The Queen’s body will be flown from Scotland to lie in state at Westminster Hall for “four clear days”, from 14 September until 6.30am. on the morning of the funeral, to allow the public to pay their respects. Earlier on Saturday King Charles III declared the date of the state funeral a public holiday across the UK. The coffin carrying the Queen’s body – which lies at Balmoral Castle – will begin its journey to the abbey on Sunday, making a six-hour hearse journey to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. The journey to Edinburgh will take place at a slow pace to allow mourners in towns and villages along the route to pay their respects. Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said the “shocking” journey would give the public a chance to “mark our country’s shared loss”. From Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, the coffin will be carried in procession along the Royal Mile to St Giles’ Cathedral. After the service, which was attended by members of the royal family, he will remain in the cathedral for a period of rest until September 13. It will then be flown by RAF plane to Northolt Airbase and flown to Buckingham Palace and then to Parliament, where the Queen will lie in state in the historic Westminster Hall. In the coming days ahead of the state funeral, the coffin will stand on a bunker in the hall, guarded by troops from the Household Cavalry and Guards regiments, while members of the public will remain to pay their respects. Thousands of people are expected to pass the late monarch’s coffin during the period of repose. More details on how the public can attend will be announced in the coming days. From there, it is expected to be transferred to a carriage that will be carried by Royal Navy sailors to Westminster Abbey for the state funeral and then to St George’s Chapel in Windsor, where the Queen will be laid to rest. The coffin of Prince Philip, the Queen’s husband of 73 years who died in April 2021, is expected to be moved from the royal vault to Windsor to be buried with his wife. The arrangements for the coming days were announced by the Duke of Norfolk, in his role as Earl Marshal. A spokesman for the king said the monarch’s main focus will be leading the royal family and the nation into mourning in the coming days. Charles and Camilla will attend a presentation of speeches at Westminster Hall on Monday 12 September, attended by MPs, peers and members from the legislatures of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The King will then be joined by Liz Truss as she attends memorial services in Scotland on Monday, Northern Ireland on Tuesday and Wales on Friday, according to No 10. “While, in the coming days, the King will carry out all necessary state duties, his main focus will be on leading the Royal Family, the nation, the Realms and the Commonwealth in the mourning of Her Majesty The Queen. “This will involve meeting members of the public to share their grief,” the spokesman said.
