The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, who died Thursday in Scotland, will take place on Monday 19 September in London, Buckingham Palace announced on Saturday.
Leaders from around the world are expected for the funeral which will take place at Westminster Abbey at 11 am local time (12 pm Brussels time).
King Charles III, who is succeeding her, declared a public holiday in the UK for the occasion.
The coffin of Elizabeth II is currently in the ballroom of Balmoral Castle, Scotland, and will then be transferred to the Palace of Holyroodhouse and St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, before being sent to London on Tuesday.
It will then be publicly displayed for four days in Westminster Hall – the oldest section of the Houses of Parliament – after a procession through the streets of London.
On September 19, at 10:44 am, the coffin will leave the Palace of Westminster for Westminster Abbey, where the funeral service will take place, Buckingham Palace said.
Related News
- British monarch Queen Elizabeth II dies aged 96
- Reactions and tributes from around the world after death of Queen Elizabeth II
- King Charles III proclaimed new Monarch of United Kingdom
At the end of the service the coffin will leave in procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington’s Arch, then it will be taken to Windsor. Once in Windsor, there will be another hearse procession to St. George’s Chapel, the palace said in its statement.
The ceremony on 19 September is expected to attract millions of visitors, as well as personalities from around the world, which is likely to be a logistical and security challenge for British law enforcement.
Among the expected guests, the American President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, as well as many leaders of the former British colonies.
