The royal ladies curtsey for their Queen: Princess of Wales, Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Wessex and Lady Louise pay their respects by keeping with royal protocol as they say farewell
- The ladies of the Royal Family each performed a curtsey towards the Queen’s coffin following the procession
- The Princess of Wales, the Duchess of Sussex and the Countess of Wessex all gave the moving tribute
- Sophie Wessex’s daughter Lady Louise also performed a curtsey when saying goodbye to her grandmother
The ladies of the Royal Family maintained royal protocol as they each performed a curtsey towards the Queen’s coffin following Her Majesty’s procession today.
The Princess of Wales, the Duchess of Sussex, the Countess of Wessex, and Sophie’s daughter Lady Louise, 18, all gave the moving tribute when leaving Westminster Hall.
Meanwhile, the Duke of York’s daughters Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice wiped away tears as they stood in front of the Queen’s coffin. They were supported by their husbands Jack Brooksbank and Edo Mapelli Mozzi.
Solemn members of the Royal Family gathered today as they accompanied the Queen for her poignant final journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, where she will lie in state underneath its ancient hammer-beam roof.
The Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Sussex each performed a curtsey towards the Queen’s coffin following Her Majesty’s procession today
The Countess of Wessex (pictured) also gave the moving tribute when leaving Westminster Hall earlier today
During the occasion today, Lady Louise followed in her mother’s footsteps and performed a curtsy when stepping forward to say goodbye to her grandmother, alongside her 14-year-old brother James, Viscount Severn
Camilla, Queen Consort, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at the coffin procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall
The Queen’s grandchildren – including Lady Louise and Princess Beatrice – appear emotional as they attend the service today in London
Other members of the royal family including Zara Tindall, with her husband Mike, Princess Eugenie, with her husband Jack Brooksbank, and Princess Beatrice, with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi also attended
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla led members of the royal family at the ceremony this afternoon (pictured)
The Queen is placed in Westminster Hall to lie in state for the nation to pay their respects
Mother-of-three Kate, 40, has been by her husband Prince William’s side since it was announced his grandmother had died last Thursday, and looked sombre as she took part in the short service at Westminster Hall, before performing the curtsey upon leaving.
She paid tribute to her mother-in-law Princess Diana by wearing her earrings for the Queen’s procession. The royal donned pearl earrings that were gifted to Diana before her wedding to Prince Charles in 1981.
The new Princess of Wales paired the earrings, made by Collingwood, with a pearl brooch which belong to the Queen.
William and Harry stood together with their wives Kate and Meghan today as they put aside their bitter feud to honour the Queen for her lying in state service.
While the brothers walked side-by-side for the poignant 38-minute procession from Buckingham Palace, their spouses travelled in separate cars, with Meghan accompanied by the Countess of Wessex and Kate joined by Camilla, the Queen Consort.
During the service, the ‘Fab Four’ stood in formation facing the coffin on its purple-covered catafalque, which was flanked with a tall, yellow flickering candle at each corner of the wide scarlet platform in the heart of Westminster Hall – the backdrop of some of the most famous moments in British history.
Peter Phillips, the Duke of Sussex, the Prince of Wales, the Earl of Wessex, the Earl of Snowdon, the Duchess of Sussex, the Princess Royal, King Charles III, the Duke of York, the Princess of Wales and the Countess of Wessex follow the bearer party carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II into Westminster Hall, London
The King and his Queen Consort led the Royal Family into Westminster Hall
Camilla, Kate, Sophie and Meghan watch as the Queen’s coffin is carried into her resting place for the next four days
Catherine, Princess of Wales and Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales reassure one another as they leave after a service for the reception of Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin at Westminster Hall
A sombre Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stands during the service led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, left. Pictured right: Prince Harry looks at the ancient roof alongside Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, as they stand in Westminster Hall after participating in the procession of the coffin
Britain’s King Charles III, Britain’s Prince William, Britain’s Princess Anne, salute the coffin. Prince Harry and Prince Andrew – no longer frontline royals, did not, bowing instead
What happens after today?
– September 15:
Lying in state continues and a rehearsal is likely to take place for the state funeral procession.
– September 16:
The King and Queen Consort are expected to travel to Wales while lying in state continues.
– September 17-18:
The lying in state continues and heads of state will begin to arrive for the funeral.
Members of the public Me are invited to observe a one-minute silence at 8pm on Sunday to remember the Queen.
– September 19:
There will be a national bank holiday to allow as many people as possible to watch the Queen’s funeral.
Lying in state will continue until 6.30am.
The coffin will be taken in a grand military procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey for the state funeral.
Senior members of the family are expected to follow behind – just like they did for the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh.
The military will line the streets and also join the procession.
Heads of state, prime ministers and presidents, European royals and key figures from public life will be invited to gather in the abbey, which can hold a congregation of 2,000.
The service will be televised, and a national two minutes’ silence is expected to be held.
After the service, the coffin will be taken in procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch and then travel to Windsor.
Once there, the hearse will travel in procession to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle via the Long Walk, after which a televised committal service will take place in St George’s Chapel.
Later in the evening, there will be a private interment service with senior members of the royal family.
The Queen’s final resting place will be the King George VI memorial chapel, an annex to the main chapel – where her mother and father were buried, along with the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret.
Philip’s coffin will move from the Royal Vault to the memorial chapel to join the Queen’s.
The Sussexes stood at the back of the group of royals, with Harry directly behind William and Meghan behind Kate. The touching moment is the first time the couples have been seen together since their surprise walkabout together at Windsor Castle on Saturday, and a rare show of togetherness.
The Queen’s coffin entered Westminster Hall as the choir of Westminster Abbey and the choir of His Majesty’s Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, sang Psalm 139. When the Queen arrived, Charles, William and Anne saluted. Harry and Prince Andrew – barred from wearing military uniform – bowed their head instead.
The Archbishop of Canterbury then read the opening prayer, which the King led the royals in reciting. The family stood silently for the short service that the late monarch had put together with the Church of England before she died aged 96.
After the congregation was dismissed, cries of ‘God save the King’ could be heard as the King and the Queen Consort left Westminster Hall as Big Ben rang out at 3.30pm. Royal couples left the building side by side, with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex holding hands and the Princess of Wales rubbing her husband’s arm reassuringly.
From 5pm mourners will be able to file past the coffin to pay their respects to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch with an estimated 1million people expected to queue for up to 30 hours to see her before the state funeral on Monday.
The Queen’s granddaughter Lady Louise Windsor joined her brother James, Viscount Severn at the service in Westminster Hall today following Her Majesty’s procession from Buckingham Palace.
Lady Louise, 18, the daughter of the Earl and Countess of Wessex, enjoyed a close relationship with her grandmother the Queen and grew up just a stone’s throw from the late monarch’s home of Windsor Castle, in Bagshot Park.
During the occasion today, Louise followed in her mother’s footsteps and performed a curtsy when stepping forward to say goodbye to her grandmother, alongside her 14-year-old brother.
It is the first time the Queen’s youngest grandchild James has been seen since Her Majesty’s death last week. His sister Louise joined other members of the royal family on a walkabout at Balmoral on Saturday following the Queen’s death at the Scottish estate on Thursday, aged 96.
Over the last two years, Lady Louise has taken on an increasingly public role as her parents Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex have been bumped up the royal food chain following the disgrace of Prince Andrew and the departure of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
She was front and centre in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, joined her parents at the Commonwealth Games and made her successful TV debut in a documentary about her beloved grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh.
Indeed she has become such a well-known face that she is recognised by customers of the garden centre where she has been working for £6.63 per hour since finishing her A-levels in June.
Unlike her older cousins, Princes William and Harry, Louise was able to see a lot more of her grandparents growing up because she has always lived just 11 miles from Windsor and had the benefit of being born around the time the Queen and Prince Philip scaled back their long-haul travel.
However, while Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie might not have been the royal grandchildren most frequently pictured with the Queen – the sisters were still incredibly close with their ‘Grannie’.
The girls’ deep bond with their grandmother was apparent today as they looked incredibly emotional during the occasion today.
It was their second appearance since the Queen’s death last week. Beatrice, 34, and Eugenie, 32, looked distraught as they walked hand-in-hand scanning the thousands of flowers and messages of condolence that had been left by royal fans in Balmoral at the weekend.
The Queen’s imperial state crown laid on top of a cushion, above her coffin, during the emotional funeral procession this afternoon
The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Sussex, King Charles III, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex walk behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard
2.22pm: The gun carriage bearing the coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II departs Buckingham Palace, transferring the coffin to The Palace of Westminster
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, adorned with a Royal Standard and the Imperial State Crown and pulled by a Gun Carriage of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, arrives at the Palace of Westminster
Queen’s flowers from her personal gardens: Coffin is adorned with lavender and rosemary from the gardens of Windsor and pine from Balmoral during funeral procession
The Queen’s coffin was today adorned with lavender and rosemary from the gardens of Windsor and pine from her Scottish home of Balmoral.
The Queen’s final and saddest journey to Westminster Hall is underway today with King Charles, his three siblings and his sons Prince William and Prince Harry following her coffin as the Royal Family hands her coffin to the nation.
At 2.22pm Her Majesty was carried down The Mall on a gun carriage – a tradition dating back to the death of her great-grandmother Queen Victoria in 1901 – as her children, grandchildren and other senior royals marched behind.
Atop the coffin, there was a wreath of flowers which contained a selection of flowers including pine from the gardens of Balmoral and lavender and rosemary from the gardens of Windsor.
The Queen ‘s coffin was today adorned with lavender and rosemary from the gardens of Windsor and pine from her Scottish home of Balmoral
It is a mark of the significance of the two residences for the late monarch.
The Queen had spent the majority of her time over the past few years at her home of Windsor Castle.
Meanwhile it was her Scottish home of Balmoral where she passed away earlier this month.
It marks a change from yesterday’s wreath, which was made up of her favourite flowers and served as a touching tribute to her late husband, Prince Philip.
Atop the coffin, there was a wreath of flowers which contained a selection of flowers including pine from the gardens of Balmoral and lavendar and rosemary from the gardens of Windsor
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, adorned with a Royal Standard and the Imperial State Crown and pulled by a Gun Carriage of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery
The wreath, which was prepared by Balmoral staff, included sweet peas, dahlias, phlox, white heather and pine fir – all gathered from the Aberdeenshire estate.
Sweet peas – which were among the Queen’s favourite flowers – were also in the wreath laid on the Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin after his death in April last year.
Sweet peas, which are associated with April birthdays, can symbolise departures and farewells while dahlias can represent a lasting commitment between two people.
The Queen personally selected the flowers for her late husband’s coffin with a wreath that included white lilies, roses and freesias.
The Queen’s children including the King and her grandchildren, including William, Harry and Peter Phillips make the mournful journey to Westminster Hall
Hundreds of thousands of people lined the route but there was a silent reverence as the coffin appeared. There were some muted cheers and clapping and cries of God Save the Queen as well as many tears shed as the late monarch left her London home for the final time. All viewing areas on The Mall, Whitehall and Parliament Square were full by 1pm – with people turned away.
The procession left the palace at 2.22pm and is expected to arrive at Westminster Hall at 3pm. A service lasting around 20 minutes will be led by the Archbishop of Canterbury accompanied by the Dean of Westminster.
Princess Anne, who has remained with her mother since she dies last Thursday, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward also followed the coffin on the 1.2mile journey to Westminster Hall – the ancient heart of the Houses of Parliament where up to 1million Britons hope to see the Queen lying in state there as her father and mother did in 1952 and 2002.
Queen Consort Camilla, the Princess of Wales, the Duchess of Sussex and the Countess of Wessex followed by car. Zara and Mike Tindall. Princess Beatrice, her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank ar e also taking part. But Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson did not receive an invite because of their divorce.
King Charles III waves to the crowds as he is driven along The Mall to Buckingham Palace this morning
Queen Consort Camilla is seen arriving at Buckingham Palace this afternoon ahead of the procession for the Queen
The occasion is heavy with historical significance, with brothers Prince William and Prince Harry setting aside their ongoing feud to support their father by marching with him behind the coffin. For William and Harry it will bring back painful memories of when they, aged 15 and 12, walked behind the coffin of their mother Princess Diana in 1997.
Solemn members of the Royal Family gathered this lunchtime to prepare to accompany the Queen for her poignant final journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, where she will lie in state for the next five nights.
The crowd burst into applause and cheers as King Charles III passed the Victoria Memorial in his state Rolls Royce as he was taken into the residence, followed later by Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice and Queen Consort Camilla.
Hundreds of thousands of well-wishers are expected to line the route as they do so. The Queen’s other children Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Princess Anne will also form part of the procession through London.
The Victoria Memorial and The Mall ahead of the procession for the Lying-in State of Queen Elizabeth II this afternoon
Her Majesty spent her final night in the Bow Room of Buckingham Palace before she will be conveyed on a gun carriage to Westminster Hall – where she will lie in state until 6.30am next Monday, the day of her funeral.
More than one million people are expected to queue in Central London for up to 35 hours to walk past her coffin – but experts believe only 400,000 will make it inside meaning 600,000 people will be left disappointed.
Mourners have also been joining the queue to attend the lying in state, opening at 5pm tonight. Government guidance says the queue is expected to be very long, with people standing for ‘many hours, possibly overnight’.
The queuing infrastructure for the Queen’s lying in state is 10 miles in length, it is understood. This includes 6.9 miles from Victoria Tower Gardens to Southwark Park, with a further three miles inside Southwark Park.
The Queen arrived at the palace last night to tears and cheers from the crowds who stood in the rain to welcome her home after her death at Balmoral last Thursday. The route from RAF Northolt to the palace was packed.
There was a wave of lights as many raised their mobile phones in the air to film the hearse as it passed. As the hearse drove through the gates, Charles could be seen bowing his head with Harry and Meghan stood behind.
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