The King will make a televised address to the nation and the Commonwealth, which he will have pre-recorded earlier in the day. The prime minister and senior government officials will attend a public memorial service at St Paul’s Cathedral. The King says royal mourning, observed by the royal family, their households and ceremonial troops, will last up to seven days after the funeral, which is expected, but not yet confirmed, on Monday 19 September. The government is expected to announce that the day of the funeral will be a public holiday and a day of national mourning. Map According to the official plans – codenamed London Bridge – Thursday, the day of the Queen’s death, was to be D-day or D+0, but this was changed due to the late announcement.
D+1 (Saturday, September 10)
The accession council meets at St James’s Palace to formally declare Charles as the new sovereign. The privy council meets first without the King to declare him the new monarch. The King then holds his first privy council, accompanied by Camilla, the new queen, and William, who are also privy councillors, and makes his personal declaration and oath. Proclamations are made in the City of London. Charles will have an audience with the prime minister and the cabinet. The Queen’s coffin remains at Balmoral.
D+2 (Sunday September 11)
Announcements to the devolved nations are expected to be made simultaneously at midday in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. The Queen’s coffin is expected to be taken by hearse from Balmoral to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh to lie in state until the following day.
D+3 (Monday September 12)
A ceremonial procession is expected along the Royal Mile to St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. It is believed there will be a condolence offer at Westminster. The King will embark on visits to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the coming days as part of Operation Spring Tide.
D+4 (Tuesday, September 13)
The Queen’s coffin is expected to be flown to London and laid to rest at Buckingham Palace. A rehearsal for the ceremonial procession will take place in London.
D+5 (Wednesday, September 14)
This will be the first major ceremony in London as the Queen’s coffin is carried in a gun carriage from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall to lie in state. A short service inside Westminster Hall is expected to be attended by members of the royal family. The state lie begins, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to pass the coffin to pay their respects over the next five days. At some stage, senior members of the royal family are expected to stand guard around the coffin, a tradition known as the Princes’ Vigil.
D+6 (Thursday September 15)
The queen’s stay continues.
D+7 and D+8 (Friday 16 and Saturday 17 September)
The King continues with visits to UK nations and meetings in London. The Queen’s stay continues and is expected to end on the morning of her funeral.
D+9 (Sunday September 18)
Heads of state and members of foreign royal families are expected to begin arriving in London for the state funeral.
D+10 (Monday September 19)
The Queen’s state funeral is expected to take place at Westminster Abbey. Her coffin is expected to be carried in a gun carriage drawn by naval capabilities from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey, with members of her family processing on foot behind. The service will be televised and a two-minute national silence will be observed. After the funeral, the Queen’s coffin will be taken to Windsor Castle for a televised ceremony. The coffin will be lowered into the royal vault and her final resting place will be the King George VI Memorial at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. A private funeral will be attended by senior members of the royal family.
