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Queen makes final journey to Buckingham Palace before state funeral

Coffin received by her family in a private ceremony ahead of official lying in state at Westminster Hall

Queen Elizabeth II made a final journey home to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday night as her coffin was received by her family in a small private ceremony before being handed back to the nation for her official lying in state.

Led by the King, her children, grandchildren, and their spouses, gathered inside the palace’s grand entrance as her cortege arrived. Those present included the Queen Consort, Prince and Princess of Wales, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Outside the palace thousands of well wishers cheered as the state hearse, being used for the first time, entered the palace gates as darkness fell. The Queen had been consulted on the plans for the hearse, designed to allow the public to have a clear view of her coffin, and featuring her personal royal cypher.

The coffin was to rest overnight in the Bow Room, where the Queen had entertained foreign royalty, high-profile figures and dignitaries during her reign.

It was a rare moment of intimacy for her family, whose grief has been on public show, and will be so again on Wednesday during the ceremonial procession taking the coffin to Westminster Hall for her four-day lying in state.

There Charles, William and Harry will join other senior male royals and Princess Anne walking behind the coffin.

The Princess Royal had accompanied her mother as she left her beloved Scotland for the last time on the flight from Edinburgh, where mourners had queued overnight to pay their last respects as the late Queen lay at rest in St Giles’ Cathedral .

In a personal statement Princess Anne said: “I was fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest mother’s life. It has been an honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys.

“Witnessing the love and respect shown by so many on these journeys has been both humbling and uplifting. We will all share unique memories. I offer my thanks to each and every one who share our sense of loss. We may have been reminded how much of her presence and contribution to our national identity we took for granted.

“I am also so grateful for the support and understanding offered to my dear brother Charles as he accepts the added responsibilities of the monarch. To my mother, The Queen, thank you.”

The coffin was loaded on to The Royal Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, bearing the callsign “Kittyhawk”, the official callsign for any military flight with the Queen on board. It was most recently used to take humanitarian aid and weapons to Ukraine, and in the evacuation from Kabul, and had arrived at RAF Northolt at around 7pm, with the cortege then driving slowly to Buckingham Palace along the A40, the route lined by well-wishers in the evening rain.

Inside the palace, the King and Queen consort gathered with the Duke of York, and Earl and Countess of Wessex were also present. So, too, were the Queen’s grandchildren and their spouses, including the new Prince and Princess of Wales, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They were joined by Princess Margaret’s children, the Earl of Snowdon and Lady Sarah Chatto.

Earlier, the King had travelled to Northern Ireland for the first time as monarch . A flag-waving crowd, six-deep in places, greeted him and Camilla as they arrived at Hillsborough Castle, near Belfast.

Among his first tasks was a private meeting with the new Northern Ireland secretary, Chris Heaton-Harris, before meeting leaders of the five main parties across the political divide. In the Throne Room he accepted a message of condolence from the speaker of the Northern Ireland assembly. The royal couple later attended a service of reflection for the life of Queen Elizabeth II at St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast. Afterwards, he shook hands with the president of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, and though the meeting was informal, this marked the first meeting as a head of state for the King.

Addressing politicians at Hillsborough Castle, the King reflected how his mother “saw Northern Ireland pass through momentous and historic changes”. “Through all those years, she never ceased to pray for the best of times for this place and for its people, whose stories she knew, whose sorrows our family had felt, and for whom she had a great affection and regard,” added Charles, who in 2015 made a personal pilgrimage to the site of his great-uncle Lord Mountbatten’s murder in an IRA bombing.

He would, he pledged, follow the late Queen’s “shining example” as he resolved to “seek the welfare of all the inhabitants of Northern Ireland”.

London is preparing for huge queues for the Queen’s lying in state at Westminster Hall, before which her coffin will be taken in silent procession to Westminster Hall from Buckingham Palace on a gun carriage of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.

As Big Ben tolls and minute guns are fired from Hyde Park, senior royals will walk behind the coffin, including the King, Duke of York, Princess Royal, Earl of Wessex, Prince of Wales, Duke of Sussex, Peter Phillips, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of Gloucester and the Earl of Snowdon.

As a non-working royal Harry will, like his uncle Andrew, be wearing morning dress at the ceremonies. His spokesperson said: “Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex will wear a morning suit throughout events honouring his grandmother. His decade of military service is not determined by the uniform he wears and we respectfully ask that focus remain on the life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”

The coffin will be carried from the gun carriage to the catafalque positioned in the centre of Westminster Hall . A short service will be held, then Westminster Hall will be open to the public to pay their respects from 5pm.

The Queen had lain at rest at St Giles’ Cathedral for 24 hours before making the journey south to England. People queueing overnight to file past the catafalque had faced a wait of five to six hours.

The mood was sombre and reflective, save for a group of civil liberties protesters who gathered on the pavement opposite the cathedral entrance, holding blank sheets of paper and a blank banner and “protesting their right to protest”, following multiple arrests that have happened amid ceremonies for King Charles and the late Queen.

About 500 dignitaries from around the world are due to attend the state funeral. “This is the biggest international event we have hosted in decades,” a Whitehall source said. For most countries the invitation extends to the head of state plus a guest. It was a logistical task equivalent to organising “hundreds of state visits” within a matter of days, the source said. Invitations have not been sent to Russia, Belarus and Myanmar, sources said, while Iran will only be represented at an ambassadorial level.

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The Queen Leaves Buckingham Palace for the Final Time

The Queen has left Buckingham Palace for the final time, with her coffin now moved to Westminster Hall, where she will lie in state until the morning of her funeral on September 19. 

The new King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward, along with Prince William and Prince Harry, walked behind Her Majesty’s coffin—which was adorned with the Imperial State Crown—as it made its way down The Mall, before reaching the Palace of Westminster. A short service, also attended by the new Queen Consort, Princess of Wales, Duchess of Sussex, and Countess of Wessex, was held after Her Majesty’s cortège arrived.

The Queen’s coffin arrived at Buckingham Palace for the last time on the evening of September 13, after being flown on an RAF C-17 aircraft from Edinburgh to London. Today’s procession marked the last part of a four-day journey that has seen Her Majesty’s coffin moved from her beloved Scottish retreat Balmoral, where she died aged 96 on September 8, to Westminster Hall, accompanied by Princess Anne. 

“I was fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest mother’s life,” the Princess Royal said in a statement. “It has been an honor and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys. Witnessing the love and respect shown by so many on these journeys has been both humbling and uplifting.”

On September 11, Her Majesty’s coffin was conveyed by road from Aberdeenshire to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where it rested in the Throne Room overnight. Mourners lined the streets from early on Sunday morning for the chance to pay their respects, as the Queen’s last journey got underway. The hearse drove through the gates of the Scottish estate shortly after 10 a.m., giving the public its first sighting of the monarch’s coffin. It was draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland and decorated with a simple wreath of white flowers. The wreath includes dahlias, sweet peas, phlox, white heather, and pine fir, all picked from the Balmoral Estate. 

The following day, her coffin was moved from her official Scottish residence to St Giles’s Cathedral, Edinburgh, where the Queen lay at rest until Tuesday afternoon. Her four children—the new King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward—walked behind in procession as the cortège made the short journey across the Scottish capital. The streets of Edinburgh were lined with members of the public wishing to pay their respects. 

The Crown of Scotland, which dates back to 1540, was placed on top of the Queen’s coffin in St Giles’s Cathedral, ahead of a service of thanksgiving for Her Majesty. An evening vigil, attended by the King and other senior members of the royal family, was also held at the church. 

On arriving at Buckingham Palace on the evening of September 12, the Queen’s cortège was met with applause from members of the public gathered outside. Her Majesty’s coffin rested in the Bow Room overnight, before being moved to Westminster Hall. Members of the public are expected to queue for up to 30 hours for the chance to file past the Queen’s coffin and pay their respects, ahead of Her Majesty’s state funeral on Monday. 

See the procession in pictures below. 

A man sits on a bench in Ballater, Aberdeenshire, as he waits to view the Queen’s cortège. 

A tribute at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh on September 11. 

Members of the public gather beside a makeshift memorial in Ballater, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II’s hearse. 

On Sunday, September 11, the public saw the Queen’s coffin for the first time, as it was conveyed to Holyroodhouse Palace in Edinburgh. 

The Queen’s coffin, draped in the Royal Standard, departs Balmoral. 

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The Queen returns to Buckingham Palace one last time

'it has been an honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys', princess anne said after travelling with her mother's coffin.

The Queen’s coffin has returned to Buckingham Palace one last time ahead of the monarch’s lying-in-state tomorrow.

Mourners cheered and clapped as the state hearse carrying the Queen’s coffin arrived at the Palace gates.

Outriders stopped with their heads bowed at the end of the journey, while a police officer at the gate saluted.

The King and Camilla, the Queen Consort, along with other royals, met the coffin at the palace in private. It will remain at the palace on Tuesday night, in the Bow Room, before travelling to the Palace of Westminster in a large-scale procession tomorrow.

A Royal Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft had carried the coffin from Edinburgh to RAF Northolt in west London ahead of a journey through the city, travelling past locations including Lancaster Gate, Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner and Constitution Hill.

Rain poured as the plane touched down below dark skies, met by officers from the Queen’s Colour Squadron.

Its landing was witnessed by Prime Minister Liz Truss and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who stood in sombre silence in the drizzle among a delegation assembled to welcome those on board.

The flag atop the coffin was swapped out mid-flight, with the Royal Standard of Scotland displayed until now replaced with the monarch’s main Royal Standard.

Princess Anne, who has accompanied the coffin on its long journey from Balmoral, said: “I was fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest mother’s life. It has been an honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys.

“Witnessing the love and respect shown by so many on these journeys has been both humbling and uplifting.

“We will all share unique memories. I offer my thanks to each and every one who share our sense of loss.”

The coffin left St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, where the monarch lay in state for 24 hours, at about 4.20pm on Tuesday.

It was met with a royal salute as it arrived at Edinburgh Airport, with the Royal Regiment of Scotland forming a guard of honour as it was transported into the plane.

The plane carrying the Queen’s coffin was previously used to airlift people out of Afghanistan during the Taliban takeover last year.

The coffin will lie in state in Westminster for five nights , with the public able to visit the site 24 hours a day.

More than 26,000 people viewed the coffin during its stay in Edinburgh, with the Scottish Government forced to close the queue due to the huge numbers.

Crowds have gathered outside Buckingham Palace to pay their respects to the Queen as she is taken there for a final time.

Debbie Brailey, a 59-year-old retired bank worker from Exeter, is planning to camp out tonight. “I just wanted to come and say thanks, it is really obvious the love there is for her from across the world,” she said.

“I am camping out overnight so I’ll see her again tomorrow. I have never done anything like it before. I wanted to show my respect for her and it is the least I could do to show thanks for what she has done.

“I think it will be a very emotional day tomorrow, I think you will be able to hear a pin drop and there will be people everywhere. It is a huge, huge event, just a huge outpouring. I am just happy to be here and to know I was here, my last chance to say thanks.”

Sally Scott, 70, a retired journalist from Wimbledon who is also camping overnight, said: “People use the word awesome too much these days but I am completely in awe of her. She had such kindness and understanding.

“I am here to pay my deepest respects. When she comes past I think I might cry. We will all stand up. She is worth a night out in the rain, she was an extraordinary woman, there will be no one like her again.”

Sheila Nelson, who is retired and lives in Enfield, said: “It means a lot to be here. She’s been here really forever and I think she’s done a lot of good and she’s just such a well loved lady. She spent 70 years working and she worked right to the end. When she comes past I will probably cry.”

Belinda Gladwin from Cambridge and Claire Neavson from Lincolnshire, who are both farmers, also joined crowds outside the Palace. “We have come down just to pay our respects, she has always been there all of my life,” Ms Neavson said.

Ms Gladwin added: “We felt it was important to be here. We will never know another Queen. She speaks to us through the dark times and she speaks to us through the good times. When we walked through the gate [into the Buckingham Palace grounds] we felt really emotional.”

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The Queen's final journey to lying in state - how you can pay respects

The Queen's coffin will be taken from Buckingham Palace in a procession led by the King, reaching Westminster Hall at 3pm on Wednesday.

Wednesday 14 September 2022 14:28, UK

Thousands of mourners are expected to line the streets between Buckingham Palace and Westminster Hall on Wednesday to see the Queen's coffin moved in preparation for lying in state.

The journey is about 1,800m long - just over a mile - and takes in two of London's most famous thoroughfares, the Mall and Whitehall.

Here's our guide to the route.

The Queen's coffin will be taken from Buckingham Palace's Bow Room and placed on a gun carriage of The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery.

The procession from the palace is scheduled to start at 2.22pm.

The King and his siblings will walk behind the carriage, as will Princes William and Harry.

Camilla the Queen Consort, Kate the Princess of Wales, the Duchess of Sussex, and the Countess of Wessex will travel by car.

Other royals in the procession include Anne's son Peter Phillips, the Queen's eldest grandchild.

The Imperial State Crown and a wreath of flowers will be placed on the coffin.

A senior palace official said the silent procession will be "relatively small and personal".

To the sound of minute guns, the carriage will carry the Queen along the Mall, the grand avenue in front of her home since 1952, for the last time.

It was here, in the summer, that crowds had cheered the monarch as she appeared on the palace balcony during her jubilee celebrations.

At about 900m, this is the longest part of the route.

Read more: Route revealed for queue to see the Queen lying in state

The carriage will then turn right down Horse Guards Road and enter Horse Guards Parade.

With Big Ben tolling every minute, the procession will cross the great ceremonial parade ground, famous as the site of Trooping the Colour.

The pomp and pageantry of that event, with soldiers marching in their red tunics and bearskin hats, has marked the official birthday of the sovereign for over 260 years.

The Queen used to attend on horseback herself, but in recent years travelled by carriage.

Going through Horse Guards Arch and turning right onto Whitehall, the carriage will pass some of the great offices of government, including Downing Street, as it travels about 430m to Parliament Square.

It will also pass the Cenotaph, the monument to the nation's war dead, where for more than 60 years the Queen would lay a wreath on Remembrance Sunday.

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As Whitehall becomes Parliament Street, the famous view onto the Houses of Parliament opens up, with the medieval St Margaret's Church on the right and the gold-coloured Victoria Tower on the left.

The newly renovated Big Ben (whose official name is the Elizabeth Tower) looms large as the carriage passes over the junction at Parliament Square, and finally turns left to enter New Palace Yard at 3pm.

The Queen's coffin will then be taken into Westminster Hall, the oldest building in Parliament, as the King and other royals follow behind.

The Speakers of both Houses of Parliament, Black Rod and two of the Queen's most senior advisers, will lead the procession.

Draped with the Royal Standard and with the Orb and Sceptre on top, the coffin will be placed on a raised platform - the catafalque.

Read more on the Queen: In pictures: The Queen's journey back to Buckingham Palace Which shops will be open and which will be closed on the day of the Queen's funeral?

The Archbishop of Canterbury will conduct a service of about 20 minutes, assisted by the Dean of Westminster.

Members of the Sovereign's Bodyguard, the Household Division and Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London will guard the Queen as the lying in state begins.

It starts at 5pm on Wednesday and lasts until 6.30am on Monday.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to file past the coffin 24 hours a day before next week's state funeral at nearby Westminster Abbey.

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Mourners queue through the night to pay tribute to the Queen Lying in State

• Wednesday 14 September 2022 at 11:31pm

Those queueing say they wouldn't dream of missing the chance to bid farewell to Her Majesty - ITV News' James Mates reports.

Mourners are queueing into the night for a chance to pay tribute to Her Majesty, as the Queen's Lying in State opens to the public for the first time.

Mourners are slowly and silent filing past Her Majesty's coffin - some in tears - as thousands get one final opportunity to say farewell before her funeral on Monday.

Vast crowds gathered to witness first-hand the moment Her Majesty left Buckingham Palace for the very last time.

One mourner waiting at The Mall to witness the historic moment told ITV News: "I've been crying for days, and I know that when the gun carriage starts passing, I'll probably be a wreck, but it's okay."

As people settle in for a night of queuing friendships are being made, Shehab Khan talks to Brits waiting to pay tribute to the Queen.

Another added: "It's like a weird emotion keeps coming over you. One minute you're smiling at the memories, and then you're crying because it's a big loss."

As day turned to night, the queues were snaking across central London to the ancient hall, where hundreds of thousands are expected to pay their respects until the Queen's funeral on Monday.

King Charles III and his sons walked behind Her Majesty’s coffin during the procession to the hall, where many people have braved the queue for hours - with some even having camped out overnight.

People flew in from around the world, and travelled across the country to gather along the Mall, Whitehall and at Westminster for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch the Queen's casket pass by.

Her Majesty's children, the King, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex, accompanied her coffin on foot.

In the row behind were the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex and Peter Phillips, the Princess Royal’s son.

The last time Prince William and Prince Harry stood side-by-side in a royal coffin procession was behind the casket of their great-grandmother, the Queen Mother.

As children, they stood side-by-side as they watched their mother, Princess Diana’s, coffin pass by.

The brothers were today followed by the Queen’s nephew, the Earl of Snowdown, her cousin, the Duke of Gloucester, and her son-in-law, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

The Queen Consort, the Princess of Wales - who was wearing a brooch that belonged to Her Majesty - travelled behind the royals in the same vehicle.

The Duchess of Sussex and the Countess of Wessex followed in a separate car as they all journeyed to the Palace of Westminster, where the Queen will lie in state for four days before her funeral on Monday.

Placed on top of Her Majesty’s casket, draped in the Royal Standard, was the Imperial State Crown on top of a velvet cushion along with a wreath of flowers.

The wreath included white flowers along with foliage from the royal residences – pine from the gardens of Balmoral Castle, and lavender, rosemary and pittosporum from Windsor’s grounds.

As the coffin made its way to the historic Palace of Westminster, Big Ben tolled at one-minute intervals, while gun salutes were fired from Hyde Park by the Troop Royal Horse Artillery on the minute.

"She did not reign over us, she reigned for us", children's author Michael Morpurgo remembers the Queen with a special poem written for ITV News.

A number of people could be seen wiping away tears while many held up their phones to film as they watched the Queen's coffin pass by.

At one point, the procession poignantly passed by the statue of the Queen’s parents King George VI and the Queen Mother which overlooks The Mall.

Thousands spilled into public spaces across London, such as Hyde Park to watch the procession on large screens, while windows and balconies along Parliament Street were also filled with onlookers.

London’s City Hall confirmed that all dedicated ceremonial viewing areas for the procession reached capacity.

The Queen's coffin left in procession from Buckingham Palace at 2.22pm and arrived at Westminster Hall to cheers from crowds gathered around the area.

The King and the senior royals saluted the coffin as it was carried by a bearer party – eight soldiers from Queen’s Company 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards – into the Hall.

A short service was then led by the Archbishop of Canterbury accompanied by the Dean of Westminster.

The King and members of the royal family were present, as well as officials from the House of Lords, House of Commons, devolved Parliaments and Assemblies, along with the High Commissioners of the Realms.

Cries of “God save the King” could be heard as the King and the Queen Consort left Westminster Hall marking the end of the procession.

Four officers from the Household Cavalry – two from the Life Guards and two from the Blues Royals – have now begun the first six-hour vigil around the coffin, taking their places at the corner of the catafalque.

A double tap on the floor from the stick of the Officer of the Watch, who has command of the rotations, signalled the start of the vigil.

Mourners will be able to file past the Queen's coffin when her Lying in State opens to the public from 5pm, continuing until 6.30am on Monday, September 19 - the day of her funeral.

Officials expect the queue to stretch for about four miles along the River Thames.

It starts on the Albert Embankment by Lambeth Bridge and will continue along the South Bank to Southwark park in Bermondsey, south east London.

ITV News understands mourners could be waiting more than 30 hours and stewards could close the queue early if it gets too long.

A government spokesperson for the department handling the queue logistics - codenamed Operation Feather - told ITV News that stewards may have to turn people away if they are unlikely to get into the Hall before the Queen's coffin is moved for her funeral.

However, live updates will be provided regularly online showing wait times and detailing how how far back the queue is stretching.

The government has issued strict guidance on how mourners should behave inside the Palace of Westminster and urged them to check the list of prohibited items to "plan ahead and prepare appropriately".

"I'll always remember her absolute devotion and discipline" - Queen Rania of Jordan hails the Queen's dedication in an interview with ITV News presenter Mary Nightingale.

Ahead of the procession on Wednesday afternoon, the White House said US President Joe Biden had spoken with the King to "offer his condolences" and conveyed his wish "to continue a close relationship" with him.

"The President recalled fondly the Queen’s kindness and hospitality, including when she hosted him and the First Lady at Windsor Castle last June," a statement read.

"He also conveyed the great admiration of the American people for the Queen, whose dignity and constancy deepened the enduring friendship and special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom."

There were emotional scenes on Tuesday evening when the late Queen was brought back to London by plane and taken to Buckingham Palace for the final time.

As the hearse carrying the coffin began its journey from Northolt in west London, people stood silently by the road with some recording the historic moment on their camera phones.

"She's given so much, I just wanted to give her a little something back", ITV News' Geraint Vincent speaks to mourners in London.

On Wednesday, the presence of King Charles, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex in the procession sees the father and sons united in their grief for a mother and grandmother.

The last time King Charles and his two sons were seen together in public was at the service of thanksgiving for the Queen in St Paul’s Cathedral during the June Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

But on that occasion, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan were seated some distance from the King and Prince William on the other side of the aisle in the second row, behind the Wessex family and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

The Jubilee service at St Paul’s was the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's first public appearance alongside the Windsors since they stepped down as senior royals in 2020.

Prince William and Prince Harry have had a well-documented fraught relationship in recent years but the brothers put on a united front with their wives during a surprise mammoth walkabout on Saturday.

They arrived at Windsor Castle in the same vehicle along with Princess of Wales, Kate and Duchess Meghan, before viewing floral tributes and greeting well-wishers for around 40 minutes before the Prince of Wales hopped into the driver’s seat with his wife in the passenger seat, and his brother and sister-in-law in the back.

In his televised address to the nation on Friday evening, the King talked of his love for his youngest son and daughter-in-law, saying: “I want also to express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas.”

In the Duke of Sussex’s subsequent tribute to his grandmother, he said he wanted to honour his father at the start of his reign as King.

The remarkable life of the Queen remembered and the King's inaugural speech analysed in our latest episodes of What You Need To Know

In April 2021, Prince Harry and Prince William joined their father when they walked behind the Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin at his funeral.

The brothers were separated by their cousin Peter Phillips but he dropped back half a pace at one point so the siblings appeared closer together.

After the funeral service, the brothers could be seen chatting as they walked back up the hill from the chapel to the castle.

Queen's final journey - full route as coffin flown to London before 15-mile drive

Fans are expected to line the streets as the oak casket of Queen Elizabeth II continues its final journey towards London after flying 400 miles from Edinburgh Airport

• 21:35, 12 Sep 2022
• Updated 07:39, 13 Sep 2022

Crowds of thousands will turn out on Tuesday as Queen Elizabeth II ’s coffin continues on its final journey to London.

The oak casket will land at RAF Northolt after flying 400 miles from Edinburgh Airport.

And fans will line the streets for the 15-mile journey to Buckingham Palace , where Her Late Majesty will rest for the evening as staff pay their respects.

At 2.22pm on Wednesday, the coffin will be taken on a gun carriage of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery to the Palace of Westminster.

Accompanied by the sound of minute guns fired from Hyde Park by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, the cortege will make a trip past London landmarks.

It will travel via Queen’s Gardens, The Mall, Horse Guards and Horse Guards Arch, Whitehall, Parliament Street, Parliament Square and New Palace Yard.

The Queen will lie in state until 6.30am on the day of her state funeral on Monday.

Over a little less than five days, a million people are expected to visit Westminster Hall to pay their respects.

Queues could reach as long as five miles, while mourners are being warned to expect a wait of up to 30 hours.

Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan used a WhatsApp message to MPs to reveal the latest estimates.

Formal details of the queue – which will be open for 24 hours a day – will only be made public at 10pm tonight.

But some patriotic mourners dashed to London yesterday – more than two days before lines officially open at 5pm tomorrow.

Vanessa Nathakumaran, 56, from Harrow, arrived at noon yesterday.

The administrative assistant, who grew up in Sri Lanka before moving to the UK in the 1980s, said her great uncle, Sir Vaithilingam Duraiswamy, was knighted by King George VI.

Her daughter, Praveena, was an air cadet and once met the Queen.

Vanessa said she became interested in the Royal Family while working in London.

She added: “She was very devoted. She has done a service to our country, Britain, and also internationally and the Commonwealth.

“I respect her way of kindness, how she treats everyone equally, the religions and the communities. She sees everyone as equal.

“I really, really want to be part of it. I don’t want to miss it in case they control the crowds if (the queue) gets too long.”

Ms Nathakumaran is planning to have her daughters bring warm clothes and glucose bars to keep her energy up during the wait.

Her Late Majesty will be accompanied by the Princess Royal and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, on her journey from Scotland this evening.

At Edinburgh Airport, her coffin will be conveyed on to an RAF C-17 by a bearer party, while The Royal Regiment of Scotland forms a guard of honour.

At RAF Northolt, The Queen’s Colour Squadron will convey the coffin to the state hearse, where it will travel to Buckingham Palace via the A40, Eastbourne Terrace, Lancaster Gate, Bayswater Road, Marble Arch, Park Lane, Hyde Park Corner and Constitution Hill.

Transport bosses warn London will experience “unprecedented travel demand”. Tube stations will have to temporarily close to avoid overcrowding and passengers are urged to avoid Green Park station.

Network Rail, Transport for London and the Rail Delivery Group said: “As Her Majesty’s coffin travels to London to lie in state, it is expected that we will see unprecedented travel demand in the capital, especially from Wednesday, September 14.”

A service will run on the Elizabeth line between Paddington and Abbey Wood on Sunday to ease pressure on the network.

That part of the line, which was opened by the Queen in May, is usually closed on Sundays.

Meanwhile, large numbers are expected to line the streets in Belfast and Royal Hillsborough as the King and Queen Consort visit Northern Ireland today.

MORE ON The Queen The Queen's funeral Buckingham Palace Anne, Princess Royal King George VI Marble Arch Commonwealth Edinburgh Airport Transport for London Royal Family Horses

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The queen’s final journey: Mapping the plans for the coming days

In life, Queen Elizabeth II traveled a great deal , logging 285 state visits abroad. She is now on her final highly ceremonial journey — about 500 miles from her castle in Scotland to her final resting place in Windsor.

The queen’s upcoming

500-mile journey

Aberdeenshire

Holyroodhouse,

St. Giles’

lies at rest

The queen’s coffin will make

the 400-mile trip from Scotland

to England via Royal Air Force

Westminster

Palace, London

RAF Northolt

lies in state

St. George’s

Procession via

The Long Walk

Distances are approximate.

The length of some procession lines

was adjusted for visibility.

Source: Buckingham Palace

The queen’s upcoming 500-mile journey

The length of some procession lines was adjusted for visibility.

Palace of Holyroodhouse,

The queen’s coffin will make the 400-mile trip

from Scotland to England via Royal Air Force

Queen is interred

The plans have been in place for decades but the exact schedule is still subject to change.

The queen died in Balmoral castle, a royal estate in the Scottish highlands bought for Queen Victoria by her husband in the nineteenth century. Queen Elizabeth is said to have loved the sprawling countryside home, where she spent summers playing with her beloved corgis, horseback riding and going on nature walks.

From there, her coffin was taken to Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, where she lay in the famous Holyrood Palace, across from the Scottish parliament.

The Queen’s

body will move

to the Palace of

Holyroodhouse

in Edinburgh

she will move

The 16th century palace — Scotland’s official residence for the British monarch — contains the preserved living quarters of Mary, Queen of Scots, and is filled with elaborate tapestries and ornate furniture. It also boasts immaculate gardens and a collection of royal gems.

From Holyrood a procession took place along the capital’s royal mile to St. Giles’ Cathedral, which dates back to the middle ages and remains a popular tourist destination.

St Giles’s

Nat’l Gallery

Princes Street

The Meadows

After Scotland has paid its respects, the queen’s coffin was flown to London on Tuesday evening, accompanied by Princess Anne. The coffin arrived at RAF Northolt and traveled by hearse to Buckingham Palace, to rest in the Bow Room.

On Wednesday the queen’s coffin was taken in procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where she will lie in state for several days.

After the funeral service at Westminster Abbey on Sept. 19, the queen will be taken on a final procession down the Mall ending at Hyde Park Corner.

WESTMINSTER

The coffin will then move to Windsor Castle, where the queen spent weekends. There, the coffin will travel in a final procession to St. George’s Chapel, where she will be laid to rest next to her husband, Philip.

Casket of Queen Elizabeth II arrives at Buckingham Palace

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II returned to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening, making its way through a drizzly London as crowds lined the route for a glimpse of the hearse and to bid her a final farewell.

People parked their cars along a normally busy road, got out and waved as the hearse, with lights inside illuminating the flag-draped coffin, made its way into London. In the city, people pressed in on the road and held their phones aloft as it passed.

• Complete coverage of the Royal Family

Thousands outside the palace cheered, shouted "God save the queen!" and clapped as the hearse swung around a roundabout in front of the queen's official London residence and through the wrought iron gates. Her son, King Charles III, and other immediate family members waited inside.

The coffin traveled to London from Edinburgh, where 33,000 people filed silently past it in the 24 hours at St. Giles' Cathedral after it had been brought there from her cherished summer retreat, Balmoral. The queen -- the only monarch many in the United Kingdom have ever known -- died there Sept. 8 at age 96 after 70 years on the throne.

The military C-17 Globemaster carrying the casket touched down at RAF Northolt, an air force base in the west of London, about an hour after it left Edinburgh. U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace and a military honor guard were among those at the base for the arrival.

One who stood in the rain waiting for the hearse to pass, retired bus driver David Stringer, 82, recalled watching the queen's coronation on a newsreel as a boy.

"It's a great shame," he said. "I mean, I didn't think about her every day, but I always knew she was there, and my life's coming to a close now and her time has finished."

The coffin will be taken by horse-drawn gun carriage Wednesday to the Houses of Parliament to lie in state for four days before Monday's funeral at Westminster Abbey.

"Scotland has now bid our Queen of Scots a sad, but fond farewell," said Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. "We will not see her like again."

Charles had returned to London from Northern Ireland, where his visit drew a rare moment of unity from politicians in a region with a contested British and Irish identity that is deeply divided over the monarchy.

The new king is making his own journey this week, visiting the four nations of the U.K. -- England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Hundreds gathered around Hillsborough Castle near Belfast, the royal family's official residence in Northern Ireland, in the latest outpouring of affection following the queen's death. The area in front of the gates to the castle was carpeted with hundreds of floral tributes.

Charles and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, got out of their car to wave to the crowd and sometimes used both hands to reach out to villagers, including schoolchildren in bright blue uniforms. Charles even petted a corgi -- famously his late mother's favorite breed of dog -- held up by one person, and some chanted "God save the king!"

"Today means so much to me and my family, just to be present in my home village with my children to witness the arrival of the new king is a truly historic moment for us all," said Hillsborough resident Robin Campbell.

While there was a warm welcome in Hillsborough, the British monarchy draws mixed emotions in Northern Ireland, where there are two main communities: mostly Protestant unionists who consider themselves British and largely Roman Catholic nationalists who see themselves as Irish.

That split fueled three decades of violence known as "the Troubles" involving paramilitary groups on both sides and U.K. security forces, in which 3,600 people died. The royal family was touched personally by the violence: Lord Louis Mountbatten, a cousin of the queen and a much-loved mentor to Charles, was killed by an Irish Republican Army bomb in 1979.

A deep sectarian divide remains, a quarter century after Northern Ireland's 1998 peace agreement.

For some Irish nationalists, the monarch represents an oppressive foreign power. But others acknowledge the queen's role in forging peace. On a visit to Northern Ireland in 2012, she shook hands with Sinn Fein deputy leader Martin McGuinness, a former IRA commander -- a once-unthinkable moment of reconciliation. On Tuesday the new king shook hands with Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle O'Neill.

In a sign of how far Northern Ireland has come on the road to peace, representatives of Sinn Fein attended commemorative events for the queen and meeting the king on Tuesday.

Alex Maskey, a Sinn Fein politician who is speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, said the queen had "demonstrated how individual acts of positive leadership can help break down barriers and encourage reconciliation."

Charles responded that she had tried to play a role "in bringing together those whom history had separated, and in extending a hand to make possible the healing of long-held hurts."

He said he would draw on his mother's "shining example" and "seek the welfare of all the inhabitants of Northern Ireland."

Still, not everyone was welcoming the new king.

On the Falls Road in Belfast, a nationalist stronghold, several walls are decorated with murals of Bobby Sands, an IRA member who died while on a hunger strike in prison in 1981, and others killed in the Troubles.

"No, he's not our king. Bobby Sands was our king here," said 52-year-old Bobby Jones. "Queen never done nothing for us. Never did. None of the royals do."

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Irish leaders attended a service of reflection at St. Anne's Cathedral in Belfast despite tense relations between Dublin and London over Brexit. Since Britain left the European Union in 2020, the U.K. and the EU have been wrangling over trade rules for Northern Ireland, the only part of the U.K. that shares a border with a member of the bloc.

Before being flown to London, the queen's oak coffin was carried from St. Giles' Cathedral to the strain of bagpipes. Crowds lining the Royal Mile through the historic heart of Edinburgh broke into applause as the coffin, accompanied by the queen's daughter, Princess Anne, was driven to Edinburgh Airport.

"I was fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest mother's life," Princess Anne said in a statement. "It has been an honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys. Witnessing the love and respect shown by so many on these journeys has been both humbling and uplifting."

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King Charles unveils his first portrait since coronation at Buckingham Palace 

Britain’s  King Charles III unveiled a new portrait of himself at Buckingham Palace Tuesday.

The portrait, painted by British artist Jonathan Yeo, is the first official portrait of the king to be completed since his coronation, according to the royal family's X account.

In a video, Charles pulled a black covering, unveiling the large red portrait alongside Yeo. The king, 75, is wearing a Welsh Guards uniform in the piece and holding a sword. A butterfly hovers over his shoulder.

In a statement shared by the Royal Family, Yeo said he started working on the portrait when the king was still the prince of Wales, and that it "evolved as the subject’s role in our public life has transformed."

"I do my best to capture the life experiences and humanity etched into any individual sitter’s face, and I hope that is what I have achieved in this portrait," Yeo said. "To try and capture that for His Majesty The King, who occupies such a unique role, was both a tremendous professional challenge, and one which I thoroughly enjoyed and am immensely grateful for."

This isn't the first portrait Yeo has worked on for the Royal Family. Yeo completed paintings of Charles' father, the Duke of Edinburgh , in 2008, and his wife, Camilla , the then-Duchess of Cornwall, in 2014.

The portrait of Charles will eventually be exhibited in Draper's Hall in London.

The unveiling of the portrait comes two weeks after Charles returned to public duties following his cancer diagnosis a little over three months ago. Last month, Buckingham Palace said that the king’s medical team is “very encouraged” by the progress of his recovery but did not disclose any further details.

Breaking news reporter

Birthday portrait of Princess Kate among unseen royal photos going on display at Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is preparing to unveil previously unseen photos of the royal family in a new exhibition at the King's Gallery.

The display will trace the evolution of royal portrait photography over the last 100 years.

The exhibition begins with a 1923 engagement portrait of Prince Albert and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who later became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

Here's a look at some of the unseen images.

How many photos will be on display?

The exhibition will bring together more than 150 items by 40 photographers from the Royal Collection and Royal Archives.

Exhibition curator Alessandro Nasini said the display tells the royal family's story over the past century.

"We have analogue technology on one side, digital technology (on the other), monochrome, colour and a private commission and the official," Mr Nasini said.

"I think it gives the range … of the exhibition which goes from the very private to the very public, to the official."

Asked about his favourite shot in the collection, Mr Nasini pointed to a 1968 portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II taken by Cecil Beaton.

The photo shows the former monarch wearing a simple black cape against a stark white backdrop.

He said it "shows the queen, perhaps more as a woman, as the person who came up behind the monarchy".

Princess Catherine's milestone birthday

‌Princess Kate's 40th birthday portrait will be on display.

It will hang near an 1864 portrait of Alexandra, Princess of Wales, that it is said to resemble.

The wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales in 2011 will also be included.

It shows Prince William and Princess Kate sitting in the throne room at Buckingham Palace after their ceremony.

They are surrounded by their young bridesmaids and page boys, who had to be bribed with jelly beans by photographer Hugo Burnand to capture the image.

It's important to note that this photo has already been released by the royal family — it is not an unseen photograph. However, it will be on display for the first time.

A look back in time

One never-before-seen image from 1964 shows four royal mothers, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, Princess Alexandra and the Duchess of Kent, all holding their newborns.

The picture was taken as a thank you to royal obstetrician Sir John Peel, who delivered all four babies within two months.

Accompanying the image will be a handwritten letter from Princess Margaret to her sister, "Darling Lilibet", asking her to sign the print for them to gift to the doctor.

Other unreleased images in the collection include one from 1943 in which King George VI sits at a desk in the Royal Lodge at Windsor Castle, surrounded by his family.

Taken by Beaton, the image's purpose was to evoke "a sense of stability and hope for the nation" during World War II.

Coronation portraits

The exhibition also displays many iconic photos of Queen Elizabeth II, including her coronation portrait by Beaton.

The black-and-white photo shows the queen in full regalia in the Green Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace, in front of a painted backdrop of Westminster Abbey.

King Charles III's official coronation portrait in 2023 will also feature.

The Royal Collection Trust said that the vintage images cannot be on permanent display for conservation purposes.

The exhibition will run from May 17 until October 6.

ABC with wires

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Never-before-seen photos of Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret through the century unveiled

A new exhibition at Buckingham Palace is poised to reveal to the public for the first time a collection of intimate photos of the British royal family taken over the past century.

" Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography ," which opens Friday at The King's Gallery inside the royal residence in central London, will feature more than 150 vintage prints from the Royal Collection and Royal Archives that showcase "the evolution of royal portrait photography from the 1920s to the present day."

This will mark the first time most of the works will be on display.

The collection will be on show from May 17 to Oct. 6.

The exhibition comprises portraits of Queen Elizabeth II , her sister Princess Margaret and Princess Kate as well as several other members of the royal family, alongside never-before-seen letters and proofs from renowned portrait photographers.

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Queen Elizabeth II's first official sitting as monarch was 'deemed unsuitable'

This portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, who became queen at age 25 following the death of her father King George VI, was captured 20 days after her accession and a year before her historic coronation on June 2, 1953.

According to the Royal Collection Trust , this was her first official sitting as monarch, commissioned by the Post Office and Royal Mint. However, "the black taffeta evening dress, pose and choice of jewellery in this sitting were deemed unsuitable for the commissioners’ needs, prompting a second session."

Royal timeline: Princess Kate and King Charles' cancer diagnoses, other big moments over the century

Queen Elizabeth II and husband Prince Philip are seen on coronation day

Cecil Beaton, who photographed the royal family for over 60 years, was the official photographer for the queen's coronation.

This image showcases sheet proofs from the new monarch and her husband Prince Philip of Edinburgh during the coronation sitting.

Elizabeth's coronation dress was designed by Sir Norman Hartnell, and she also wore the state diadem, the St. Edwards Crown and the Imperial State Crown.

A signed coronation day photo was a gift for Queen Elizabeth II's mother

This photograph of Elizabeth and Philip from Beaton's sheet of proofs was selected for Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

The memento from the historic day was signed by the monarch herself, Philip and Beaton.

Photo of Elizabeth and Philip shows royal household's photo requirements

This 1958 photo of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in royal regalia was captured by Antony Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon, who went on to marry the monarch's sister, Princess Margaret, in 1960. (They divorced in 1978.)

According to the BBC , this proof "gives an insight into discussions with the royal household around approval and circulation." Among the notes under the image are "background must be kept light" and "please do not cut."

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King Charles III Unveils First Official Painted Portrait Since Coronation

The king, who was diagnosed with cancer in February but has since returned to public duties, unveiled the striking painting by Jonathan Yeo at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.

By Livia Albeck-Ripka

King Charles III on Tuesday unveiled the first official painted portrait of himself since his coronation just over a year ago — a striking oil painting in which he stares head-on against a backdrop of mottled red, pink and fuchsia hues.

The painting, by the renowned portrait artist Jonathan Yeo, was unveiled at Buckingham Palace, the royal family said on social media . Video showed the king tugging at a ribbon attached to fabric covering the towering work, which, as it dropped, appeared to give him a small surprise.

Mr. Yeo, who has painted the likes of David Attenborough, Idris Elba and the activist Malala Yousafzai, began the portrait in June 2021, when the king was still the Prince of Wales. It depicts him wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guards, of which he was a Regimental Colonel, with a butterfly hovering over his shoulder.

Much like that butterfly, the king’s “role in our public life has transformed,” Mr. Yeo said in the statement released on Tuesday by the royal family. “I do my best to capture the life experiences and humanity etched into any individual sitter’s face, and I hope that is what I have achieved in this portrait,” he said, noting that to try to capture the king was “both a tremendous professional challenge, and one which I thoroughly enjoyed and am immensely grateful for.”

The 7.5-foot-by-5.5-foot portrait was commissioned by the Worshipful Company of Drapers, a medieval guild of wool and cloth merchants that is now a philanthropy. It will hang in Drapers’ Hall, the group’s baronial quarters in London’s financial district, which has a gallery of monarchs from King George III to Queen Victoria.

The unveiling came just weeks after the king announced his return to public duties , nearly three months after he disclosed that he had cancer , bringing palpable relief to a country anxious about another wrenching change in the British monarchy.

Mr. Yeo previously told The New York Times that he had not learned of the king’s illness until after he completed the painting, which depicts his subject in vivid color with a contemplative yet commanding glare. Mr. Yeo has also painted the king’s wife, Queen Camilla, and his father, Prince Philip. Other subjects have included former Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain, the actors Dennis Hopper and Nicole Kidman and the media mogul Rupert Murdoch. He has said that the best portraits capture visual characteristics that remain relevant even as the person ages.

When it came to the king, Mr. Yeo told The Times that he had noticed physical changes in their four sittings together — during which time the king was going through a metamorphosis of stature.

“Age and experience were suiting him,” Mr. Yeo said. “His demeanor definitely changed after he became king.”

Livia Albeck-Ripka is a Times reporter based in Los Angeles, covering breaking news, California and other subjects. More about Livia Albeck-Ripka

King Charles and Queen Camilla host star-studded garden party at Buckingham Palace - best photos

The royal couple welcomed their vip guests to the sun-soaked event.

King Charles and Queen Camilla were in great spirits on Wednesday as they welcomed celebrity guests to Buckingham Palace . 

Hosting the Sovereign's Creative Industries Garden Party, the royals exuded elegance, with Camilla wearing a beautiful white coat dress with a matching hat  and her husband looking dapper in a grey morning suit with a pale pink waistcoat, which he accessorised with a black top hat.

 Many familiar faces joined the couple for the special event held on one of the lawns of the royal residence, wearing their smartest outfits and sharing their delight at being in attendance, as you can see from the best pictures from the big event…

King Charles and Queen Camilla were flanked by guards as they arrived at the celebrity-filled garden party on Wednesday afternoon, with the King in a grey morning suit and his wife smart in a white coat dress with matching hat and shoes. 

The party comes the day after the monarch unveiled an eye-catching new portrait by artist Jonathan Yeo that got royal fans talking . 

 DJ Clara Amfo donned shades in the sunshine as she enjoyed chatting with the Queen at Buckingham Palace, one of several honoured celebrity guests to attend the event.

Held this year for the first time, the garden party celebrates the thriving creative arts industry in the UK. Around 4,000 guests were invited, both those who work in front of the camera and those who make magic happen behind the scenes.

The Queen spent some time chatting with award-winning choreographer Dame Arlene Phillips , who used to be a judge on Strictly Come Dancing , one of the royal's favourite TV shows. 

 Actor and comedian Sir Lenny Henry beamed as he shook hands with Queen Camilla at the event. 

The aim of the party is to celebrate how cultural industries grow the British economy and showcase our culture to the world. 

Host of The One Show Alex Jones chatted amiably with the Queen as the presenter's husband, Charlie Thomson , with whom she shares three young children, looked on. 

 Love Island star Maya Jama looked fabulous in a stunning blue off-the-shoulder number for the star-studded event in the grounds of Buckingham Palace. 

Married couple and fellow presenters Tess Daly and Vernon Kay looked so smart as they met the monarch, with the Strictly co-host wowing in a fabulous gold dress for the special event.  

The One Show  star Roman Kemp wore a co-ordinating suit with the Queen as the duo enjoyed a conversation at the party. 

King Charles, meanwhile, could be seen enjoying a laugh with father-son presenting duo Bradley Walsh and Barney Walsh .

The King was also photographed walking around the grounds of Buckingham Palace during the party.

King Charles appeared to be in great spirits on Wednesday as he greeted his invited guests, raising his top hat before walking down the garden steps at Buckingham Palace.

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Buckingham Palace reveals Queen Camilla will buy no more real fur products

Buckingham Palace has revealed Queen Camilla will not buy any more real fur products.

Animal-rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) received a letter from the Palace saying the Queen “will not procure any new fur garments”.

Peta told the BBC it would be “toasting Queen Camilla with a glass of the finest claret” following the decision.

Managing director Ingrid Newkirk said: "It's right and proper for the British monarchy to reflect British values by recognising that fur has no place in our society.”

The late Queen Elizabeth II also indicated she would acquire no new real fur products in 2019, but did still wear the items.

Buckingham Palace’s letter to Peta also did not say whether Camilla would stop wearing existing items.

An International Fur Federation spokesman rejected the criticism of real fur, adding that the royals "should not be placed under pressure from animal activists".

A spokesman said: "It is the right of everyone to decide what to wear.

"Many people still buy fur as they prefer to wear something that's natural and sustainable, unlike plastic-based fake fur.

"We hope the Royal Family consider the environment when they decide what to wear - but freedom of choice is the key issue."

Earlier this year, actor Stephen Fry called for an end to the use of real fur in the bearskin caps worn by the King's Guard, who are seen on duty outside Buckingham Palace.

The Ministry of Defence said the bear fur used was from "legal and licensed hunts".

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