The vigil—which will see Prince Andrew in military uniform for the first and only time this week—will be a final public moment of quiet reflection for the royal siblings ahead of Monday’s funeral…reports Asian Lite News
The world watched yesterday as the Queen made her final journey from Buckingham Palace, where she now lies in State at Westminster Hall as the public queue for hours to file past. And today, the Palace has shared more details of her funeral plans and what the next few days will look like for a family and a nation in mourning.
Ahead of the State Funeral on Monday September 19 at 11 a.m., the Queen’s four children will hold a final vigil on Friday evening at 7.30 p.m. for 15 minutes. The King, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward will stand at the four corners of their mother’s coffin alongside the troops from the Household Division of the British Army who are mounting a 24-hour vigil at the site.
The vigil—which will see Prince Andrew in military uniform for the first and only time this week—will be a final public moment of quiet reflection for the royal siblings ahead of Monday’s funeral.
Other events taking place ahead of the service include the King and Queen Consort hosting heads of state and official overseas guests at Buckingham Palace on Sunday in an occasion that was described by a Palace aide today as an “official state event.” The couple will also be in Wales on Friday—their final stop across the United Kingdom since the Queen’s death and a reminder of the fact that Charles was the longest-serving Prince of Wales in history.
Today the Earl Marshal, who is responsible for organizing the Queen’s funeral, described the “outpouring of grief, affection and gratitude from people in the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, and across the world.” “The King has asked me once again to pass on His Majesty’s and his family’s sincere gratitude for your continued support,” he said. “The Queen held a unique and timeless position in all our lives…The respect, admiration and affection in which The Queen was held make our task both humbling and daunting – an honour and a great responsibility.”
The Lying-in-State will end on Monday morning and shortly after 10.35 a.m, a Bearer Party found by The Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards will lift the Coffin from the raised platform and carry it from Westminster Hall to the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy.
Some 142 naval officers will pull the State Gun Carriage—which has been used for the funerals of monarchs since Queen Victoria in 1901—to the Abbey for the 11 a.m. service.
The Queen’s State Funeral will be conducted by the Dean of Westminster, with the Sermon and Commendation given by the Archbishop of Canterbury. After the Last Post sounds towards the end of the service there will be a national two minutes of silence. The Queen’s piper will bring the service to a close at midday.
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