Queen Elizabeth’s funeral procession travels to Windsor

Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral has come to a close with the grieving royal family, world leaders and representatives of the UK among those in attendance.

The funeral procession travelled from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch, where the coffin was placed in the state hearse for the journey to St George’s Chapel in Windsor.

Before leaving the abbey state trumpeters from the Household Cavalry sounded the Last Post following the Archbishop of Canterbury’s commendation over the queen’s coffin and a blessing pronounced by the Dean of Westminster.

A single toll from Big Ben signalled the start of the service at Westminster Abbey, where kings and queens have been crowned since 1066, and where the new monarch was sitting surrounded by the royal family he now leads.

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Tens of thousands filled the capital to pay their last respects just a few hours after the last person had filed past the queen’s coffin, bringing to a close the symbolic ritual.

All public viewing areas for the funeral procession in the capital were full by just after 9am.

The crowd along the Mall broke into applause and cheers after the queen’s coffin passed them and circled round the Queen Victoria memorial outside Buckingham Palace.

Members of the royal family, including the king, remained expressionless as they marched behind, while other members of the royal family, including the Princess of Wales looked on at the crowds as they passed them in vehicles.

Once the coffin reached Buckingham Palace, members of staff at the palace bowed and curtsied at the coffin and members of the royal family as they made their way past.

The day marks the climax of what is being regarded as the biggest security operation the UK has seen, surpassing the operation for the platinum jubilee weekend and the London 2012 Olympics, which saw up to 10,000 police officers on duty per day.

[ World leaders gather in London ahead of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral ]

Heads of state, prime ministers and presidents, members of European royal families and key figures from public life gathered at the abbey.

But invitations were not sent to Russia and Belarus due to the invasion of Ukraine, while Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, Myanmar’s military junta and Syria’s Bashar Assad were also excluded.

The queen’s piper, Warrant Officer Class 1 (Pipe Major) Paul Burns, played the traditional lament Sleep, Dearie, Sleep after The Last Post, two minutes’ silence, Reveille and the national anthem.

During the service the king and the queen consort sat in the ornate Canada Club chairs, with Camilla next to princess Anne, her husband vice admiral Timothy Laurence, then prince Andrew and prince Edward with Sophie of Wessex in the front row of the south lantern.

Across the aisle William and Kate sat with George and Charlotte, and then Peter Phillips and Zara and Mike Tindall.

Directly behind the king Harry and Meghan sat next to Princess Beatrice.

[ Long connection between queen and public ends with closure of Westminster Hall doors ]

US president Joe Biden was 14 rows back on the south transept behind the Polish leader and in front of the Czech Republic. The First Lady will be next to Switzerland’s representative.

Other heads of state including French president Emmanuel Macron were also in the abbey, while senior British politicians including UK prime minister Liz Truss, Labour leader Keir Starmer and former prime ministers Boris Johnson, David Cameron and Theresa May were among those taking their seats.

[ Widespread closures in Northern Ireland for queen’s funeral ]

The hearse will travel in procession to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle via the Long Walk, after which a televised committal service will take place in St George’s Chapel at 4pm.

The Very Rev, David John Conner, Dean of Windsor will conduct the service, with prayers said by the Rector of Sandringham, the Minister of Crathie Kirk and the Chaplain of Windsor Great Park.

The chapel’s choir will sing and after the penultimate hymn, the imperial state crown, the orb and the sceptre will be moved from the queen’s coffin to the altar.

After the final hymn, the king will place the queen’s Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on the coffin, while the Lord Chamberlain breaks his Wand of Office and places it on the coffin.

Dean Conner will say a psalm and the Commendation while the queen’s coffin is lowered into the royal vault.

After this, the queen’s piper will play a lament and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will pronounce the blessing before the congregation sings the national anthem.

Before the service, Mr Welby said: “We come together to give thanks for a long life, lived in service to her people and her Saviour, Jesus Christ.”

Later in the evening, there will be a private interment service with senior members of the royal family, where the queen will be reunited with her beloved husband the Duke of Edinburgh.

The queen’s final resting place will be the King George VI memorial chapel, an annex to the main chapel where her mother and father were buried, along with the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret.

Philip’s coffin will move from the royal vault to the memorial chapel to join the queen’s.