LONDON — Thousands of people gathered Wednesday to watch a procession to carry the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of Parliament, where she will lie in state until Monday.
Elizabeth died Thursday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. King Charles III was officially proclaimed the United Kingdom’s new monarch on Saturday.
Update 2 p.m. EDT Sept. 14: The queen’s coffin was draped with the Royal Standard, the Imperial State Crown and a wreath of flowers including white roses, white dahlias and a selection of foliage as it was transported Wednesday from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, according to Buckingham Palace officials.
Draped in the Royal Standard, Her Majesty The Queen's coffin is taken in Procession to Westminster Hall. pic.twitter.com/m19YFYQuWv
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 14, 2022
Elizabeth will lie in state at Westminster Hall until Monday, when her funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. local time (6 a.m. EDT).
Update 12:10 p.m. EDT Sept. 14: People began filing into Westminster Hall on Wednesday afternoon to pay their respects to Elizabeth as she lies in state.
The line to see the queen was about 2.5 miles long ahead of the hall opening to the public.
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN'S LYING-IN-STATE QUEUE UPDATE, 4:30PM, 14 Sept
— Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (@DCMS) September 14, 2022
Queue end currently near London Bridge
Forecast is sunny intervals
What3words: occupy.fired.farms
Tracker: https://t.co/MzGcxzskOI
Plan ahead: https://t.co/0Hjbs5ZHNO
Journey planner: https://t.co/XnDRCfkM45 pic.twitter.com/4sWchhkyrZ
Update 10:40 a.m. EDT Sept. 14: President Joe Biden on Wednesday offered Charles condolences for the passing of his mother, according to White House officials.
In a phone call, officials said Biden “recalled fondly the Queen’s kindness and hospitality, including when she hosted him and the First Lady at Windsor Castle last June.
“He also conveyed the great admiration of the American people for the Queen, whose dignity and constancy deepened the enduring friendship and special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.”
The president also said he hoped to continue to have “a close relationship with the King,” according to the White House.
Update 10:30 a.m. EDT Sept. 14: The royal family has left Westminster Hall following a service Wednesday to mark the arrive of Elizabeth’s coffin at the Houses of Parliament.
Officials said the line for people planning to pay their respects to the late queen was about 2 miles long following the service. The queen will lie in state at Westminster Hall until Monday.
Update 10:15 a.m. EDT Sept. 14: A service is being held Wednesday after Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin arrived at Westminster Hall, where she will lie in state until Monday.
Members of the extended Royal Family watch on as Elizabeth II is carried into Westminster Hall. pic.twitter.com/ftu4xleCSi
— Royal Central (@RoyalCentral) September 14, 2022
Queen Elizabeth II is Lying-in-State on the catafalque at Westminster Hall. pic.twitter.com/jg4slnKjGY
— Royal Central (@RoyalCentral) September 14, 2022
Update 10:05 a.m. EDT Sept. 14: The queen’s coffin has arrived at Westminster Hall following a procession from Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.
Elizabeth will lie in state at Westminster Hall until Monday to allow the public to pay their respects, according to officials.
Update 9:55 a.m. EDT Sept. 14: Queen Consort Camila; Princess Catherine; Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex; and the Sophie, the Countess of Wessex; have left Buckingham Palace for Westminster Hall, according to ITV News.
The Queen Consort, the Princess of Wales, the Duchess of Sussex and the Countess of Wessex have departed from Buckingham Palace by car for Westminster
— ITV News (@itvnews) September 14, 2022
They travelled in a cortege with police escort vehicles past the Grand Entrance at around 2.45pm https://t.co/ZkO0QOI0Pe pic.twitter.com/zzKl7AvFBp
Other members of the royal family, including Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry, are walking in the procession to carry Elizabeth’s coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.
King Charles III and his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, are walking with Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Princess Anne behind the late Queen's coffin
— ITV News (@itvnews) September 14, 2022
The Queen’s coffin was wheeled along The Mall on a gun carriage https://t.co/ZkO0QOI0Pe pic.twitter.com/j3v0i83Rj9
Update 9:35 a.m. EDT Sept. 14: Videos showed the procession as Elizabeth’s coffin left Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.
Queen Elizabeth II leaves Buckingham Palace for the final time.
— Royal Central (@RoyalCentral) September 14, 2022
Her coffin is borne by the Gun Carriage of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery to the Palace of Westminster.
The Imperial State Crown rests on the coffin. pic.twitter.com/AVzGgBE1ph
Following the coffin on foot is the The King, Princess Royal, Duke of York and Earl of Wessex.
— Royal Central (@RoyalCentral) September 14, 2022
The Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, the Duke of Gloucester, Peter Phillips, Sir Tim Laurence and Earl Snowdon also form part of the walking procession. pic.twitter.com/yqQoslKrMT
The King and his family walk in solemn tribute to Queen Elizabeth II pic.twitter.com/yE61IrsXTw
— Royal Central (@RoyalCentral) September 14, 2022
Update 9:25 a.m. EDT Sept. 14: The procession began just after 2:20 p.m. local time (9:20 a.m. EDT).
Officials said the Queen’s coffin will travel from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horse Guards Road and across Horse Guards Parade onto Whitehall, to Parliament Square and into Westminster Hall.
Update 9:20 a.m. EDT Sept. 14: Charles will lead the procession behind Elizabeth’s coffin on Wednesday. Also included in the procession will be Charles’ siblings, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward; and his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, according to The Guardian.
The procession is scheduled to leave Buckingham Palace just after 2:20 p.m. local time (9:20 a.m. EDT).
Update 9 a.m. EDT Sept. 14: Viewing areas for the procession to carry Elizabeth’s coffin from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of Parliament are full, London officials said.
Important update for those looking to view the procession for the Lying-in-State from the ceremonial viewing areas. pic.twitter.com/XbXD9iQJIE
— London Gov (@LDN_gov) September 14, 2022
The procession is scheduled to start just after 2:20 p.m. local time (9:20 a.m. EDT), according to officials.
What's happening today:
— Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (@DCMS) September 14, 2022
2.22pm: Procession of Her Majesty's coffin from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster
5pm: Her Majesty The Queen's Lying-in-State opens
Find out more about how, when and where to view:https://t.co/qd1lrLSKpG pic.twitter.com/3Xf2YBfPSO
Original report: According to The Associated Press, the procession for the late monarch, who died Thursday at her Balmoral estate in Scotland, is slated to begin shortly before 2:30 p.m. London time (9:30 a.m. EDT). A horse-drawn gun carriage will carry the coffin on a 38-minute journey to Parliament’s Westminster Hall, where the queen will lie in state until Monday morning, the day of her funeral, the BBC and Buckingham Palace reported.
Members of the royal family – including King Charles III and his sons, Princes William and Harry – will accompany the Imperial State Crown-adorned coffin during the procession, which also will feature a gun salute in Hyde Park and the tolling of Big Ben, according to the BBC. When the coffin reaches Westminster Hall, the Archbishop of Canterbury will lead a brief service that the royal family will attend, the palace said.
Beginning at 5 p.m. local time (noon EDT), “members of the public will have the opportunity to visit Westminster Hall to pay their respects to the queen,” according to the palace website. The public viewing will continue 24 hours a day through 6:30 a.m. Monday (1:30 a.m. EDT), the BBC reported.
– The Associated Press contributed to this report.