The Queen’s funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey on September 19, it has been announced. The state funeral for Her Majesty, who died on Thursday, will begin at 11am at the church in central London. Further details were confirmed on Saturday about the carefully choreographed plans which will include a four-day stay at Westminster Hall from Wednesday. The Queen’s oak coffin – which lies in the ballroom at Balmoral Castle – will be driven to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh on Sunday, on a slow six-hour journey by hearse, to allow mourners gathered in towns and villages to pay their respects. Read more: Prince Andrew, Princess Anne and Prince Edward make first public appearance since Queen’s death A Union Flag flies at half-mast atop Westminster Abbey. (Getty) On Monday, the coffin will be taken from Holyroodhouse in procession to St Giles Cathedral, where it will lie in state until Tuesday, before being flown by RAF plane to London. The Queen will remain in state for “four clear days” at Westminster Hall, arriving there by 6.30am on Wednesday. on the morning of her funeral next Monday, a senior palace official said. The public will be able to apply to view the late monarch’s coffin – and more details on how the public can attend will be announced in the coming days. 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. The spokesman said: “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.” Read more: Moment sports fans sing God Save the King for first time in 70 years Mourners are seen leaving St Paul’s Cathedral after a service of prayer and reflection for the Queen on Friday. (Getty) Members of the public gather at Buckingham Palace to mourn the Queen. (Getty) Westminster Abbey has said it will be closed to visitation and worship while it prepares for the Queen’s funeral. Announcing the news on Twitter, a statement read: “Buckingham Palace has announced that Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey at 11am. on Monday, September 19. The story continues “As a royal church, the Abbey had a special relationship with the Queen. “It was here that she married Prince Philip in November 1947 and her coronation took place in the Abbey in June 1953. “The Abbey will be closed to visitation and worship from Monday (September 12) as we prepare for the state funeral, which will be broadcast live on television, radio and the internet.”
