Full timeline of the Queen's state funeral and burial

Buckingham Palace has released the full details around the Queen's funeral on Monday. Credit: AP

The Queen will be buried alongside the Duke of Edinburgh in a private family service following a full day of ceremonies starting at 6.30am and culminating in her state funeral.

Buckingham Palace said Her Majesty also made her own additional personal touches to the day which is expected to be one of the biggest events held in UK in decades.

Around 2,000 mourners, including world leaders and foreign royal families, are expected to bid farewell to the nation's longest-reigning monarch at a service in Westminster Abbey.

Here are the key timings for the day:

  • 6.30am

The Queen's Lying in State closes to public.

  • 8am

Gates to Westminster Abbey open will open to the congregation, for guests to take their seats for the state funeral service.

Guards and Royal Navy march past Westminster Abbey during a rehearsal on Thursday morning for the funeral procession of the Queen. Credit: AP

Heads of state and overseas government representatives, including foreign royal families, governors-general and realm prime ministers will gather initially at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, and travel under collective arrangements to Westminster Abbey.

  • 10.30am

The Queen's coffin is lifted by gun carriage from Westminster Hall and the procession will prepare to depart.

Her Majesty's coffin will be carried by the 123-year-old gun carriage and will be towed by 98 Royal Navy sailors in a tradition dating back to the funeral of Queen Victoria.

Princess Diana's coffin carried on the gun carriage, followed by her sons, the then-Prince of Wales and brother, Earl Spencer. Credit: PA

The gun carriage has since been used at the funerals of previous monarchs, along with Winston Churchill, Lord Mountbatten and Princess Diana.

  • 10.44am

The King, members of the royal family, members of the King’s Household and Household of the Prince of Wales will follow the coffin in its journey to Westminster Abbey.

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother is placed on catafalque at Westminster Abbey, 2002. Credit: PA

Doctors and nurses working for the NHS are also reported to be taking part in the procession, in recognition for their work during the Covid pandemic.

  • 10.52am

The procession arrives at the West Gate of Westminster Abbey where the bearer party will lift the coffin from the state gun carriage and carry it inside for the state funeral service.

  • 11am

The Service at Westminster Abbey begins.

The Dean of Westminster will lead the service and Prime Minister Liz Truss and Secretary -General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, will give readings.

Prayers will also be read 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.

The sermon will be given by the Archbishop of Canterbury who will also give the commendation, while the Dean will pronounce the blessing.

  • 11:55am

The Last Post will sound followed by a national two-minute silence.

  • 12pm

Reveille, the national anthem and a lament, played by the Queen’s Piper, will bring the state funeral service to an end at approximately noon.

The coffin will be carried to the state gun carriage.

  • 12:15pm

Procession to Wellington Arch begins.

  • 1pm

The procession led by the King arrives at Wellington Arch where the bearer party will lift the coffin from the state gun carriage and place it in the state hearse.

The state hearse will then depart on its journey to Windsor as the parade gives a royal salute and the national anthem is played.

Prince Philip's funeral at St George's chapel in Windsor Castle, on April 17, 2021. Credit: AP

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

  • 4pm

The length of the service is not yet known but when it ends, the King and members of the royal family will depart from the Galilee Porch for Windsor Castle.

It marks the end of public ceremonial arrangements.

  • 7.30pm

A private burial service will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor, attended by the King and members of the royal family.

Her Majesty's coffin will be laid to rest with her late husband, Prince Philip, alongside her father King George VI and the Queen Mother at St George's Chapel.


The Queen's final journey from Buckingham Palace in our latest podcast episode