Latest: Queen’s coffin taken to Wellington Arch after state funeral

VIPs, dignitaries and mourners gathered in the capital to say a final farewell to the late monarch, who died at Balmoral in Scotland on September 8 aged 96.

1pm

The head of the procession leading the Queen’s coffin through London has reached the Wellington Arch monument at Hyde Park Corner, where the coffin will be transferred on to the state hearse.

The mass of military bands and personnel slowly marched into the green space around the imposing monument.

According to English Heritage, the arch was an original entrance to Buckingham Palace, later becoming a victory arch commemorating the Duke of Wellington’s defeat of Napoleon.

The arch is topped by a large bronze sculpture, depicting the angel of peace descending on the four-horsed chariot of war.

12.57pm

The State Gun Carriage carries the Queen’s coffin after her funeral:

12.54pm

Mourners held a two-minute silence outside the doors of Westminster Abbey, where the Queen’s funeral was held, shortly before noon.

12.51pm

The Queen’s coffin has been borne through Horse Guards Parade, where Her Majesty presided over scores of Trooping the Colour ceremonies during her reign.

It has now has entered The Mall as the funeral procession continues towards Buckingham Palace.

The sombre scene is bathed in sunshine, with the accompanying music of the military bands punctuated by the chimes of Big Ben.

12.47pm

The crowd in Whitehall broke into a chorus of “hip, hip, hooray” and a round of applause as the procession drew past and people began to move on.

12.46pm

Young children sat on their parents’ shoulders to watch as the procession made its way along Constitution Hill.

Camera phones attached to selfie sticks were held up by some members of the crowd to capture the cortege when it passed.

Some mourners lining the barriers along the route clutched red roses as the sound of the military bands drew closer.

12.41pm

As the procession left Westminster Abbey for Wellington Arch, members of the royal family watched on.

The Queen Consort, the Duchess of Sussex, the Princess of Wales and the Countess of Wessex were seen looking sombre as the King and his siblings marched off.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte stood in front of their mother, with George looking directly at the coffin as it passed.

Meanwhile, the gun salutes being fired every minute from Hyde Park continue to punctuate a silent atmosphere at nearby Wellington Arch.

A handful of military figures are waiting by the monument for the arrival of the Queen’s funeral procession.

12.40pm

A member of the Gurkha regiment on Horse Guards Road appeared to be unwell during the Queen’s funeral ceremony.

The man collapsed and two soldiers brought over a stretcher, but he was able to continue after drinking a bottle of water.

The crowd cheered as he finished drinking and the stretcher was taken away.

12.39pm

Every head in the crowd turned as one, as the Queen’s coffin was carried through Whitehall and the historic surroundings, past the Cabinet War Rooms, past the Cenotaph and past Downing Street.

A sea of smartphones greeted the funeral procession as it arrived in Whitehall, with the crowd descending into silence as the coffin came past.

As the Queen’s funeral procession moved past the Cenotaph in London, the King, the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex saluted the memorial to Britain and the Commonwealth soldiers killed in the First and Second World Wars.

12.37pm

The Duchess of Sussex was pictured leaving in a car following the Queen’s state funeral service at Westminster Abbey, as were the Princess of Wales and her oldest son, Prince George, and daughter Princess Charlotte.

12.35pm

Minute Guns are being fired in Hyde Park by The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, as Big Ben tolls throughout the duration the procession.

Ex-Service Association standard bearers, mustered by the Royal British Legion, flanked the Cenotaph on Whitehall and saluted as the Queen’s coffin moved past.

12.29pm

Thousands of people have lined South Carriage Drive to watch the hearse carrying the Queen’s coffin.

It is the first road the hearse will drive down on its way to Windsor following the funeral procession.

In some places the crowds were 30 people deep.

Mourners were seen waving flags and carrying flowers.

12.28pm

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police on Horseguards Road are followed by the Gurkha regiment, dressed in a dark green, red and black uniform.

There was a hush from the crowd in Whitehall as the funeral procession moved past the Cabinet War Rooms, the Cenotaph and Downing Street.

Some emerged from balconies and windows, clad in black, while those on the street craned their necks and clutched cameras as they awaited the chance to say goodbye to the monarch.

12.21pm

The Queen’s coffin, followed by the King, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, Duke of York and the Princess Royal, has begun its procession towards Wellington Arch after it was placed back on to the State Gun Carriage.

The route is being lined by the armed forces from Westminster Abbey to the top of Constitution Hill at the Commonwealth Memorial Gates.

Mounties of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police lead the procession followed immediately by representatives of the George Cross foundations from Malta, the former Royal Ulster Constabulary, and four representatives from the NHS.

12.18pm

The emotion of the occasion showed on the faces of the King and Queen Consort as they followed the Queen’s coffin from Westminster Abbey.

The Duke of York was seen to bow his head.

A card in the flowers on top of the coffin read simply: “In loving and devoted memory. Charles R.”

12.17pm

The royal family has tweeted a clip of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s sermon.

12.16pm

Members of staff at Buckingham Palace have lined up in front of the building to pay their respects to the Queen.

The procession is expect to pass by the palace shortly before 1pm on its journey to Windsor.

Chefs, butlers and police officers are among the staff standing in front of the Queen’s main residence.

12.15pm

Anne Cooper described the atmosphere at the Long Walk in Windsor as “calm” as thousands came together to pay their respects to the Queen.

Ms Cooper from Aylesbury was draped in a Union flag as she watched the late monarch’s funeral on big screens stationed along the pathway to Windsor Castle.

“She’s been the Queen all my life. I was a brownie and and a guide so we would make a promise to serve the Queen so she’s just a really big part of the country,” she said.

She added that the crowds have been “quite calm” and “really friendly” as they waited for the Queen to make her last journey along the Long Walk.

12.14pm

In Whitehall and Parliament Square, the funeral service moved some to tears.

As a crowd of thousands listened to the funeral, the proceedings from Westminster Abbey relayed by speakers above the street, some sang quietly along with the hymns.

As the funeral service began, the crowd around Parliament Square began to drift – some for a much-needed sit down, others to grab a quick sandwich or a bite to eat.

But slowly, many edged back towards Whitehall and to the best viewing points in Parliament Square to await the final procession of the Queen’s coffin through London and onwards to Windsor.

When the time came for the two-minute silence, not a sound could be heard the length of Whitehall as many in the crowd bowed their head or closed their eyes.

Even as the two-minutes elapsed, many remained hushed and quiet. It was not until the time came, a few moments later, to sing the national anthem that the crowd roused itself, applause breaking out across the length of Whitehall when it came to a close.

12.10pm

The King looked very emotional during the singing of the national anthem at Westminster Abbey.

Charles remained silent during the song, while his siblings and members of the royal family sang along.

Gripping his ceremonial sword, Charles looked downcast as he started straight ahead while a piper played Sleep, Dearie, Sleep.

Meanwhile, crowds who gathered in Hyde Park and Green Park in central London to listen to a broadcast of the funeral could be heard applauding after the national anthem was played.

12.09pm

Tears streamed down the faces of mourners among the crowds on Constitution Hill as the service drew to a close at Westminster Abbey.

Others began putting away iPads and tablets, which they used to watch the service and held up to allow those further back to watch, in anticipation for the passing of the cortege.

The street was lined with a half-company from the Royal Air Force standing alongside police officers.

As the national anthem was sung after the service, the clouds parted and the sun shone through the trees in Green Park.

12.07pm

A lone piper’s lament at Westminster Abbey has brought the service to an end.

12.06pm

Members of the crowd on the Long Walk sang along to the national anthem as it sounded from the big screens.

The lyrics God Save Our Gracious King rang out from the public as they stood still to pay their respects to the Queen.

12pm

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.

A two-minute silence in the Queen’s honour was then observed across the UK, followed by Reveille sounded by the trumpeters.

The national anthem is now being sung by the congregation at Westminster Abbey.

11.55am

Redcar and Cleveland MP Jacob Young has tweeted a video from the Cenotaph alongside the words: “As love divine, all loves excelling echos around Whitehall.”

11.46am

Here is the moment the Queen’s coffin arrived at Westminster Abbey shortly before 11am.

11.37am

The King was seen reading silently from the order of service during the prayers while the Queen Consort, seated to his left, listened intently.

11.36am

Prince George was reading the order of service during the Archbishop of Canterbury’s sermon, while Princess Charlotte was seen whispering to her mother.

11.35am

The Queen’s coffin was carried into Westminster Abbey for her funeral shortly before 11am.

11.34am

Groups of soldiers marched in units on Horseguards Parade and Horseguards Road.

They have now spaced themselves out in front of the crowd, lining the road and path.

The Queen’s funeral radio broadcast plays in the background.

11.33am

In his sermon, the Archbishop of Canterbury told mourners the “grief” felt around the world over her death “arises from her abundant life and loving service”, adding: “She was joyful, present to so many, touching a multitude of lives.”

The Most Rev Justin Welby said: “People of loving service are rare in any walk of life. Leaders of loving service are still rarer. But in all cases those who serve will be loved and remembered when those who cling to power and privileges are forgotten. The grief of this day – felt not only by the late Queen’s family but all round the nation, Commonwealth and world – arises from her abundant life and loving service, now gone from us.”

He added: “We will all face the merciful judgement of God: we can all share the Queen’s hope which in life and death inspired her servant leadership. Service in life, hope in death. All who follow the Queen’s example, and inspiration of trust and faith in God, can with her say: ‘We will meet again.’”

11.32am

The Archbishop of Canterbury has hailed the Queen’s “abundant life and loving service” as he delivers the sermon at her state funeral, adding: “She was joyful, present to so many, touching a multitude of lives.”

11.30am

Princess Charlotte could be seen looking around from under the brim of her hat while the mourners sang The Lord’s My Shepherd.

11.28am

The second hymn sung was The Lord’s My Shepherd, to the Crimond tune, originating from a parish in Aberdeenshire, not far from Balmoral Castle, where the Queen died.

The hymn was sung at the wedding of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.

The young Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret summoned the Master of Choristers to Buckingham Palace in the lead up to the wedding and sang for him the particular descant, by William Baird Ross, that they wanted to be used.

11.25am

Several people on social media noted the appearance of a spider on the Queen’s coffin as the ceremony takes place.

The creature was seen crawling across a piece of card placed on the coffin alongside the crown and a floral display.

11.23am

The Prime Minister, Liz Truss, read the second lesson for mourners gathered in Westminster Abbey for the Queen’s funeral.

Taken from John 14, the lesson is one of comfort, evoking the promise of eternal life in Heaven.

11.21am

Prince George was seen singing The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended as he stood between his parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales.

11.17am

Prince George and Princess Charlotte walked in between their parents behind the Queen’s coffin as part of a solemn procession through Westminster Abbey.

Ahead of the service, the Princess of Wales could be seen holding Charlotte’s hand, and giving her a reassuring touch on the shoulder.

As the young royals walked behind their great grandmother’s coffin, Charlotte held her hands clasped in front of her while George had his arms by his side.

11.14am

11am

The Dean of Windsor has given the bidding ahead of the first hymn, The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended, written by John Ellerton and evoking the image of one day, one era, leading into another.

He told the congregation: “Here, where Queen Elizabeth was married and crowned, we gather from across the nation, from the Commonwealth, and from the nations of the world, to mourn our loss, to remember her long life of selfless service, and in sure confidence to commit her to the mercy of God our maker and redeemer.”

The bidding will be followed by Baroness Scotland, Secretary General of the Commonwealth, delivering the First Lesson in tribute to the Queen’s lifetime of dedication and service to the family of nations.

The lesson is taken from Corinthians 15 and includes the line: “O death, where is thy sting?”

11.07am

The world’s media captured the grieving King arriving for his mother’s funeral.

Also pictured were two of the Queen’s grandchildren – the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex.

11.06am

The wreath that adorns the Queen’s coffin includes flowers requested by King Charles.

Cut from the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Highgrove House, the flowers and foliage have been chosen for their symbolism.

They include rosemary, for remembrance, and myrtle cut from a plant which was grown from a sprig of myrtle in the Queen’s wedding bouquet.

Myrtle is an ancient symbol of a happy marriage.

Also included are English oak to symbolise the strength of love, pelargoniums, garden roses, autumnal hydrangea, sedum, dahlias and scabious.

These are in shades of gold, pink and deep burgundy, with touches of white, to reflect the Royal Standard.

11.05am

A radio broadcast of the Queen’s funeral is being played over the speakers on Horseguards Road.

The crowd is quiet as they listen to the opening hymn.