By James V. Ruocco
At Westminster Abbey, the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will be attended by world leaders, including President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden of the United States, French President Emmanuel Macron, Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, Denmark's Queen Margrethe II and heir Crown Prince Frederik, Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Irish President Michael D. Higgins and Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
Others in attendance include Commonwealth heads of state Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister of Australia and Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand.
Order of Events For the Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, U.K. Time
6:30 a.m. - The doors of Westminster Hall, located at the House of Parliament, the place where the body of the late Queen Elizabeth II has been lying in state, will close to the general public.
10:44 a.m. - The royal procession begins from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey. The state gun carriage will carry the coffin of Queen Elizabeth on a designated London route, accompanied by the royal band of marines and other musicians lined up through the streets with members of the royal navy and the royal marines. Members of the royal family including King Charles III, Prince William and the Princess Royal Anne, will follow the procession behind the carriage.
10:52 a.m. - The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II will arrive at the gates of Westminster Abbey and be carried inside for the official ceremony.
11 a.m. - The ceremony, led by David Hoyle, the Dean of Westminster, begins. It will include prayers and readings by both political and religious leaders including Liz Truss, the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
11:55 a.m. - Within the walls of Westminster Abbey and all across the United Kingdom, there will be two minutes of silence with silent prayers and recollections.
12:00 p.m. - The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will draw to a close with reveille, a lament by the Queen's piper and the singing of "God Save the King," the official national anthem of the United Kingdom. The coffin will leave the Abbey for yet another procession through the streets of London with tolls continuously from Big Ben.
1:00 p.m. - The coffin will arrive at London's Wellington Arch, where it will be loaded into a hearse. At this location, the royal family - King Charles III, Queen Consort Camilla, Prince William, Prince Harry, among others - will depart for Windsor castle, estimated to be about 20 miles west of Buckingham Palace.
3:06 p.m. - The state hearse will arrive at Windsor, to join a special procession up Albert Road. King Charles III, the Princess Royal Anne and other members of the royal family including Prince William will join the procession on foot to St. George's Chapel.
4 p.m. - At St. George's Chapel, the committal service will begin, conducted by the Dean of Windsor. It will conclude with a blessing from the Archbishop of Canterbury.
7:30 p.m. - The body of Queen Elizabeth II will be laid to rest in a private ceremony in King George VI Memorial at Windsor Castle. She will be buried alongside her husband, the late Prince Phillip.
More than two million people are expected to line the streets of London to pay homage to the late Queen Elizabeth II, who celebrated her Platinum Jubilee this June in the United Kingdom. Everyone in attendance will have opportunity to glimpse members of the royal family walking behind the monarch's coffin, throughout the funeral procession.
It is an opportunity for everyone to participate and enjoy.
No comments:
Post a Comment