com/Eg0DvrJBBV
— Richard Gaisford (@richardgaisford) September 18, 2022