Members of the public queue on Westminster Bridge to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II
As preparations build for next week’s state funeral, members of the public are queuing for hours in London to pay their final respects to Queen Elizabeth II at her lying in state.
Here is how the United Kingdom plans to say goodbye to the late monarch.
– Thursday, September 15 –
The queen begins her first full day lying in state at Westminster Hall, with huge crowds lining the streets to pay their respects.
The 1,000-year-old building is open 24 hours a day until closing at 6:30 am (0530 GMT) on Monday, the day of the queen’s funeral.
The government has warned those waiting that “you will need to stand for many hours, possibly overnight, with very little opportunity to sit down”.
The queue stretched more than three miles (4.8 kilometres) early Thursday, following the River Thames into southeast London, passing Tate Modern museum and Shakespeare’s Globe theatre.
Prince William and his wife Catherine — the new Prince and Princess of Wales — will visit Sandringham, where the queen used to spend Christmas, to look at floral tributes.
Prince Edward, the queen’s youngest son, and his wife Sophie will visit Manchester in northwest England to view the city’s Book of Condolence.
King Charles III will spend the day at his country home, Highgrove, in southwest England.
Members of the armed forces hold overnight rehearsals for Monday’s funeral.
– Friday, September 16 –
Charles and Camilla visit Wales where a service is held at Cardiff’s Llandaff Cathedral and he receives a message of condolence at the Senedd, the Welsh national assembly building.
The visit to Wales completes trips to all four nations that make up the United Kingdom.
– Sunday, September 18 –
At 8:00 pm a minute’s silence will be observed nationwide to mourn the queen and honour her life of service to the country.
– Monday, September 19 –
The queen’s coffin is taken in procession to Westminster Abbey for a state funeral at 11:00 am expected to be watched by millions around the world.
Political leaders and heads of state including US President Joe Biden are expected to attend, sparking a major security operation.
After the funeral, the coffin is taken to Windsor, for a televised committal service at St George’s Chapel, with a private interment planned for later in the evening.
The queen will be interred at the King George VI memorial chapel, alongside her husband, Prince Philip, the ashes of her sister Princess Margaret, their mother, also called Elizabeth, and father, George VI.
