The Queen's coffin is being pulled by 98 Royal Navy sailors for two miles across the streets of London as part of the late monarch's historic
Queen Elizabeth II's coffin leaves Balmoral for Holyroodhouse The coffin travels more than 100 miles to the royal Palace of Holyroodhouse in the Scottish capital.
Queen Elizabeth II's Complete Funeral Timeline
In addition to nearly a thousand members of the Royal Navy who took part in the procession, crowds lined the two-mile walk to Westminster Abbey to pay their final respects to Queen Elizabeth, who died on September 8 at the age of 96.
The history behind the Queen's hologram
The eight men are from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards which had a close connection with the Queen who held the position of company commander. At the time the British Army said the "very best soldiers" were chosen to carry out this solemn duty.
Soldiers from the Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, were chosen to lift the coffin during the service at Westminster Abbey and Windsor Castle. Although a senior officer took day-to-day control, the former sovereign's connection with her men was strong, and they paid tribute to her during the service.
Royal Navy sailors have the honour of pulling the State Ceremonial Gun Carriage bearing the Queen's coffin for two miles through the streets of London – a duty they have performed since the funeral of Queen Victoria in 1901.
En route from the hall to the abbey, the Queen's coffin was carried on a 123-year-old gun carriage as part of a procession led by the royal family, Palace guards and 138 Royal Navy sailors. They are known as the Sovereign's Guard and are in place to haul the carriage along with a white rope.
Thanks for signing up! Queen Elizabeth II's coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault at St George's Chapel, Windsor, after a state funeral on Monday. The Queen's coffin was placed on a marble slab in a section of the chapel known as the Quire, which was then lowered into the vault.
The steeds' panic threatened to topple the coffin off the carriage, so the sailors had to step in to carry the Queen's coffin - therefore enshrining a new tradition that continues at state funerals today.
Lead-lined coffins slow the body's decomposition by keeping moisture out of the casket. Lead does not decay and so remains airtight, preventing decomposition, but also any smells and gases from being released; not something you want if multiple Royals are sharing a vault or may be moved in the future.
Several traditional accouterments were present during Queen Elizabeth II's funeral service at Westminster Abbey in London on Monday, including the Imperial State Crown as well as the Sovereign's Sceptre and the Sovereign's Orb, which were also placed atop the late monarch's coffin.
The note on top of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin during her funeral on Monday was a handwritten message from her son, King Charles III. The message read: “In loving and devoted memory. Charles R”. The “R” in King Charles' title refers to “Rex,” which is Latin for king.
On a wreath atop the coffin, a handwritten note read, "In loving and devoted memory," and was signed Charles R — for Rex, or king. Also atop of the coffin was the Imperial State Crown, a 2.3-pound crown worn by the queen after her coronation in 1953.
Due to the lead lining of the coffin, the casket would be very heavy. It has been estimated that it would weigh between 250kg and 317kg. Eight military bearers have been selected to carry the Queen's coffin on the day of her funeral.
A man has been charged after footage emerged of someone appearing to rush towards the Queen's coffin and catafalque. The incident, which happened at around 10pm on Friday, shocked mourners who were paying their respects to the Queen in Westminster Hall. The live feed from inside the hall cut away for a brief period.
George's Chapel in Windsor. There, there was a Committal Service open to the queen's past and present staff. Then, her coffin was lowered into the vault. There was another private burial service in the evening attended by the royal family and close acquaintances only.
In keeping with tradition, the gun carriage – which set off from Westminster Hall, where the Queen had been lying in state, at 10:44 a.m. – was being drawn by 142 Royal Naval Ratings, who are service personnel. The Queen's coffin was carried on the State Gun Carriage.
Queen Elizabeth II will be buried in an English oak coffin featuring brass handles that were designed more than 30 years ago, and lined with lead. It is estimated the coffin weighs between 250kg and 317kg.
After the Service, Her Majesty's Coffin will be borne through the Abbey, returning to the State Gun Carriage for the Procession to Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, arriving at 1300hrs. The King and Members of the Royal Family will again follow The Queen's Coffin in Procession.
After the funeral in Westminster, the Queen's coffin will be transferred to Windsor Castle, where there will be a committal service in St George's Chapel. She will be buried in the castle's King George VI Memorial Chapel, alongside her father, her mother, and her sister's ashes.
Alongside the King, Baron Parker - the Lord Chamberlain who was the most senior official in the late Queen's royal household - stood in front of the coffin and symbolically "broke" his wand of office by dismantling it into two halves and laying them on her coffin.
Yes, Queen Elizabeth II will be buried with Prince Philip.
His coffin is expected to be moved to King George VI's memorial chapel to join his wife following her funeral. It seems fitting that the Queen and Prince Philip be together forever especially as the couple were married for over 73 years.
"It was a rollercoaster of emotions," she said. "I felt nervous at first but it was natural after the first pull." The gun carriage was pulled by 142 Royal Navy sailors to Westminster Abbey and later on to Wellington Arch.
King Charles and other members of the Royal Family will walk behind the Queen's coffin before and after the funeral service at Westminster Abbey.
When the Queen's coffin is taken to her funeral service at Westminster Abbey it will be carried on a royal navy state gun carriage pulled along by sailors. This royal tradition has been a feature at every funeral for a monarch since Queen Victoria was laid to rest over 100 years ago.