Queen's funeral LIVE: Latest news as state funeral is held in London

2022-09-19

Queen’s funeral LIVE: Archbishop of Canterbury and Liz Truss address royal mourners at Service for Her Majesty and congregation sings hymns after pallbearers carry coffin into Westminster Abbey

The Queen’s funeral: All the latest Royal Family news and coverage

Follow MailOnline’s liveblog for updates throughout today as a state funeral is held for the Queen at Westminster Abbey before a committal service at Windsor Castle:

Host commentator

The second hymn sung at the abbey was, ‘The Lord’s my shepherd’, to the Crimond tune, originating from a parish in Aberdeenshire, not far from Balmoral Castle, where the Queen passed away.

The hymn was sung at the Wedding of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh.

The young Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret summoned the Master of Choristers to Buckingham Palace in the lead up to the wedding and sang for him the particular descant, by William Baird Ross, which they wanted to be used.

The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan, delivers the sermon.

In his sermon, the Archbishop said: ‘Her late Majesty’s example was not set through her position or her ambition but through whom she followed.
‘I know His Majesty shares the same hope and faith in Jesus Christ as his mother, the same sense of service and duty.

‘In 1953 The Queen began her coronation with silent prayer, just there, at the high altar.
‘Her allegiance to God was given before any person gave allegiance to her.Her service to so many people in this nation, the Commonwealth and the world had its foundation in her following Christ, God himself.’

Pointing to the Queen’s famous reference to the Vera Lynn song she invoked during her speech regarding the Covid lockdowns, the Archbishop finished his sermon saying ‘We Will Meet Again’.

He said: ‘We can all share the Queen’s hope, which in life and death inspired her servant leadership. Service in life, hope in death. All who follow the Queen’s example and inspiration of trust and faith in God can with her say, “we will meet again”.’

Huge crowds gather to watch the state funeral for the late Queen.

Earlier, there was complete silence from the crowd close to Parliament Square, as the State Gun Carriage carrying the Queen’s coffin slowly moved past. The crowd, momentarily still and with phones held aloft to capture the moment, was around 10-people thick in places, as tens of thousands thronged the streets to say goodbye to the monarch and witness a moment of history.

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss addresses royal mourners at Service for Her Majesty.

Ms Truss spoke the words from the second lesson from John 14: 1-9a, which reads: ‘Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.’

The funeral service for the late Queen Elizabeth II is underway, led by the dean of Westminster, Dr David Hoyle.

The first reading came from Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC. She is the sixth Commonwealth Secretary-General and was born in Dominica.

Her Bible reading came from passage 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 53-End. It reads: ‘Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.’

Prince William and Prince Harry walked to the abbey together earlier, despite the ongoing feud betweren the two brothers.

The Queen’s coffin procession has arrived at Westminster Abbey, with the bearer party, made up of members of the Queen’s guard, carrying the coffin from the gun carriage.

The funeral service, led by the dean of Westminster, Dr David Hoyle, is due to begin in a few minutes, at 11am.

As the coffin was taken into Westminster Abbey there was applause from the crowds on the Long Walk with many wiping away tears.

The Queen’s coffin is being carried from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey by the gun carriage, towed by 142 sailors from the Royal Navy.

King Charles III, royal family members and members of the royal household are following the coffin.

Kate Middleton, Prince George and Princess Charlotte are seen arriving at the abbey.

King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla make their way to Westminster Abbey.

The Royal Family has arrived at Westminster Hall as they prepare to say farewell to Elizabeth II at her state funeral along with 2,000 VIPs and an estimated 2million people in central London.

There were cheers and clapping as Prince William , the Princess of Wales and their children George and Charlotte were swept into Parliament Square.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex travelled down The Mall with a police escort. Harry was seen looking sombre as he was driven in a Range Rover from Wellington Arch, down Constitution Hill and on The Mall towards St James’ Palace. Four vehicles with flags were seen driving ahead of Harry’s car.

Other members of the Royal family to arrive include Meghan Markle, Princess Anne, Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice and the Countess of Wessex.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joins mourners at the abbey.

Current UK Prime Minister Liz Truss and former UK Prime Minister David Cameron arrive at Westminster Abbey.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and former UK Prime Minister Theresa May join mourners.

Former Labour Prime Ministers Gordon Brown and Tony Blair join the politicians arriving at the abbey ahead of the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

Boris and Carries Johnson arrive at the abbey ahead of the state funeral.

President of Ireland Michael D Higgins joins the other mourners at Westminster Abbey.

US President Joe Biden has arrived at Westminster Abbey ahead of the Queen’s state funeral.

Mr Biden has joined the huge numbers of mourners attending the service alongside his wife Dr Jill Biden.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Israeli President Isaac Herzog are among the many world leaders arriving at the abbey.

Mr Macron arrives with his wife Brigitte Macron.

Ben Wallace, Kwasi Kwarteng and Therese Coffey join the many politicians arriving at Westminster Abbey for the state funeral of the late monarch.

Westminster Abbey is filling up ahead of the Queen’s state funeral this morning as the congregation arrived up to three hours early as huge crowds of mourners packed the procession route outside and tens of thousands more went to Windsor, where Her Majesty will be buried later.

Michael and Carole Middleton, Kate Middleton’s parents, were among hundreds of VIPs who arrived at the UK’s most important church – where Her Majesty married Prince Philip and had her coronation.

2,000 royals, world leaders and hundreds of members of the public have began filing into the Abbey as billions around the world will watch Her Majesty’s state funeral.

All public viewing areas for the Queen’s funeral procession are full, London’s
City Hall said.

Ian Blackford, Bear Grylls and Penny Mourdant have arrived at Westminster Abbey for the state funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

King Charles III hosted a state reception at Buckingham Palace last night, the eve of his late mother the Queen’s funeral.

The event, which the new king hosted with his wife Camilla who is now Queen Consort, began at 6pm, while a minute’s silence was held at 8pm in tribute to the late monarch.

Leaders from across the world attended, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the new UK Prime Minister Liz Truss.

Carole and Michael Middleton, parents of the Princess of Wales, join the mourners arriving at Westminster Abbey.

Tom Parker Bowles and Scottish Secretary Alister Jack have also recently arrived at the abbey.

Secretary of State for Education Kit Malthouse joins those beginning to take their places in Westminster Abbey for the state funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Sir Keir Starmer, Jacob Rees-Mogg and William Hague have arrived at Westminster Abbey for Her Majesty’s state funeral joining other guests including Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi.

Mourners are streaming into Windsor as well as claiming prime spots in London to watch the funeral procession of Queen Elizabeth II.

In the capital, the state funeral service will end at midday when the late Queen’s coffin will be placed on the state gun carriage and there will be a coffin procession to Wellington Arch.

In Windsor, the hearse carrying the late monarch’s coffin will arrive at 3.06pm and will make its way along the Long Walk.

The first mourners started arriving to take their seats shortly after 8am, with Nadhim Zahawi seen recently arriving at Westminster abbey for the Queen’s state funeral.

Dignitaries were arriving later, with many heads of state gathering at a nearby hospital to be driven by bus to the abbey.

The grand oak doors of the UK’s most important church – where Her Majesty married Prince Philip and had her coronation – have opened three hours before the service is due to start.

2,000 royals, world leaders, VIPs and hundreds of members of the public will be in the Abbey as billions around the world will watch Her Majesty’s state funeral.

All railway lines between Slough and Paddington are blocked due to damage to overhead electric wires, Great Western Railway (GWR) said.

This is disrupting journeys for mourners attempting to travel to London for the Queen’s funeral from Reading or Heathrow Airport.

Services run by GWR, Heathrow Express and the Elizabeth line are affected.

The lines between Reading and Newbury are also closed due to a person being hit by a train.
This is causing GWR trains to be diverted, delaying journeys to the capital.

⚠️Due to damage to overhead wires, all lines between Slough and Paddington are blocked.

⚠️Train services running to or from these stations will be cancelled or delayed by up to 90 minutes.

⚠️Disruption is expected until 10:00

⚠️Check your journey at https://t.co/U53eoQQs6C

The last person leaving the Queen’s lying in state at Westminster Hall was Christine Heerey, a serving member of the RAF.

Ms Heerey said: ‘I was the last person to pay my respects to the Queen and it felt like a real privilege to do that. I’d already been round once, I went in at 1:15 this morning. It’s one of the highlights of my life and I feel very privileged to be here.’

The final members of the public have paid respect to the Queen as she lay in state in Westminster Hall.

Westminster Hall will now close as the coffin is prepared to move to Westminster Abbey for the funeral later today

Latest: https://t.co/8AFWhoWFRI

📺 Sky 501 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/HqSAywwRAC

Queen’s lying in state closes at 6.30am

The Queen’s lying in state has now officially finished ahead of her funeral today, with an estimated 400,000 mourners thought to have passed through Westminster Hall over the past five days.

The final people were admitted to the line to see the Queen’s coffin at about 10.30pm last night, which gave them time to make it through before the closure at 6.30am this morning. The line was opened at 5pm last Wednesday.

But some mourners who queued for hours through the night without wristbands have vented their frustrations at police after being turned away from the lying in state. Read the full story on MailOnline here:

Hundreds of people are still streaming out of Westminster Hall having seen the Queen lying in state.

These are among the final people to see the Queen’s coffin, with the lying in state expected to finish at 6.30am.

They have been waiting for hours, with the queue closing after 10.30pm last night. The pictures below were taken at about 5.15am this morning:

Police begin to close roads as mourners flood into London for funeral

Police are set to begin closing roads in London this morning ahead of the Queen ‘s funeral as motorists were warned to avoid driving in parts of the capital amid one of Britain’s biggest transport operations in history.

Road closures will start to come in from 6am this morning on the A4 and the A30 in West London towards Windsor, with full closures in both directions after 10am, which are not likely to be lifted until the evening. Read more on MailOnline here:

Police security teams have been patrolling Whitehall early this morning ahead of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral at Westminster Abbey, at the climax of the biggest security operation Britain has ever seen:

Camilla speaks of Queen’s passion for horse racing in moving tribute

The Queen Consort has spoken of the Queen’s passion for horse racing as part of a moving tribute to Her Majesty.

Speaking in a televised tribute, Camilla said the late monarch had a withering gaze and would turn her ‘wonderful blue eyes’ on people who questioned her knowledge of the sport.

She also remarked how the Queen loved her summers breaks in Balmoral and how the Her Majesty had a clear demarcation between her public duties and private life, with these breaks in Scotland were the time for ‘her enjoyment’.

Read more about her tribute on MailOnline here:

The day of the Queen’s funeral marks the climax of what is being regarded as the biggest security operation the UK has ever seen.

Huge crowds, royalty and a long list of world leaders as well as other dignitaries will all need to be kept safe as part of the mammoth job facing thousands of police officers.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said ‘nothing can compare’ to the ‘hugely complex’ task, describing it as the ‘largest policing operation’ in the Met’s history.

The scale surpasses the operation for the Platinum Jubilee weekend and the London 2012 Olympics, which saw up to 10,000 police officers on duty per day.

It is also the largest global protection operation dealt with by the force, with world leaders, dignitaries and other VIPs attending the state funeral.

Former counter-terrorism police chief Nick Aldworth said it is ‘probably the biggest operation that we’re likely to mount in the UK’.

Who will get what in the monarchy’s palace merry go round?

King Charles III’s succession from heir to the throne to monarch has happened at lightning speed. But one issue will take a little longer to resolve: just where will he live?

Traditionally, moving up to the top job means a corresponding rise up the property ladder. And in Charles’s case it should mean moving in to Buckingham Palace, the headquarters of the British monarchy.

But where to live is by no means his only dilemma. He will also have to choose what to do about the many royal residences now at his disposal, which could be the most delicate of decisions in these early days of the new reign.

Click below to read Richard Kay’s full article in the Daily Mail today:

Mourners have spent the night in Westminster in sleeping bags to ensure they get a good vantage point for the Queen’s funeral. People camped out in Parliament Square are pictured early this morning:

Fans defy tent ban on The Mall ahead of Queen’s funeral

Hardy royal fans defied no-camping rules ahead of the Queen’s funeral today, as people of all ages set up tents, deckchairs and even a makeshift minibar to grab premium seats for the spectacle.

Scores of people began bedding in to line The Mall in central London over the weekend, despite rules – seemingly loosely enforced – preventing people from setting up camp.

Read the latest on MailOnline here:

Anger at how celebrities and MPs used priority lanes to beat queue

Junior members of the royal household have been left ‘upset and disappointed’ at not being able to see the Queen lying in state.

Her staff say it is a ‘kick in stomach’ that MPs have been allowed to jump ahead of the queue – and take four guests with them – when many of those who served her loyally for years have not even been able to pay their respects.

There has also been much criticism of television presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby using a priority media queue to view Her Majesty’s coffin.

Read the full story on MailOnline:

The Queen’s Piper will help close her state funeral with a rendition of the traditional piece Sleep, Dearie, Sleep.

Pipe Major Paul Burns, the monarch’s personal player at the time of her death, will perform as the service comes to an end and the congregation stands, before the coffin leaves Westminster Abbey for Windsor.

Before the service, Matthew Jorysz, assistant organist of the abbey, will play a series of pieces including Elegy Op 58 by Sir Edward Elgar, Reliqui Domum Meum by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, and Fantasy On O Paradise by Malcolm Williamson.

He will also play Romanza (Symphony no 5 in D) by Ralph Vaughan Williams, arranged by Robert Quinney.

The sub-organist will play two pieces by Elgar – Andante Espressivo (Sonata in G Op 28) and Sospiri Op 70.

Hymns sung during the service will include The Lord’s My Shepherd, The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended and Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.

Palace hits back over claim Prince Harry was ‘last to know’ about Queen’s death

Palace aides reacted angrily to claims last night that Prince Harry had been given just five minutes’ notice of his grandmother’s death before it was made public.

A newspaper report said the devastated royal had been the last to know about her passing – and was even told after Prime Minister Liz Truss. The Daily Telegraph suggested this was a further example of the rift between the prince and his family.

But there was clear irritation at Buckingham Palace that such claims had emerged on the eve of the Queen’s funeral, which was considered hugely disrespectful.

Read the full story on MailOnline:

Your guide to the Queen’s funeral and what will happen today

The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will take place at Westminster Abbey today before Her Majesty is laid to rest alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.

London is expected to be at full capacity as hundreds of thousands of well-wishers descend on the capital to watch the processions unfold throughout the historic day of mourning.

Read more about how the historic day of mourning will unfold:

Prince George and Princess Charlotte to walk behind coffin at funeral

Prince George and Princess Charlotte will make a surprise appearance at their great-grandmother’s funeral today, walking behind her coffin into Westminster Abbey.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are understood to have thought ‘long and hard’ about whether their two eldest children, aged nine and seven, should join them.

But after George and Charlotte attended their great-grandfather’s memorial in March, William and Kate decided they could cope with the solemnity of the occasion. Louis, the couple’s youngest, is just four and will not be joining.

Read the full story from the Daily Mail on MailOnline:

– Lying in state

The lying in state will end at 6.30am today, before the Queen’s coffin is taken to Westminster Abbey for the funeral service.

– Funeral service at Westminster Abbey

At 8am, the congregation will begin to take their seats in the abbey.

Just after 10.35am, a bearer party from The Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, will lift the coffin from a wooden frame and carry it to the Royal Navy’s State Gun Carriage by the North Door of Westminster Hall.

The carriage will depart at 10.44am, drawn by 142 Royal Naval personnel. It will be followed by the King, other members of the royal family, the King’s Household and the Household of the Prince of Wales.

The procession will arrive at the West Gate of Westminster Abbey at 10.52am and the coffin will be lifted off the carriage by the bearer party and carried inside.

Before the service, the tenor bell will toll every minute for 96 minutes, reflecting the years of the Queen’s life.

The funeral will begin at 11am.

At 11.55am, The Last Post will mark the beginning of a national two-minute silence.

The Queen’s Piper will then play Reveille, the national anthem and a lament to bring the service to a close at around 12pm.

– The procession and onwards to Windsor

The Queen’s coffin will be carried back to the gun carriage before the procession steps off from Westminster Abbey at 12.15pm.

The procession will move through Broad Sanctuary Parliament Square (south and east sides), Parliament Street, Whitehall, Horse Guards including Horse Guards Arch, Horse Guards Road, The Mall, Queen’s Gardens (south and west sides), Constitution Hill and Apsley Way, before arriving at Wellington Arch at 1pm.

The coffin will be lifted off the gun carriage and placed in the state hearse, which will depart for Windsor as the parade gives a royal salute and the national anthem is played.

The King and the Queen Consort, the Prince and Princess of Wales and other members of the royal family will depart for Windsor by car.

The hearse will approach Shaw Farm Gate in Albert Road, Windsor, and join the procession, which will have been formed up and in position to step off at 3.10pm.

– The committal service

The service will mark the end of public ceremonial arrangements, and will begin at 4pm.

The door of St George’s Chapel will open for the congregation at 3.20pm, with members of the royal family not in the procession arriving for the service at 3.25pm.

The hearse will process along Albert Road, Long Walk, Cambridge Gate, Cambridge Drive, George IV Gate, Quadrangle (south and west sides), Engine Court, Norman Arch, Chapel Hill and the Parade Ground.

The procession, which will have been joined by the King and other family members on the north side of the quadrangle as it passes into Engine Court, will arrive at the West Steps of the chapel in Horseshoe Cloister at 3.53pm.

The bearer party will lift the coffin from the hearse and it will be carried in procession up the steps into St George’s Chapel before the committal service.

It is not known how long the service will last.

The King and members of the royal family will depart from the Galilee Porch for Windsor Castle once the service concludes.

– The private burial service

The Dean of Windsor will conduct a burial service attended by the King and members of the royal family at 7.30pm.

The Queen will be buried with the Duke of Edinburgh at King George VI Memorial Chapel.

No. The queue to see the Queen lying in state has now closed to new arrivals.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said after 10.30pm last night that the last people had been admitted to the queue to see the Queen’s coffin at Westminster Hall.

The announcement had been expected throughout the day on Sunday as waiting times hit a peak of 14 hours at 10am.

By 9pm the waiting time was seven hours as the last crowds filed through, with people collecting wristbands for entry at London Bridge.

Good morning and welcome to MailOnline’s liveblog on this historic day.

The Queen is to be reunited with her husband the Duke of Edinburgh as she is laid to rest in a state funeral today.

Crowds of mourners will flock to London, Windsor and royal sites throughout the UK on the national bank holiday, with the service set to draw millions of TV viewers across the globe.

The royal family, including Prince George and Princess Charlotte, will be among the 2,000 people gathered at Westminster Abbey to remember the late monarch this morning, before a committal service at Windsor Castle.

Source: Read Full Article