Ceremonial procession and lying-in-state: What's happening today and how to watch
14 September 2022, 08:50
Wednesday marks D-Day +5, or D+5, in the plans marking the Queen's death.
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By now the Queen has made her final journey from Balmoral, arriving in Buckingham Palace last night.
On Wednesday she will begin a period of lying in state, allowing people from all over the country to come to the capital to view her coffin and pay their respects.
Here are all the details about what will happen on Wednesday.
Procession from Buckingham Palace
The Imperial State Crown and a wreath of flowers will be placed on top of the Queen's coffin.
At 2:22pm, a procession will take the late monarch from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where she will lie in state.
This time has been chosen so the procession reaches Westminster Hall at exactly 3pm.
Read more: Live updates: William and Harry to walk behind Queen’s coffin ahead of lying-in-state
The King will follow the coffin on foot, joined by his sons the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex in a poignant echo to the funeral of Princess Diana 25 years ago.
The trio will also be joined by the Queen's other children Andrew, Anne and Edward, as well as Anne's son Peter Phillips, her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of Gloucester and the Earl of Snowdon.
The Queen Consort, the Princess of Wales, the Countess of Wessex and the Duchess of Sussex will travel by car.
Once the procession arrives at Westminster Hall a service lasting around 20 minutes will be led by the Archbishop of Canterbury accompanied by the Dean of Westminster.
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How can I watch the procession?
The procession will travel via Queen’s Gardens, The Mall, Horse Guards and Horse Guards Arch, Whitehall, Parliament Street, Parliament Square and New Palace Yard.
There are a number of ways you can watch it.
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You can go to one of the ceremonial viewing areas along the processional route to see it in person.
They are:
- Green Park side of The Mall
- St James's Park side of The Mall and Horse Guards Road
- Horse Guards Parade ground
- Whitehall (West), Parliament Street (West), and Great George Street
- Whitehall (East), Parliament Street (East), and Bridge Street
The areas are open from 11am on Wednesday and capacity is limited, with people being admitted in order of arrival time. Bear in mind the tube stations around the viewing areas are likely to be extremely busy.
You can also watch at the screening site in Hyde Park.
The site opens at 11am, and there will be a number of large screens showing the procession.
Read more: Back home in Buckingham Palace: Queen's final night with her family before procession to Westminster
There are several entrances, shown on the map below.
Alternatively, if you want to watch the ceremony from the comfort of your own home, the procession is being broadcast on national TV and radio.
Lying in state
The lying in state opens to the public at 5pm today and will be accessible 24 hours a day.
Tens of thousands are expected to wait in the queue before walking past the coffin, which will be raised on a catafalque and draped in the Royal Standard, with the Orb and Sceptre placed on top.
It will be guarded at all hours by units from the Sovereign's Bodyguard, the Household Division or Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London.
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Metropolitan Police officers will be joined by volunteers and stewards to manage the queue, while toilets and water fountains are provided at various points along the route.
A wristband system will be used to manage the queue, with those waiting in line given a coloured and numbered wristband.
Lambeth Palace is also expected to arrange a multi-faith pastor service to provide support to those who need it.
Senior royals may also pay their own moving tribute, standing guard at some stage around the coffin - the tradition known as the Vigil of the Princes.
