United in grief: Warring brothers William and Harry walk side-by-side behind Queen’s coffin in historic procession to Westminster Abbey for her funeral
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Mourning brothers Prince William and Prince Harry today walked together behind the Queen’s coffin as it was carried into Westminster Abbey by the military bearer party for her state funeral.
The brothers, who again put aside their feud for a united front to remember their late grandmother, were then joined by their respective wives – as well as two of William’s children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla walked immediately behind the Queen’s coffin, followed by Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
Also in the party were William and Kate, while George and Charlotte walked with their parents side-by-side in formation, followed by their uncle and aunt Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and other royal family members.
The royal family were among the 2,000 people gathered for the funeral, before a committal service at Windsor Castle. The service follows the Queen’s lying in state period at Westminster Hall, which ended at 6.30am.
The day marks the climax of the biggest security operation the UK has ever seen, surpassing the operation for the Platinum Jubilee weekend and the London 2012 Olympics, which saw up to 10,000 police officers on duty per day.
King Charles III walks to to Westminster Abbey in front of Prince William and Prince Harry at Westminster Abbey this morning
Prince Harry stands while other members of the Royal Family salute ahead of the state funeral of the Queen this morning
Prince Harry, Prince Andrew and other members of the Royal Family walk to Westminster Abbey this morning
Members of the Royal Family watch as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is placed on a gun carriage this morning
Prince William and Prince Harry next to Peter Phillips as they arrive at Westminster Abbey in London this morning
The Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex walk to Westminster Abbey this morning on the day of the state funeral
Prince William and Prince Harry next to Peter Phillips as they arrive at Westminster Abbey in London this morning
Prince William and Prince Harry stand next to each other on the day of the state funeral for the Queen this morning
Princes William and Harry walk side-by-side behind the Queen’s coffin in the procession towards Westminster Abbey today
Members of the Royal Family walk behind the Queen’s coffin in the procession towards Westminster Abbey today
Prince Andrew, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward walk behind the Queen’s coffin in Westminster today
The Queen’s coffin was taken in a grand military procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey for the funeral at 11am.
Before the service, conducted by the Very Rev David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster, the tenor bell will be tolled every minute for 96 minutes, reflecting the years of the Queen’s life.
Heads of state, prime ministers and presidents, members of European royal families and key figures from public life have gathered at the abbey.
But invitations were not sent to Russia and Belarus due to the invasion of Ukraine, while Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, Myanmar’s military junta and Syria’s Bashar Assad were also excluded.
The Queen’s Piper, Warrant Officer Class 1 (Pipe Major) Paul Burns, will play the traditional lament Sleep, Dearie, Sleep after The Last Post, two minutes’ silence, Reveille and the national anthem.
During the service the King and the Queen Consort will be sitting in the ornate Canada Club chairs, with Camilla next to the Princess Royal, then Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, then the Duke of York and then the Earl and Countess of Wessex in the front row of the south lantern.
Prince William and Prince Harry, behind King Charles III outside Westminster Hall for the state funeral this morning
Prince William and Prince Harry, behind King Charles III outside Westminster Hall for the state funeral this morning
Prince William and Prince Harry, behind King Charles III outside Westminster Hall for the state funeral this morning
Across the aisle will be the Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, and then Peter Phillips and Zara and Mike Tindall.
Directly behind the King will be the Duke of Sussex with the Duchess of Sussex behind Camilla. Meghan will be sitting next to Princess Beatrice.
US President Joe Biden will be 14 rows back on the south transept behind the Polish leader and in front of the Czech Republic. The First Lady will be next to Switzerland’s representative.
Other heads of state including French President Emmanuel Macron were also in the abbey, while senior British politicians including Prime Minister Liz Truss, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and former prime ministers Boris Johnson, David Cameron and Theresa May were among those taking their seats.
The funeral will be broadcast live at around 125 cinemas and several cathedrals in the UK, and on a big screen in Holyrood Park in front of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh.
At 12.15pm, the coffin will be taken in procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch and then travel to Windsor.
Kate Middleton arrives with Prince George and Princess Charlotte at Westminster Abbey for the state funeral this morning
Kate Middleton arrives with Prince George and Princess Charlotte at Westminster Abbey for the state funeral this morning
The Princess of Wales arrives ahead of the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey this morning
Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince George of Wales arrive at Westminster Abbey today
The hearse will then 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 at 4pm.
The Dean of Windsor will conduct the service, with prayers said by the Rector of Sandringham, the Minister of Crathie Kirk and the Chaplain of Windsor Great Park.
The chapel’s choir will sing and after the penultimate hymn, the imperial state crown, the orb and the sceptre will be moved from the Queen’s coffin to the altar.
After the final hymn, the King will place the Queen’s Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on the coffin, while the Lord Chamberlain breaks his Wand of Office and places it on the coffin.
The Dean of Windsor will say a psalm and the Commendation while the Queen’s coffin is lowered into the royal vault.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrives at Westminster Abbey for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II this morning
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex walks outside the Westminster Abbey on the day of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral today
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrives at Westminster Abbey for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II this morning
After this, the Sovereign’s Piper will play a lament and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will pronounce the blessing, before the congregation sings the national anthem.
Ahead of the service, Mr Welby said: ‘We come together to give thanks for a long life, lived in service to her people and her saviour, Jesus Christ.’
Later in the evening, there will be a private interment service with senior members of the royal family, where the Queen will be reunited with her beloved husband the Duke of Edinburgh.
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.
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