Her son Charles, the new king, walked behind the coffin along with his siblings, while Princes William and Harry walked side by side.
Cloaked by the Royal Standard and adorned by her crown, the queen’s coffin was flanked by uniformed soldiers along a ceremonial route lined by flags and vast crowds in the British capital, with Big Ben tolling and guns firing each minute.
Hundreds of thousands of mourners from across the country will then have their final chance to file past at Westminster Hall and say goodbye to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
Here’s what to know for Wednesday:
- The queen’s coffin was taken in a gun carriage procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall on Wednesday afternoon.
- Princes William and Harry joined their father, the queen’s other children and more royals in following behind the queen’s procession.
- A short service will be led by Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury — the head of the Church of England and the ceremonial leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion — assisted by the Dean of Westminster, David Hoyle.
- Later Wednesday, the public will start filing past the queen’s coffin to pay their final respects, with hundreds of thousands expected to say their farewells during the following days.
President Joe Biden spoke with King Charles III to offer his condolences on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the White House said in a readout Wednesday.
“The President 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 White House said.
Biden also “conveyed his wish to continue a close relationship with the King,” the statement added.
