Queen Elizabeth II's Funeral: What We Know

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth at the age of 96 on September 8, all eyes turned to Buckingham Palace for next steps regarding her funeral proceedings. “Operation London Bridge,” the code name for the the plans, will have been put into effect immediately following her passing.

Based on documents obtained by Politico in 2021 the first step was for Elizabeth’s private secretary Edward Young to info all high-ranking officials about the news of the Queen’s death. Once the family had been notified, every flag at Whitehall, where the British government is housed in London, would have been be lowered to half-mast. 

The Queen left Balmoral for the last time on Sunday, September 11, after her oak coffin sat in the ballroom at the estate where members of her family could pay their respects to the longest-reigning monarch. The journey from Balmoral to the Palace of Holyrood House in Edinburgh included a six-hour drive through Scotland.  

On Monday, September 12, the Queen's coffin will continue on to St. Giles’ Cathedral for a prayer service attended by King Charles III, the Queen Consort, and members of Scotish society. She is set to remain in Edinburgh until the evening of Tuesday, September 12 before arriving in London the following day, accompanied by Princess Anne. It is set to arrive at Buckingham Palace that same day.  

Finally, the Queen's coffin will travel via carriage in a silent procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, the oldest portion of the Palace of Westminster, where it will stay until the funeral. Once the coffin arrives at Westminster Hall, there will be a short church service lead by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Members of the public will be able to pay their respects to the monarch at Westminster Hall from September 15 until September 18 as she lies in state. 

When Will Queen Elizabeth II's Funeral Take Place?

Queen Elizabeth II's funeral will take place on Monday, September 19. The date will also be a national holiday around the nation. It will be held at 11 a.m. BST—that's 6 a.m. EST—with her coffin being taken in a procession from Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey.

The funeral will be broadcast around the world. If you're planning on getting up early to tune in, check out Marie Claire's guide on how to stream the funeral in the United States. 

Where Will Queen Elizabeth II's Funeral Take Place?

The official funeral service will be held at the iconic Westminster Abbey, where Her Majesty was crowned on June 2, 1953. During the service, there will be a two minute-silence held across the nation in remembrance of Her Majesty. The British government has declared a period of mourning that is expected to continue after the funeral service, which President Joe Biden is expected to attend.

Following the ceremony, a ceremonial procession will accompany the coffin to Hyde Park, where it will then be transferred from a gun carriage to an official state hearse. The late Queen will most likely be buried at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, more specifically in the King George VI Memorial Chapel. Both her father, the late King George VI, the Queen Mother, and her sister, Princess Margaret, are also laid to rest in the same place. The body of her late husband, Prince Philip, will also be moved to be alongside her. It’s been said that Windsor Castle was her favorite of all the royal homes.