On 8 September 2022, Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, the longest-living and longest-reigning British monarch, died at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Her death was announced at 18:30 BST, followed by reactions from leaders around the world. She was succeeded by her eldest child, Charles III.
The Queen’s death set in motion Operation London Bridge, a collection of plans including arrangements for her funeral, and Operation Unicorn, which set protocols for the Queen’s death occurring in Scotland. The United Kingdom is observing a national mourning period of 10 days. A state funeral service will be held at Westminster Abbey on 19 September 2022 at 11:00 BST, followed by a committal service later that day at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The Queen will be interred in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at St George’s. The occasion of her state funeral will be a national bank holiday in the UK.
The Queen’s coffin, adorned with the Imperial State Crown and borne on a gun carriage of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, was taken from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall in a 38-minute military procession in which the King, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex took part.
The Queen’s coffin lies in state for four days on a catafalque in Westminster Hall until the morning of the funeral. Throughout this time, the public will be able to file past to pay their respects. In addition to the Imperial State Crown, the Sovereign’s Orb and the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross will be placed on the coffin.
