queen's journey from westminster abbey to windsor

The Queen’s funeral route map: How the procession gets from London to Windsor Castle and timetable explained

Thousands of people are expected to line the route from london to windsor on monday to say their final goodbyes to the queen.

Thousands of people are expected to line the route from London to Windsor on Monday to say their final goodbyes to the Queen.

After the state funeral service at Westminster Abbey, the late monarch’s coffin will be transferred to a state hearse and driven from the corner of Hyde Park to Berkshire.

The road route has been revealed, meaning wellwishers can now plan how to catch a final glimpse of the Queen’s coffin before it is buried in the King George VI memorial chapel.

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What is the route?

After the Queen’s state funeral draws to a close at midday, her coffin will be transported at the front of a procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch.

The coffin will be transferred to a funeral hearse at the corner of Hyde Park at 1pm, then driven along the south edge of the park before passing through Queens Gate and along Cromwell Road.

It will be driven westwards out of the capital, going past Hammersmith and Chiswick.

The funeral cortege will leave London via the Great West Road (A4), before passing south of Heathrow on the Great South West Road (A30).

It will continue on the A30 past Staines, before taking the A308 up towards Windsor Castle, arriving at Shaw Farm Gate by 3.06pm.

There will be a final procession on foot, where the coffin will be transported up Windsor Castle’s famous three-mile Long Walk in time for the committal service at St George’s Chapel at 4pm.

Here is the route from Hyde Park Corner in central London in detail:

• Wellington Arch
• South Carriage Drive
• Queens Gate
• Cromwell Road
• Talgarth Road (via Hammersmith Flyover)
• Great West Road (A4)
• Great South West Road (A30)
• London Road (A30) (via under Chiswick Flyover)
• Staines Road (A30)
• Windsor Road (A308)
• Albert Road (A308) to Shaw Farm Gate

What are the timings?

• 8am:  the doors to of Westminster Abbey will open for the congregation to begin taking their seats
• 10.44am:  Charles will lead his family in marching behind the Queen’s coffin when it is moved from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey
• Other royals who are not in the procession will be escorted by car
• 10.52am : the procession arrives at Westminster Abbey
• 11am:  the service begins
• 11.55am:  The Last Post sounds
• 12pm:  the funeral will be brought to an end by Reveille, the national anthem and a lament played by the Queen’s piper and the King will then lead his family in a procession to Wellington Arch
• 1pm: the coffin will be transferred to a funeral hearse at the corner of Hyde Park, before being driven from London to Windsor
• 3.06pm: the funeral cortege is due to arrive at Winsdor Castle through Shaw Farm Gate
• 3.10pm: the procession will set off, going up the Lond Walk towards Windsor Castle
• 3.20pm: people including governors-general and realm prime ministers will begin to arrive at the West Door of St George’s Chapel for the committal service, shortly followed by members of the Royal Family not involved in the procession
• 3.40pm: The King and other royals will join the procession as it passes into Engine Court
• 3.53pm: the procession will stop at the bottom of the west steps into the chapel and the bearer party will lift the coffin from the state hearse and carry it up the steps
• 4pm:  some 800 people, including members of the Queen’s Household and Windsor estate staff, will attend the committal service afterwards at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle
• 4.30pm: the service ends and King Charles departs
• 7.30pm:  the Queen will be buried with the Duke of Edinburgh in King George VI’s chapel at Windsor in a private service

Where can I see the Queen’s coffin go past?

Buckingham Palace said the route from London to Windsor has been “planned with the public in mind”.

The route avoids motorways and solely uses A roads, giving people maximum opportunity to line the streets to watch the coffin go past.

But with road closures planned across London and Windsor, the AA is “strongly urging people” who are planning to watch the Royal Funeral in-person to use public transport.

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Jakob Pfaudler, chief executive of the AA, has said that the public should “expect lengthy delays” and be “prepared for services and pavements to be very busy”.

National Rail has urged people not to follow the Queen’s journey from the capital to her final resting place during the day, advising it was “best to choose one location and remain there to pay your respects”.

In a warning issued ahead of the funeral, National Rail said: “Windsor and Eton Riverside and Windsor and Eton Central stations will be especially busy during this time, and may become full.

“While a large number of television and other media outlets will cover this part of Her Majesty’s final journey, a large number of people may be expected to travel to Windsor.

“Please do not plan to view the service in London and then travel to Windsor. Windsor will most likely be full by this time. It is best to choose one location and remain there to pay your respects.”

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Queen Elizabeth II 1926–2022

The final journey London to Windsor, follow the route to the Queen's resting place

By Ivana Kottasová, Lauren Said-Moorhouse and the Visuals Team, CNN

The Queen will be laid to rest at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty Images

A kingdom united in grief will mourn the loss of their revered Queen on Monday. Pomp and pageantry will be on display as tens of thousands line the streets of the British capital and hundreds of millions tune in for the state funeral of Elizabeth II.

Monday’s ceremonial events are the culmination of nearly two weeks of public arrangements, codenamed “Operation London Bridge,” honoring Elizabeth’s remarkable life -- from a young princess who was not born to be Queen, to a sovereign who redefined the role and won almost universal admiration.

Following the Queen’s death at Balmoral on September 8, her coffin was flown back from Scotland and moved to London’s Westminster Hall in a somber procession. She will lie in state there until the morning of her funeral.

Crowds of mourners will flood the capital in the hopes of witnessing the coffin -- draped in the Royal Standard and carrying the Instruments of State -- one last time before the Queen makes the journey to her final resting place within St. George’s Chapel in Windsor. Here’s everything you need to know about Britain’s farewell to one its greatest ever monarchs.

Monday, September 19 The day of the funeral and the final journey to Windsor

Westminster Hall At around 10:35 a.m. (5:35 a.m. ET), the coffin will be lifted from the catafalque. A bearer party founded by the Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards will carry it from Westminster Hall to the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy. The gun carriage will set off at 10:44 a.m. (5:44 a.m. ET) on the short journey from New Palace Yard to Westminster Abbey, where the funeral service will take place. The route will be lined by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. King Charles III and members of the royal family will walk behind the coffin.

Westminster Abbey The service will be conducted by the Dean of Westminster, starting at 11 a.m. (6 a.m. ET). The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will deliver a sermon. Towards the end of the service, at around 11:55 a.m., the Last Post will sound before a two-minute silence is observed. World leaders, politicians, public figures and European royals, as well as more than 500 dignitaries from around the world, will be at the service, which will be attended by up to 2,000 people.

Click below for a 360 view inside Westminster Abbey

Procession through London Following the roughly one-hour service, the coffin will be conveyed from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch -- again with the King leading some of the family on foot, while Camilla, the Queen Consort and others follow by car.

Whitehall The route -- lined by the Armed Forces -- will pass Parliament Square and go onto Whitehall, the street that cuts through London’s government district. It will pass the Cenotaph, the site of the annual National Service of Remembrance, which the Queen personally attended most years, and Downing Street.

Click below for a 360 view of Whitehall by Downing Street

Horse Guards Parade The procession moves through Horse Guards Parade, the setting for the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony held to mark the monarch’s official birthday. Here, the King’s Life Guard will turn out and give a royal salute as the coffin passes.

The Mall On The Mall, the royal procession will pass by royal residences Clarence House and St James's Palace.

Click below for a 360 view of The Mall

Buckingham Palace As the coffin moves past Queen Victoria Memorial for the last time, the King’s Guard will turn out in the forecourt and give a royal salute.

Click below for a 360 view of The State Rooms in Buckingham Palace

Wellington Arch The procession is expected at Wellington Arch around 1 p.m. (8 a.m. ET), where the bearer party will transfer it from the State Gun Carriage to the state hearse for the journey to Windsor.

Windsor The Queen’s coffin will be driven to Windsor, around 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of the capital. Windsor Castle is where the Queen lived for the last two years of her life.

The Long Walk Once in Windsor, the state hearse will be driven just after 3 p.m. (10 a.m. ET) along The Long Walk, a picturesque avenue leading to the castle where thousands will be waiting to bid the Queen farewell as she passes.

Windsor Castle The King and other royals will join the procession on foot as it passes through the castle’s quadrangle at around 3:40 p.m. (10:40 a.m. ET). Minute guns will be fired by the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery from the East Lawn throughout the royal cortege.

Click below for a 360 view inside the grounds of Windsor Castle

St George’s Chapel The Queen’s coffin will be greeted by an honor guard founded by the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards mounted in Horseshoe Cloister at the foot of the West Steps of St. George’s Chapel. Soldiers from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment will line the steps as the bearer party carries the coffin inside for the committal service.

A more intimate committal service will take place at St. George’s Chapel at about 4 p.m. (11 a.m. ET), conducted by the Dean of Windsor. The royal family will gather there along with a congregation made up of members of the Royal Household, past and present, as well as personal staff who have worked on the private estates.

St. George’s should be a familiar location to many as it is where Prince Philip's funeral service was held last April, as well as more jubilant occasions like the nuptials of the Queen's grandchildren.

At the service's conclusion, the Queen's coffin will be lowered into the Royal Vault, set below the chapel, where many royal family members have been laid to rest.

The service concludes the public arrangements for the late monarch, however, a private burial service will be held for the family later Monday evening. The Queen is to be buried with her late husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, located elsewhere within St. George's.

The memorial chapel is where the Queen's father and mother were interred. A casket containing the ashes of the Queen's sister, Princess Margaret, is also there.

The Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk, said last week that orchestrating the event was "both humbling and daunting.” He added that Monday’s event aimed to "unite people across the globe" and "pay a fitting tribute to an extraordinary reign.”

‘Now we have her no longer’: the crowds on the Queen’s final journey

As the coffin made the short trip to Westminster Abbey before heading on to the palace then Windsor, many were determined to pay their respects

• Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II - live updates

A s the Queen’s coffin emerged from Westminster Hall just before eleven o’clock for the short, slow journey to her funeral service at Westminster Abbey, the thousands who had gathered at Parliament Square, on Whitehall, and along the Mall, gradually fell into silence. The companionable chatter stilled, some climbed to their feet from folded chairs. Some bowed their heads.

Many, even among those who had been there all night, were dressed in black, others wore a chestful of medals or a union jack waistcoat, or wrapped themselves in a flag. There were woolly beanies and black fascinators, selfie sticks and a few stepladders.

Each had come for his or her own reason: to express personal sadness at the Queen’s death, to represent absent family members who would have wanted to be there – or just to be part of a big day. Janine Cleere from Wiltshire had camped out all night on the Mall, sharing a single sleeping bag with two friends against the September chill in order to be “part of history”.

“She’s all we have ever known and now we have her no longer,” she said. “It’s very sad.”

For Christina Burrows, who had bagged a spot next to a bollard on Whitehall, it was important to come. “I’ve always seen her as a beacon. During lockdown, when she said ‘We’ll meet again’, that was wonderful. It gave me a lot of hope. I wanted to be here for her like she was for us.”

As she spoke, she sighed and clapped her hands to her face. “Oh God, I can’t believe it. There will never be another day like this in our lives.”

For some, the early start and long, long wait had taken its toll. Having left home in Northampton at 4am, passing some of the hours by counting the windows in Buckingham Palace, seven-year-old Esther Young dropped off on the lap of a family friend just as the long-awaited service began.

A million people had been expected to come to central London on Monday. Many tens of thousands had done so already in the strange days since she died, queueing for hours along the Southbank in a display of self-consciously British resilience of which the late monarch herself would surely have been proud.

Late on Sunday the queue was closed, and at 6.30am Chrissy Heerey, a serving member of the RAF from Melton Mowbray, became the very last member of the public to pass by the coffin in Westminster Hall. It was, she said, “one of the highlights of my life … I feel very privileged to be here”.

Outside, some were going to work or coming home from a bank holiday night out; others were preparing for a big day ahead. Outside Buckingham Palace those who had camped out for days were desperately trying to hold on to their spots in the front row. Cara Jennings, 52, from Minster in Kent was wrapped in a blanket after her fifth night camping by Green Park.

With her mobility scooter parked beside her pop up blue tent, she tried to guard her position at the front row of the railing on the Mall. “I just wanted to get a perfect spot to pay my respects to a lovely woman,” she said. Jennings said her grandmother and great-grandmother had worked for the queen as cleaners and that her five children thought it was “brilliant” that she’d made the pilgrimage.

Not everyone was there as an ardent royalist. Antonis Manvelides, 24, and Jess Nash, 24, had come to the Mall on their fourth date, walking from Nash’s flat in Pimlico at 4am to be there. “I forced him to come,” Nash, who works for a tech startup, said. “We just wanted to see and be with the UK and be part of the atmosphere.”

But there was no doubting that for many others it was a moment of genuine and deep emotion. The mood was quiet, broken by the occasional cheer as the police officers on the Mall, trying to entertain the crowds, rode their horses up to the barriers.

Amrit Nagy and her mother, Meena, had woken at 5.30am to travel to London from East Ham, the younger woman clutching a candle which she had designed and which she hoped to leave near Buckingham Palace.

They had also attended the funeral of the Queen Mother and the now Prince and Princess of Wales’s royal wedding. Compared with that event, said Amrit, “It’s not as loud, and everyone is more respectful. She appreciated the Queen as “the grandmother of the nation”, she said.

Sarah Merrick had left home in Hampshire early in the morning to secure a spot for her best friend, their children, and their camping chairs. A veteran of the big occasions, Merrick also camped out for the Princess Royal’s wedding in 1972, the Jubilee in 1977, and again for Charles and Diana’s wedding in 1981.

She would have slept overnight again for the funeral, but was unable to because of her foster carer responsibilities – she’s planning to make up for it at the King’s coronation, when she will sleep out for two nights, she insisted.

The royals, she said, “offer a lot to this country. I have so much respect. The Queen has been there all my life – it’s weird referring to the King now.” As for the crowd, “People are mostly kind, but there’s a bit of pushing and shoving.”

On Whitehall, too, there was a little anxiety about securing a good viewpoint. “The difficulty is you always think there might be a better view 100 metres away,” said Robert Madeley, who along with his friend Christopher Clowes had come from Leicestershire in full morning dress – “it’s what she would have wanted” – with a box of flapjacks in hand.

Parents lifted their children above the throng of crowds to catch a glimpse, while others sought to keep their tired offspring entertained with iPads and games of Top Trumps. One youngster in need of the toilet asked anxiously: “We’re not going to lose our place, are we Daddy?”

The funeral demanded the largest security operation ever seen in London, and careful marshalling of the crowds. With so many world leaders attending, police had over the weekend gradually extended a secure cordon around Westminster Abbey, meaning the nearest members of the public were several hundred metres away. It meant that the delicate choreography of the arrival of the Queen’s coffin and its slow passage into the abbey was watched only by the cameras, and a handful of media on a temporary wooden stand.

While the service was broadcast on speakers along the route, moving some to tears, others resumed chatting among each other during the service. As the congregation at its close sang the national anthem, the crowds on the Mall joined in – many, notably, singing God Save the Queen, doubtless for the last time.

Marion King had been in high spirits in the morning, celebrating her 59th birthday by camping out with her sister since Saturday. During the service, however, she “cried buckets”. “We were emotional when the children went past in the cars on the way to Westminster and when we listened to the service over the speakers.

“There was not a sound in the two minutes’ silence, you could hear a pin drop over here.”

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As the service ended, the crowd outside Buckingham Palace stayed almost silent, waiting for the procession to arrive and speaking only in hushed whispers, while gulls could be heard overhead.

For some of the youngest members of the crowd, however, it had been a very long wait. Several families used the children perched on their shoulders as look-outs for the anticipated moment when the coffin would pass and exchanging tips on how best to spot it. Others with strong enough internet signal followed the TV coverage on their smartphones.

As the gun carriage finally passed, with the King and other family members behind, there was a crush to the barriers, as people stood on chairs and held cameraphones high to capture the moment.

Others were overcome by the emotion of the day. “I can’t speak without crying,” said Paul Denham from Westbury in Wiltshire, who had watched the procession with his wife, Diana. “I am 62 and she’s been there for my whole life, and now she isn’t.”

Diana had struggled to get through “God Save the King,” she said. “My mum died 18 months ago and the Queen reminded me of my mum. They had what we thought were similar smiles.”

After a final, brief ceremony away from the public gaze at Wellington arch, the coffin was lifted from the gun carriage and placed in the state hearse for its final journey to Windsor.

Long after it had departed and the world’s leaders had been transported away in coaches in the manner of a very high-end school trip, 91-year-old Anne van Drimmelen was sitting contentedly in a chair by the front of the Parliament Square barriers, waiting for the crowds to clear.

Having attended the Queen’s coronation and the funeral of her father, George VI, van Drimmelen decided several days ago to travel from her village of Flore in Northamptonshire. “It was something I just wanted to see.”

She had been guarded during her two-day stay by a neighbour from home, Sharon Mayne (“We heard she was going and thought, she can’t go alone”) along with others she met in the queue, while police officers brought the elderly woman cups of tea.

Was the long wait worth it?

“When the gun carriage came out from parliament everyone suddenly went silent,” said Mayne. “You could hear a pin drop. It was a magical experience.”

In Windsor, meanwhile, dense crowds had gathered in the Great Park to witness what the BBC commentator Huw Edwards had referred to several times as the Queen’s journey “home”, to Windsor Castle.

It had been a long wait for many, but as the hearse, led by the Household Cavalry and escorted by members of the Grenadier Guards, turned into the historic, long parade that leads up to the castle, the crowd fell silent. Some applauded, while a great many others filmed the procession, the crowd so dense that many at the back could glimpse the procession only by lifting their phones high on selfie sticks. On its bonnet and roof were flowers that had been thrown by members of the public as it passed.

Jay Gallagher, 47, had travelled from Kettering, Northamptonshire, with his partner and son. Having served for six years as an infanteer in the Royal Anglians 2nd regiment, he referred to the Queen as his “boss”. “She was someone who I have always looked up to,” he said. “I served for her.”

Tep Crowder, 57, from the nearby village of Holyport, said he came to Windsor to see the Queen “for the last time”.

“The values she held make us who we are, she made us Britain,” he said. “She gave us a special place in the world. She showed us how to behave.” Without the Queen, Crowder said, there was a “sense of instability”, adding King Charles had “big shoes to fill”.

For Kirsty Jones, seeing the last part of the public journey had “really felt final”.

Clad with union flags and a toy Paddington bear, she had stayed overnight in a nearby hotel with her husband and their children, Amelia, 11, Hadley, nine, and Hattie, seven, after paying their respects in their home town of Sandringham, Norfolk.

“You do see more when you watch it on the television from home, but I wanted the children to actually be part of it and feel the sadness and the grief that everyone is feeling,” she said.

Her husband added: “It’s about making memories – somebody said on the television this morning that it marks the end of the postwar era – and it does feel like the end of an era.”

As the coffin passed beyond the crowds for the final time and into the grounds of the castle for her private committal service, it was greeted by the Queen’s favourite horse, Emma, while two of her corgis, Sandy and Muick, awaited her arrival at the chapel steps. First, though, it passed through a carpet of flowers, some of the many thousands of bunches that had been left by her subjects as a final mark of affection and respect from them to a cherished and remarkable Queen.

Reporting by: Esther Addley, Aubrey Allegretti, Archie Bland, Emily Dugan, Jamie Grierson, Rachel Hall, Ben Quinn, Emine Sinmaz, Peter Walker

• Queen Elizabeth II

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Queen buried beside her beloved Prince Philip as she completes her final journey

• Windsor Castle
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• Monday 19 September 2022 at 11:07pm

The UK said goodbye to its longest reigning monarch on Monday - Romilly Weeks reports

The Queen has been buried alongside her beloved late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, at the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle.

It followed a poignant service led by the Royal Family, who sang hymns as they paid their final public respects to the Queen after a day of ceremonies in both London and Windsor.

The lowering into the Royal Vault of St George's Chapel during a committal service this afternoon was the last time the Queen's coffin was seen by the public.

Thousands lined the streets in London and Windsor to pay their finals tribute to Her Majesty as she was taken on her final journey.

Later in the evening, at around 7.30pm, members of the Royal Family attended a small and private burial service at the memorial chapel - An annexe of St George's Chapel.

It was at the Windsor chapel that Elizabeth II was interred with her husband of nearly 74 years, away from the public view.

The remarkable life of the Queen remembered in our latest episode of What You Need To Know

When the Duke died 17 months ago, his coffin was placed in the Royal Vault of St George’s – ready to be moved to the memorial chapel when the Queen died.

The Queen’s coffin was interred with the Grenadier Guards’ Queen’s Company Camp Colour – a smaller version of the Royal Standard of the Regiment – which the King placed on her coffin at the end of the committal service.

Britain's longest reigning monarch has also been buried next to her father, King George VI, and the Queen Mother, along with he ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret.

St George's Chapel held a special place in the Queen's heart, as it was where she marked many a Christmas and Easter, and where she celebrated the weddings of three of her grandchildren.

Prince Harry married Meghan Markle there in 2018, as did Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank. Peter Philips, the queen’s oldest grandchild, married Autumn Kelly there in 2008.

The queen spent most of her weekends in Windsor, a quiet and more private retreat away from the bustle of central London.

Windsor Castle — believed to be the largest occupied castle in the world — was also where young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were sent to live during World War II while their parents were busy with the war effort.

In recent years the Queen made Windsor her main residence, having moved there in early 2020 at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

During the first service at St George's, the Imperial State Crown, orb and sceptre were removed from the Queen's coffin by the Dean of Windsor.

The final hymn was sung as the King prepared to drape the Queen’s Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on the coffin.

Once in place, the colour was then accompanied by the Lord Chamberlain’s Wand of Office, which he symbolically broke.

The purpose of breaking the wand is to create a symmetry with the three Instruments of State that had been removed from the coffin - all of which symbolise the end of the Queen's reign.

The simple service was led by David Conner, Dean of Windsor, who recited Psalm 103 as the coffin was lowered, which includes the traditional line: “Go forth upon thy journey from this world, O Christian soul”.

The service ended with the Sovereign Piper playing the lament A Salute to the Royal Fendersmith from the doorway between the chapel and the dean’s cloister, with the music gradually fading away as he walked towards the deanery.

The Archbishop of Canterbury then concluded the service with a blessing before the congregation sang the national anthem.

The King appeared emotional as those in attendance at St George’s Chapel sang the national anthem.

King Charles sat in the same seat the Queen had sat in for the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Royal Hearse escorted by Grenadier Guards as it neared Windsor

The service at St George's Chapel came after a long procession from London following the State Funeral of the Queen.

The State Hearse carrying the casket was escorted to the castle by dozens of Grenadier Guards, in close protection around their company commander.

Behind them were members of the Household Cavalry and members of the royal family.

Many flowers, thrown by well-wishers along the route, remained on the bonnet and roof of the hearse.

The Royal Hearse travelling up the Long Walk

Around 100,000 people were thought to have turned up at Windsor to pay their respects to the Queen and catch a final glimpse of her casket being driven past.

The Long Walk to the castle was lined with members of the armed forces on either side, stood in front of the thousands upon thousands of members of the public.

Silence fell among crowds of mourners as the hearse turned into the Long Walk in the final stretch of her journey.

The Queen's two corgis, Muick and Sandy, were waiting to greet their monarch in the castle quadrangle. The dogs will be going to live with the Duke of York.

The Queen's corgis waiting in the quadrangle waiting for the procession

Carltonlima Emma, the horse the Queen so loved to ride around the castle grounds, was also waiting at the side of the procession as the hearse passed.

Terry Pendry, who went riding often with the Queen, stood on Cambridge Drive holding the horse and bowed his head.

Earlier, hundreds of thousands of well-wishers lined the route of the funeral procession through the capital and beyond to say their last goodbyes, while millions around the globe watched the state funeral proceedings on TV.

The Queen’s coffin was placed gently into the state hearse before a sea of colourful military personnel, bands, and some cavalry gathered around Wellington Arch.

The Queen's favourite horse being passed by the procession

The transfer from the gun carriage to the vehicle took place in a still silence as the King, the Queen Consort and other senior members of the Royal Family stood to its side just metres away.

The King and the Queen Consort could be seen leaning their heads together to exchange a few words at one point.

Princess Charlotte, stood between her parents the Prince and Princess of Wales, clasped her mother’s hand.

The King and military personnel all saluted as the state hearse pulled away and the national anthem was played.

As the cortege made its way through the streets, roses and other flowers were thrown towards the hearse. Cheers and applause rang out among the packed crowds.

The King and his siblings walked behind the coffin as it left Westminster Abbey following the state funeral, while other royals travelled by car.

Noreen Roberts, who watched the procession in London after losing her friend on the same day the Queen died, said she had imagined them in heaven together after the coffin was borne along The Mall.

Ms Roberts, 63, from Hitchin, Hertfordshire, said she had felt the late monarch’s presence as the cortege passed.

“I definitely felt her presence today. It was nice to feel close to her one last time,” she said.

“For such a little person she had this huge presence. I lost my friend on the same day she died and I can imagine the two of them up there at the pearly gates.”

People across the UK poured to London and Windsor to mark the Queen's funeral - Geraint Vincent reports

ITV News' Correspondent Emily Morgan, who was on the A4 as the hearse went by, said: "As  it rounded the corner onto the A4 a hush descended.

"As it came past me there was a spontaneous eruption of clapping, people cheering. I don’t think anyone expected that to happen, it was a real outpouring of love and grief.

"There are still people standing here now. I think they're finding it difficult to walk away, to accept that this moment, for them at least, is over."

The Royal Hearse departing London

The procession arriving at Wellington Arch

During the service, the King was visibly moved and looked close to tears as the national anthem was sung in the Abbey.

Prince George was also comforted by his mother, the Princess of Wales, during the service.

In a personal touch, the wreath adorning the Queen’s coffin had a handwritten note, which was penned by the King.

The message said: “In loving and devoted memory.”

Around 2,000 people attended the Queen’s funeral at Westminster Abbey, including members of royal families from across Europe, politicians from all sides of the political spectrum and world leaders, including US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron.

King Charles and the Queen Consort walked immediately behind the coffin as it entered the Gothic church for the service, followed by the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, then the Duke of York, followed by the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte walked with their parents and were followed by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and other members of the royal family.

The aerial view of the Royal Hearse on its journey towards Windsor

During his sermon, the Archbishop of Canterbury told the congregation the outpouring of emotion for the Queen “arises from her abundant life and loving service, now gone from us”.

Justin Welby described the Queen as having touched “a multitude of lives” and being a “joyful” figure for many.

He told mourners: “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.

“She was joyful, present to so many, touching a multitude of lives.”

The staff of Buckingham Palace salute the Queen

Mr Welby, standing in the church where kings and queens have been crowned since 1066, also said that the Queen had declared on her 21st birthday “that her whole life would be dedicated to serving the nation and Commonwealth”.

He added: “Rarely has such a promise been so well kept. Few leaders receive the outpouring of love we have seen.”

Among the hymns sung at the service, The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want, was also sung at the Queen’s wedding to the Duke of Edinburgh in the abbey in 1947.

The other hymns were The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended; and Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.

As the abbey fell silent, the Queen’s Piper, Warrant Officer Class 1 (Pipe Major) Paul Burns, played the traditional lament Sleep, Dearie, Sleep. Also played were The Last Post, Reveille and the national anthem.

The Archbishop of Canterbury making a reading at the Queen's funeral

The Queen’s coffin was draped in the Royal Standard, with the wreath of flowers requested by the King.

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.

The funeral was broadcast live at around 125 cinemas and several cathedrals in the UK, and on a big screen in Holyrood Park in front of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh.

Several big screens were also set up in Hyde Park, while London’s City Hall said all public viewing areas for the Queen’s funeral procession were full.

Monday marks the climax of what is being regarded as the biggest security operation the UK has ever 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.

It was also the largest global protection operation dealt with by the force, with world leaders, dignitaries and other VIPs attending the state funeral.

Former counter-terrorism police chief Nick Aldworth said it was “probably the biggest operation that we’re likely to mount in the UK”.

It comes at a time when the country’s terrorism threat level stands at “substantial”, meaning an attack is “likely”.

Police and security services were alert to the prospect of knife attacks, bombs being detonated, and all other possible terror threats or incidents. So-called lone actor terrorism, in particular knife attacks, are now considered the main threat.

But police guarding the King and senior members of the royal family also have to consider the risks posed by people who are fixated with those in the public eye.

Members of the public were urged to report any suspicious behaviour, with security experts describing potential terrorists among the crowds as people who would seem “blatantly out of place” and uninterested in ceremonial events.

The risk of a threat is “fairly high” particularly when Charles comes into contact with crowds, according to a royal security expert.

Richard Aitch, director of operations for firm Mobius International, said it becomes “very difficult” for personal protection officers when the monarch is so close to a “group of unknowns” like crowds and they would be carrying out a split second process of “personal vetting” to root out suspicious activity.

As of 5pm on Monday, 67 arrests had been made as part of the operation for a range of offences, the Met said.

More than 3,000 officers from almost every force in the country were helping police in London.

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, who only took over the role a week ago, likened the possible total number being deployed to the size of West Midlands or Greater Manchester police.

Armed police, motorbike escort riders, officers carrying out patrols on horseback, dog teams and the marine unit were among the specialist teams involved.

Rooftop snipers were in place while the cortege was moving, accompanied by a helicopter escort anywhere outside of the capital, Mr Aldworth said.

There were more than 22 miles of barriers in central London alone to control crowds and keep key areas secure.

About 2,300 police officers were in place to oversee the Queen’s final journey from Westminster Abbey to Windsor Castle.

"It was a last hurrah for Her Majesty", ITV News' Geraint Vincent speaks to mourners who came to see the Queen's very last journey.

About a thousand lined the route, alongside military personnel, from the Abbey to Wellington Arch while the Queen’s coffin was carried from the service by gun carriage.

There was also a considerable police presence in Windsor ahead of the Queen’s committal later in the day.

Thames Valley Police said around 2,000 of its officers were deployed in the force’s “largest and most significant” operation, and were joined by colleagues from 28 other forces.

In the Berkshire town, drones were used to monitor crowds, vehicle barriers were in place and there were “airport-style” security checks like screening arches and bag searches.

Bells toll as the queen's coffin reaches its last stop, Windsor Castle: live updates

A process that began more than a week ago at Balmoral Castle in Scotland is finally reaching its conclusion at Windsor Castle outside London, where Queen Elizabeth will be laid to rest in the royal vault alongside her husband, Prince Philip, who died last year.

Queen Elizabeth’s coffin reaches its last stop: Windsor Castle

By Bill Chappell

A process that began more than a week ago at Balmoral Castle in Scotland is finally reaching its conclusion at Windsor Castle on the outskirts of London. A motorcade escorted the hearse bearing Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin to the castle after driving from Wellington Arch — a trip that followed a lengthy procession on foot to the historic arch from Westminster Abbey.

The committal service at St. George's Chapel is slated to start at 4 p.m. local time — 11 a.m. ET. You can follow along with the order of service here .

After the service, Elizabeth’s coffin will be lowered into the royal vault, laid to rest alongside her husband, Prince Philip, who died last year.

Just before that happens, several ceremonial necessities will take place: The crown, orb and scepter that have sat atop the coffin will be removed and placed on an altar. And the lord chamberlain — a post appointed by the monarch — “will ‘break’ his Wand of Office and place it on the Coffin,” according to the royal website.

The the queen's royal hearse — with ample windows — travels to Windsor Castle

The most public part of the procession is now underway, as the queen’s flag-draped coffin rides in a Jaguar hearse with immense windows, allowing throngs of people gathered along the route to see inside.

In contrast to the pomp and circumstance of the military procession to Wellington Arch, this portion of the trip to Windsor Castle is marked by sporadic cheers. People occasionally toss flowers toward the hearse as it passes.

The hearse is making a roughly 22-mile trip due west, toward where Windsor Castle sits on the far side of the Thames River.

The queen’s coffin departs for Windsor, one final time

Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin is on its way to Windsor Castle, where she will be laid to rest in St. George's Chapel. The coffin was loaded onto a royal hearse at Wellington Arch in London in a brief ceremony.

Once the next stage of the procession ends at St. George’s Chapel, the queen's family will hold a committal service.

The coffin arrived after a roughly hour-long procession from Westminster Abbey that was periodically marked by tolling bells and gun salutes.

As King Charles III takes the crown, here's how he may focus his reign

By Scott Neuman

As King   Charles III begins his reign as Britain's new monarch, focus turns to how   he may use his position as head of state to promote causes that he's been passionate about for decades — the environment and climate change, in particular,   as well as other   philanthropic efforts.

Throughout her 70 years on the throne and up until her death on Sept. 8, Queen Elizabeth II sought to maintain strict political neutrality, going so far as not to vote.

And while Charles has been careful not to tread too publicly, he does have a history of wading into politics, causing some British officials to voice concern that he may be more willing to do as king.

Nowhere has Charles been more outspoken than the threat posed by climate change.   Last year, speaking at the opening ceremony of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, he warned that the time for addressing climate change had "quite literally run out."

Earlier this year, Charles also was seen as making a thinly veiled criticism of a controversial new immigration policy from the government of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson that sends all asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing. In his Easter message in April , Charles referred to the "unutterable tragedy" of those who've been "forced to flee their country and seek shelter far from home," saying they are "in need of a welcome, of rest, and of kindness." In private, he reportedly described the policy as " appalling ."

Read more about Charles' history of dipping into British politics .

The queen’s coffin is carried through the heart of London

A royal procession is bringing Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch near Buckingham Palace. The flag-draped coffin is resting on a gun carriage, with King Charles walking behind it.

It amounts to a massive and very somber parade, complete with a military band. People paying their respects are packed along the sidewalks, standing silently behind barricades as the procession goes by.

Princess Charlotte and Prince George draw notice

Children are often the source of smiles at any church service — even a funeral. And many people took note Monday of Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince George, 9, dressed somberly and stylishly as they lay their great-grandmother to rest.

Charlotte wore all black, highlighting a horseshoe brooch that is reportedly an homage to the late queen’s fondness for horses. The two joined their parents to walk behind Queen Elizabeth II's coffin in Westminster.

The queen’s family walks behind her coffin

The procession makes its way slowly through the immense church, taking slow, deliberate steps. The queen’s coffin is followed by the king, leading his younger siblings and his children.

They walked largely by pairs; here are the notable names in order: King Charles and Camilla, the queen consort; Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence; Prince Andrew (walking on his own); Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Forfar and Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Forfar; Prince William and his family; Prince Harry and his wife, followed by other relatives.

Not everyone mourns the queen. For many, she can't be separated from colonial rule

By Juliana Kim

Queen Elizabeth II's death has garnered a spectrum of feelings around the world about her life, legacy and the monarchy.

When she took the throne in 1952, more than a quarter of the world's population was under British imperial power. That was more than 700 million people — including in parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific islands.

While her 70-year reign saw the British Empire become the Commonwealth of Nations — and the decline of the United Kingdom's global influence — the scars of colonialism linger. Many note the enslavement, violence and theft that defined imperial rule, and they find it difficult to separate the individual from the institution and its history.

Moses Ochonu, a professor of African studies at Vanderbilt University, told NPR the queen's death brought attention to "unfinished colonial business."

"There is a sense in which Britain has never fully accounted for its crimes," Ochonu said.

From past atrocities to ownership of the crown jewels, read more about the reckoning that many in former colonies say is overdue .

'Sleep, dearie, sleep'

The ornate service concludes on a simple note.

As the ceremony nears its end, all remain standing to hear the Queen’s Piper, Warrant Officer Class 1 (Pipe Major) Paul Burns play a traditional song on the bagpipe: “Sleep, dearie, sleep.”

An organist then plays Bach’s “Fantasia in C minor” as the process of carrying the coffin out of the church begins.

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, are seated in the second row in Westminster

Prince Harry, duke of Sussex, and Meghan, duchess of Sussex, sat in the second row, directly behind King Charles with the queen’s coffin directly before them. Prince William, the prince of Wales, sat in the front row across the aisle alongside his family.

A kingdom pauses in silence for its late queen

The U.K. is observing two minutes of silence to mark the end of the state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II, beginning at 11:55 a.m. local time — 6:55 a.m. ET.

“Local authorities, businesses, organizations and individuals may choose to join us in observing this silence,” the government said as it announced the commemoration.

NPR's Rachel Treisman was outside to watch the moment.

They just began two minutes of silence, and you could hear a pin drop in this sea of people. pic.twitter.com/E7Rxhi8tn8 — Rachel Treisman (@rachel_treisman) September 19, 2022

And she recorded as the crowd burst into song.

Singing “God Save The King”: pic.twitter.com/fRYp9cMfwx — Rachel Treisman (@rachel_treisman) September 19, 2022

Prime Minister Liz Truss gives a biblical reading

U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss read from the Bible at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral less than two weeks after the queen made Truss’ new position official.

The section Truss read begins with John 14:1, in which Jesus comforts his disciples upon his pending death: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also,” Truss recited. “And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.”

Fans braved the cold, the crowds and the chaos to camp along the procession route

By Rachel Treisman

Dozens of groups had set up tents, sleeping bags, folding chairs and pizza box towers along the blocked-off street where the queen's casket will travel.

Camping out before a royal event is a beloved tradition for some and a bucket-list item for others, but special for all.

And it's not necessarily a quiet night under the stars.

One royal fan told NPR, that while the atmosphere is lovely and unifying, there's a lot going on.

"There's just so much noise," she said.

Follow the order of service

By Dana Farrington

Here is a full rundown of what is happening at the state funeral this morning at Westminster Abbey.

Here's what it looks like in the streets of London

NPR's Rachel Treisman is along the procession route in London today. Follow her on Twitter for updates on what it looks like outside Westminster Abbey and interviews with the mourners gathering to remember the queen.

I’ll be tweeting from out and about in London during the funeral (as cell service allows). It’s just after 8 am and I’m along the procession route, along with many other people with cameras and coffee cups in hand. Lots of security and occasional applause as soldiers pass by. pic.twitter.com/TrKhkd4WYc — Rachel Treisman (@rachel_treisman) September 19, 2022

How the U.K. plans to keep world leaders safe for the queen's funeral

By Manuela López Restrepo

Leaders from around the world will converge today on Westminster Abbey in London for a ceremony to pay their respects to the late queen.

President Biden, Japan's Emperor Naruhito, France's President Emmanuel Macron and many others are expected to attend.

It's an unprecedented and challenging security situation for the officials in charge.

Former U.K. national coordinator for counterterrorism Nick Aldworth told NPR that vehicles would be banned from the area's perimeter and that drones would also be a particular area of concern.

"We've had some recent cases in the U.K. where drones have been used nefariously. And we've been very, very effective at detecting them, tracking them back and arresting offenders," Aldworth said.

As many as 750,000 people were predicted to travel to London for the state funeral and pay their respects as the queen lies in state, according to The Guardian . For comparison, about 200,000 made that journey in 2002 to do the same after the death of the Queen Mother.

The Guardian spoke with Bob Broadhurst, who directed security and logistics for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton and for the 2012 London Olympics. He estimated that as many as 10,000 police officers would be assigned to secure the operation each day, including some who would travel from across England for the occasion. He noted that 1,500 military personnel would be on standby to assist as well. Armed guards will overlook the procession and rooftop snipers also have been called in.

Westminster Abbey is expected to be so packed that even the highest-profile guests have been told to bring only their spouses or partners. Officials also asked that foreign heads of state use commercial flights to enter the United Kingdom, and have banned the use of private helicopters for the duration of ceremonies. Dignitaries were advised against using their own state cars for transportation to the funeral itself. Instead, they will be bused in groups from a location in West London.

They lined up to say goodbye to the queen. They also made history — and friends

Hundreds of thousands of mourners from around the world waited more than 10 hours on foot for just a few precious seconds with the late Queen Elizabeth II — the only monarch most have ever known, and the last queen of England many are expecting to see in their lifetimes.

The mood was mournful but also joyful, as people gathered together to celebrate the queen.

Some dressed for the occasion, like the rugby coach wearing a Union Jack button-up vest and the history buff dressed as a 17th-century royalist, cloak and all.  

Some people dressed up for the occasion, like Richard (L) and Stephen (R). pic.twitter.com/C28wmoY8vf — Rachel Treisman (@rachel_treisman) September 17, 2022

And despite the reported safety issues and crowding concerns , many line-goers bonded with their neighbors and described the shared sense of community as a highlight of their experience.

"I've made friends in this queue — we've exchanged numbers, we've shared food ... there's a group of us who will meet up after this," Teresa Bhatti told NPR . "We've enjoyed every single second of it."

Crowds descend on London ahead of the queen’s funeral

U.K. authorities expect Queen Elizabeth’s funeral to draw 1 million people to London, and it’s clear they’re not just coming in for Monday’s ceremony.

The line to see the queen’s coffin in Westminster Hall reached an estimated wait time of 24 hours on Friday, with the separate accessible line permanently closing on Saturday after reaching maximum capacity.

Green Park, which has been designated for floral tributes, bloomed with mourners visiting to deposit and admire lush bouquets and heartfelt cards. By Saturday, the streets around that area and Buckingham Palace had become one massive line of its own. People were pressed shoulder-to-shoulder on the sidewalk, sometimes at a total standstill, as officers tried to control the flow of foot traffic (which was limited to one direction).

A security officer at the scene said the walk to the palace, which would normally take five to 10 minutes from that point, could take several hours.

Renee Campbell, 22, and his group had been planning to stop by Buckingham Palace on Saturday afternoon after standing in line for eight hours to see the queen’s coffin. But they reconsidered when they saw the jam-packed streets.

“There’s another queue?” he asked in disbelief. “Screw it.”

Secure in the knowledge that he could get to the palace with a lot less hassle at pretty much any other time, he headed to the nearest pub instead.

Dignitaries are arriving for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral

By Ayana Archie

Guests have begun arriving for the funeral of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. The queen is no longer lying in state — at about 10:44 a.m. London time (5:44 a.m. ET), the procession will begin, transporting her coffin from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey for the funeral, which begins at 6 a.m. ET.

About 200 people will be attending the funeral. Attendees will include “Heads of State and Overseas Government Representatives, including Foreign Royal Families, Governors General and Realm Prime Ministers,” according to the British Royal Family website . The heads of state in attendance include President Biden, French President Macron, and Jacinda Ardern and Justine Trudeau, the prime ministers of New Zealand and Canada, respectively.

The service will be led by Dean of Westminster David Hoyle, and the sermon will be given by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. Various archbishops will say prayers, and the service will conclude with two minutes of silence and the national anthem.

After the funeral and a stop at Wellington Arch, her coffin will be taken to the St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle to be buried in the Royal Vault during a 4 p.m. service. A private burial service will start later in the evening.

Anticipation grows ahead of the royal funeral procession

About 30 minutes before the queen’s coffin is set to depart to Westminster Abbey, the surrounding area is full of police and barricades. Many streets are blocked off and mostly empty, but increasingly people are passing by on foot (many asking officers for directions). Accessories of choice seem to be cameras, light jackets and to-go coffee cups.

Scenes from along the route: People are pressed up against the barriers along the road, sitting on the stone wall overlooking the street and standing on the walls of buildings lining the sidewalks - it’s very crowded and officers are urging people walking in between to keep moving. They sporadically burst into applause as what appear to be soldiers walk down the route. As of 8:04 am nothing has started but people have been here for ours to stake out a good spot (some camped overnight).

Farzana Khan of London is dressed in a formal black outfit and veil. Even after lining up for 13 hours to see the queen, and seeing her coffin multiple times at events during the mourning period, she says it wasn’t until she picked out her handbag last night that the sense of loss truly hit her.

“I got a bit teary,” she says. “I was surprised. I think maybe just realizing that feminine reign is leaving and now we’re going to have a masculine reign. How is the synergy going to change?”

Farther down along the wall, Suraiya Isaac and her sister Raqia Sultana are also dressed in formal wear. They say it’s out of respect for the queen. Isaac says her sister, Razia Hadait, was just awarded MB queen’s honors list for her work supporting families of incarcerated people and is one of 200 awardees selected to attend the funeral.

Where’s everyone getting those flowers?

Overwhelmed by the volume, variety and beauty of the floral tributes to Queen Elizabeth, I set out to talk to some florists about their busy week. Perhaps unsurprisingly, they didn’t really have the time.

At bustling Victoria Station, Isle of Flowers opened up a pop-up stand on the ground floor last week to accommodate the flow of passengers rushing out to pay their respects. It's just down the escalator from their regular shop. The pop-up's last day is Monday.

As longtime employee Loreta Mujaj wrapped roses in paper and tucked them gently into the display over the weekend, she says people are buying “everything and anything.”

“The majority is the white flowers, I would say,” she muses, then adds sunflowers and roses to the list too.

She says they keep selling out of flowers and usually see the biggest crowd in the mornings — “enough to slow us down,” she says without pausing as she puts another wrapped flower on the pile beside her.

Just yards away, the small flower section at the station’s Marks & Spencer store is a little cramped. A woman and her son are heading for the exit with a freshly plucked (off the shelf, that is) bouquet.

Rachel Cockbill says they had hoped to join the line to see the queen's coffin that Saturday, but called off the plan after hearing at 5:30 a.m. that the wait would be 24 hours. Instead, they’re going back to Green Park, a royal park near Buckingham Palace where mourners are leaving flowers and notes . It's the second visit of the week for Cockbill and her son, and this time they're going with what she describes as “sort of whitey roses, because that was the queen’s favorite color flower.”

Earlier that day I had asked a pair of women on the street holding orange roses where they’d gotten their flowers ( grocery store purchases). I thanked them for their time and continued down the street, only to realize a few seconds later that they were chasing me down with outstretched arms to offer me one rose each.

I explained that I was just asking for reporting purposes, but they wouldn’t hear of it. So off I went with my single orange flower. I was still holding it as I spoke with Mujaj at the Isle of Flowers pop-up. At the end of our conversation, she handed me a white rose to make it two.

The queen’s face is everywhere in London

The world's eyes are on London these days, with residents, visitors and dignitaries coming in droves to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II.

Her death and the many formalities surrounding it have consumed the city itself. There are near-constant reminders in the form of newspaper fronts, huge crowds, traffic jams and signage.

Images of the queen — usually in black-and-white and accompanied by the years of her birth and death — are all over the city, from airport baggage claim signs to hotel interiors to storefronts to the window of McDonald’s. Some include short messages of condolences and thanks.

Here are some examples:

People are mourning — and buying lots of commemorative goods

It’s time to talk about ~queen merch~ Gift shops were already stocked with collectibles celebrating the queen’s 70th year on the throne. Now display windows and storefronts are full of souvenirs commemorating her death. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/1ykonAPapA — Rachel Treisman (@rachel_treisman) September 18, 2022

Britain's longest-reigning monarch may be gone, but you can remember her forever with her likeness on a shirt ... or a cup ... or whatever.

Royal souvenirs have been around almost as long as the British monarchy itself — people have been shelling out for Jubilee memorabilia since the 1600s, according to Buckingham Palace .

And with the death of Queen Elizabeth II, store shelves around London are packed with all kinds of products to honor her .

• Entertainment

Queen begins final journey to Windsor Castle as Charles’ last message to mother revealed

The Queen’s coffin has begun its final journey from Westminster Abbey to Windsor Castle where the late monarch will be reunited with her husband, Prince Philip.

A note on top of the Queen’s coffin during her funeral was revealed as a touching message from King Charles.

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Story continues below.

The note, which was placed on a wreath of flowers from the royal garden, simply read: ‘In loving and devoted memory, Charles R.’

The ‘R’ is for Rex, the Latin title for King, which Charles inherited when the Queen died.

Hundreds of thousands of well-wishers flocked to London and are lining the route through the capital to say their last goodbyes, while millions around the globe are watching proceedings on TV.

President Michael D. Higgins and Taoiseach Micheal Martin were among the dignitaries at Westminister this morning for the State funeral of Britain’s longest serving monarch.

The King and his siblings walked behind the coffin as it left Westminster Abbey following the state funeral, while other royals are travelling by car.

During the service, Charles was visibly moved and looked close to tears as the national anthem was sung in the Abbey.

Prince George was also comforted by his mother, Kate Middleton, during the service.

In a personal touch, the wreath adorning the Queen’s coffin had a handwritten note, which was penned by the King.

The message said: ‘In loving and devoted memory.’

The coffin is now heading to Wellington Arch at the corner of Hyde Park, before being transferred into a hearse for the journey to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

A televised committal ceremony will take place in the chapel at 4pm followed by a private interment service attended by senior royals.

Around 2,000 people attended the Queen’s funeral at Westminster Abbey, including members of royal families from across Europe, politicians from all sides of the political spectrum and world leaders, including US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron as well as the Irish delegation.

Charles and his wife, Camilla, walked immediately behind the coffin as it entered the Gothic church for the service, followed by Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, then Prince Andrew, followed by the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte walked with their parents and were followed by Prince Edward and his wife, Sophia and other members of the royal family.

During his sermon , the Archbishop of Canterbury told the congregation the outpouring of emotion for the Queen ‘arises from her abundant life and loving service, now gone from us’.

Justin Welby described the Queen as having touched ‘a multitude of lives’ and being a ‘joyful’ figure for many.

He told mourners: ‘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.

‘She was joyful, present to so many, touching a multitude of lives.’

Mr Welby, standing in the church where kings and queens have been crowned since 1066, also said that the Queen had declared on her 21st birthday ‘that her whole life would be dedicated to serving the nation and Commonwealth’.

He added: ‘Rarely has such a promise been so well kept. Few leaders receive the outpouring of love we have seen.’

Among the hymns sung at the service, The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want, was also sung at the Queen’s wedding to the Duke of Edinburgh in the abbey in 1947.

The other hymns were The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended; and Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.

As the abbey fell silent, the Queen ’s Piper, Warrant Officer Class 1 (Pipe Major) Paul Burns, played the traditional lament Sleep, Dearie, Sleep. Also played were The Last Post, Reveille and the English national anthem.

The Queen’s coffin has been draped in the Royal Standard, with the wreath of flowers requested by the King.

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

The funeral was broadcast live at around 125 cinemas and several cathedrals in the UK, and on a big screen in Holyrood Park in front of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh.

Several big screens were also set up in Hyde Park, while London’s City Hall said all public viewing areas for the Queen’s funeral procession were full.

Later on Monday evening in Windsor, there will be a private interment service with senior members of the royal family, where the Queen will be reunited with her 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.

Monday marks the climax of what is being regarded as the biggest security operation the UK has ever 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.

See more pictures from the Queen’s funeral

Never seen before picture of Queen Elizabeth shared on first anniversary of her death

Prince harry details what he said to grandmother queen elizabeth ii on her deathbed, queen’s lady in waiting resigns following ‘unacceptable and regrettable’ comments to prominent black advocate, must read news.

More: Trending News

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Prince William salutes during Queen’s final journey from Westminster Abbey

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The Queen’s coffin is now making its final journey to Windsor Castle .

Hundreds of thousands of well-wishers lined the route through the capital to say their last goodbyes, while millions around the globe watched proceedings on TV.

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

As the procession moved past the Cenotaph, 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.

Sorry, this video isn't available any more.

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.

The procession passed Buckingham Palace for the final time, as Her Majesty’s coffin travelled towards Wellington Arch.

Preceded by members of the armed forces, it was taken clockwise around the Victoria Memorial on a gun carriage drawn by naval ratings.

Staff members from the Palace said their final goodbyes as the late monarch moved by, standing with their hands clasped and heads bowed.

Mourners lining the barriers on Constitution Hill waved red and white roses as the Queen’s coffin passed them.

The King, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex appeared solemn as they walked behind.

Princess Charlotte looked out at the crowds of people lining the street as she rode past in a car with the Queen Consort, the Princess of Wales and her brother Prince George.

The Duchess of Sussex and the Countess of Wessex both appeared sombre in a vehicle directly behind.

Following them, Princess Eugenie and and Princess Beatrice waved and smiled at mourners from a third car.

The Queen’s coffin was transferred to the State Hearse at Wellington Arch ahead of beginning its journey to Windsor for a committal ceremony later this afternoon.

Members of the royal family watched on as the bearer party lifted the coffin from the State Gun Carriage and loaded it into the back of the vehicle.

Much of the procession party lined up in formation on the green next to the monument and stood in silence during the moving of the coffin.

The King and military personnel all saluted as the state hearse pulled away and the national anthem was played.

As the Queen continued on her final journey out of London cheers could be heard from the distant park crowds.

Louis Bollard came dressed in a union flag to watch the funeral on the big screens in Hyde Park and see her coffin go past on its final journey to Windsor.

Mr Bollard, 29, said: ‘The funeral was very powerful. Seeing it was quite enchanting and mesmerising to see. It was a really, really nice, fitting tribute.

‘I just wanted to see her and say my last goodbye, more to pay my respects more than anything.

‘When you see it on TV it’s one thing, but when you see the coffin yourself, it’s completely different.

‘I also helped out in the queue last night, giving out refreshments for people, but I didn’t get to see her myself, which is why I wanted to come here and do it now.’

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Queen Elizabeth's funeral: Her final journey from Westminster Abbey to Windsor

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LONDON - After the funeral service for Queen Elizabeth II at 11am local time (6pm Singapore time), the  ceremonial processions taking her coffin to London's Westminster Abbey and then towards her burial place at Windsor reflect the ancient traditions of the British monarchy.

1. Hauled by the Royal Navy

Royal Navy sailors will use ropes to pull the queen's lead-lined coffin mounted on a gun carriage from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey. Their comrades in a team of 142 sailors will walk alongside to act as a brake if necessary.

This tradition dates back to Queen Victoria's funeral in February 1901.

The horses meant to haul the gun carriage weighing more than two tons panicked and began kicking, threatening to drop the coffin.

One of the queen's relatives, Prince Louis of Battenberg, a Royal Navy captain, suggested to the new king, Edward VII, that this problem could be avoided by replacing horses with sailors.

Nine years later when Edward VII himself died, this idea was put into practice again and it has since become an unchanging tradition at state funerals.

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Eight soldiers from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards will have the task of carrying the queen's coffin from Westminster Hall to the gun carriage outside, and then into Westminster Abbey.

One of the most ancient in the British army, the regiment is one of five infantry regiments that make up the Queen's (now King's) Life Guard.

The regiment's soldiers normally wear tall bearskin hats, a uniform they copied from the grenadiers of Napoleon's Imperial Guard, defeated at Waterloo in 1815.

The soldiers will be accompanied by Service Equerries to the Queen, attendants who assist the royals in carrying out public duties.

3. Guard of Honour

Three regiments will play a particularly important role in the procession, marching very close to the queen's coffin.

The Yeomen of the Guard, the oldest military unit in the British Army created in 1485, and the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms are two former bodyguard units for the royals that now perform only a ceremonial role.

The Yeomen of the Guard always wear a red-and-gold uniform dating back to the Tudor era (16th century).

One of their best-known activities is searching the Palace of Westminster for gunpowder before the State Opening of Parliament.

This annual ritual commemorates the Gunpowder Plot, a failed attempt led by Guy Fawkes to blow up King James I and parliament in 1605.

They will be followed by members of the Royal Company of Archers, who acted as bodyguards for Elizabeth II whenever she was in Scotland.

Some detachments from other regiments in Britain and from the armed forces of the Commonwealth, a group of countries headed by the British monarch, will rejoin the funeral procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner near Buckingham Palace.

4. Queen Elizabeth II's royal house

While members of the royal family led by the new King Charles III will follow the casket, following them will be members of the queen's royal household, including the most senior officer of the royal household, the lord chamberlain.

In front of them will come the pipers and drummers of the Scottish and Irish regiments, the Brigade of Gurkhas brigade made up of soldiers from Nepal that is part of the armed forces. There will also be 200 Royal Air Force musicians.

5. 6,000 troops

Some 6,000 soldiers, sailors and pilots from the British armed forces will take part in the procession, Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Tony Radakin told the BBC on Sunday.

At several points along the route they will perform a royal salute, for example when they pass the Victoria Memorial commemorating the queen.

"For all of us, this is our last duty for Her Majesty the Queen and it's our first prominent duty for His Majesty King Charles," he said. - AFP

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Queen Elizabeth's Final Journey Through The Streets Of London - Route

Over 2,000 people, including royals from across the world and the heads of states, will attend queen elizabeth's funeral in london today..

Queen Elizabeth's coffin will be carried through the streets of London to Windsor.

Queen Elizabeth's funeral is set to be held today with her lying-in-state ceremony formally ending at 11 am (IST). The government has meticulously drawn up a plan for the funeral service and her burial with a timetable and roadmap in place for her procession through the streets of London.

Over 2,000 people, including royals from across the world and the heads of states, will attend the funeral in London. Viewing areas have also been set up for the public.

The coffin of the longest-serving British monarch, who died on September 8, will be carried on a state gun carriage at 3:14 pm for a short procession from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey, where the state funeral will begin. The funeral service will be conducted by the Dean of Westminster David Hoyle with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby giving the sermon.

The funeral service will close at 4:30 pm with the national anthem "God Save The King" being played along with a Lament, a musical expression for grief. The coffin will then be drawn on the gun carried towards the Wellington Arch at Hyde Park near the Buckingham Palace. King Charles, other royals, and detachments from the armed forces of other Commonwealth nations. The coffin will arrive at the Wellington Arch at 5:30 pm and will be moved to the royal hearse for its onward journey towards Windsor Castle.

The royal hearse will arrive in Windsor at around 8:10 pm and make its way towards the castle with the king and senior royals joining the procession on foot. The queen will be laid to rest alongside the remains of her father, King George VI, her mother, also called Queen Elizabeth, and the ashes of her young sister, Princess Margaret, at a private burial service at the King George VI Memorial Chapel around midnight. Her late husband Prince Philip's coffin will also be interred there at the same time.

The procession of the queen's coffin will travel along Broad Sanctuary, Parliament Square, Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade, Horse Guards Road, The Mall, and Constitution Hill on its way from Westminster Abbey to the Wellington Arch.

The coffin, transferred to a state hearse, will then travel along South Carriage Drive to the Albert Memorial, where it will depart for Windsor. The hearse will travel in procession along Albert Road and the Long Walk to St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. A committal service will be held at 8:40 pm at St George's chapel.

Click here for the UK government's guide to the ceremonial events for the queen's funeral. Here's a route map of the procession.

How to watch?

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Those in London can watch the procession at the viewing areas along the route of the procession in London. In total, there are eight viewing areas along the route. All events will be screened at London's Hyde Park too.

Those not in London can follow the radio and TV broadcast on the funeral.

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Last chance to say goodbye to the Queen: The coffin's route to Windsor confirmed

19 September 2022, 13:49 | Updated: 19 September 2022, 13:57

By Emma Soteriou

The route of the Queen’s final journey from London to Windsor has been revealed as mourners get one last chance to pay their respects to the late monarch.

The Queen's coffin will embark on a 25-mile journey to Windsor Castle following the procession of her state funeral at Westminster Abbey in the morning.

The route will begin in London , making its way along quieter A-roads instead of motorways, in a move that has been "planned with the public in mind", according to Buckingham Palace.

Her coffin, covered in a flag and crown jewels , will be transported to St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, arriving at about 3pm.

Read more: A son grieves for his mother: King Charles sheds a tear as world mourns the Queen

Read more: Queen’s final journey: Royals march by her side as coffin makes its way from Westminster Abbey to Windsor Castle

The hearse will pass through Hammersmith and Chiswick along the north bank of the River Thames as it continues through the capital.

It will make its way along the A4, A30 and then onto the A308, with well-wishers expected to line the roads to say their goodbyes.

What is the route of the Queen's coffin from London to Windsor?

• South Carriage Drive
• Queens Gate
• Cromwell Road
• Talgarth Road
• Great West Road (A4)
• Great South West Road (A30)
• London Road (A30)
• Staines Road (A30)
• Windsor Road (A308)
• Albert Road (A308)

The coffin will leave Westminster Abbey at 12.15pm for the procession to Wellington Arch in Hyde Park.

It will be taken from a Gun Carriage and placed into the hearse at 1pm.

Once at Windsor, the hearse will drive along The Long Walk, leading up to Windsor Castle.

Members of the Royal Family will accompany the coffin through the gates.

Road closures

Ahead of the event, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council announced 21 roads would be fully closed all day on Monday as well as between midnight and 7am on Saturday.

The council added: "Residents living in these roads won't be able to leave or enter the area when the restrictions are in place."

It has also announced 29 further partial road and junction closures for the day.

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Queen Elizabeth II's final journey: From the Westminister Hall in London to Windsor Castle

The funeral of Queen Elizabeth is set to take place on Monday, alongside processions in London and Windsor, with public viewing areas and big screens in both locations.

Listen to Story

Inside the Queen’s final journey – from London to Windsor Castle where thousands will line roads to say their goodbye

• Scarlet Howes
• Mike Sullivan
• Published : 17:06 ET, Sep 16 2022
• Updated : 1:44 ET, Sep 17 2022
• Published : Invalid Date,

HUNDREDS of thousands of the Queen’s loyal subjects are expected to line the roads as she makes her last journey from London to Windsor Castle on Monday.

The final details of the route were revealed yesterday — chosen to maximise the chance for well-wishers to bid Her Majesty farewell .

Almost 15,000 cops will be taking part in the funeral — in what has been called Britain’s biggest ever security operation.

After the state funeral, the Queen’s coffin will be drawn by Navy sailors on a gun carriage from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch, on Hyde Park Corner.

There, it will be lifted into the royal hearse to journey to Windsor Castle .

A Buckingham Palace source yesterday told The Sun: “The route was planned with the public in mind.”

Read More On The Queen's Death

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Andrew appears in military uniform as he stands vigil beside Queen’s coffin

Instead of taking the M4, which would have been the speediest route, the coffin will travel at 12mph along A-roads west from London to Berkshire .

Teams of cleaners have worked through the night and over the past 36 hours to prepare the route by litter picking, cutting verges and jet washing the roads.

The hearse will first travel through Knightsbridge on the Cromwell Road — past Harrods, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum.

It will then continue on the A4 past Earl’s Court and the Famous Three Kings pub before making its way to the Chiswick roundabout beside the landmark Fuller’s Brewery.

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Continuing on the Great West Road, it will then turn onto the A30 at Hounslow to leave central London towards Heathrow Airport .

It will then travel along the A30 towards Staines, Surrey, where it will join the A308 towards Old Windsor.

The hearse will then pass the site where the Magna Carta was signed by King John in 1215.

The famous Runnymede field is a perfect spot for mourners, and many thousands are expected to be there.

While at Runnymede, Her Majesty will pass the JFK memorial and the Air Force Memorial which honours World War Two airmen.

The hearse will then travel though the village of Old Windsor, passing the Bells of Ouzeley Harvester pub and the Toby Carvery before reaching Albert Road, which leads to Windsor and flanks the Royal Estate.

At Shaw Farm Gate, on Albert Road, the hearse will pause to be joined by King Charles III and other royals before making the journey to The Long Walk, where tens of thousands of mourners will watch it enter Windsor Castle .

Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson were seen there yesterday, looking at floral tributes.

It comes as...

• Kate and Wills reveal  how kids George, Charlotte and Louis are coping  after their great-grandmother's tragic death
• Sophie Wessex shares an  emotional hug with a well-wisher  at a memorial for Her Majesty
• Mourning Brits queue for hours  to visit the late monarch's coffin lying in state at Westminster Hall
• Prince Harry faces a lonely 38th birthday without children Archie and Lilibet
• Details of the Queen's state funeral are revealed - from  where William and Harry will stand  to  how Meghan will travel

The Duke of York, 62, looked deep in thought as he walked through the grounds to view the sea of flowers.

And in her first appearance since the Queen’s death , Sarah, 62, could be seen bending down to read the messages left by well-wishers.

It is thought the Duchess of York will attend the Queen’s funeral on Monday with her daughters Princesses Beatrice, 34, and Eugenie, 32 .

Around 10,500 Met Police officers will be on duty in London, supported by 2,000 colleagues from almost every other force.

More than 2,000 Thames Valley cops will also be present at Windsor.

Details about the huge scale of the operation emerged yesterday as police geared up to the task of protecting world leaders, hundreds of VIPs and millions of mourners.

Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said: “As a single event, this is larger than the 2012 Olympics, it is larger than the Platinum Jubilee.

"The range of officers, police staff and all those supporting the operation is truly immense.”

Mr Cundy said the funeral would be the Met’s biggest ever global security operation — with US President Joe Biden among world leaders visiting.

Mr Biden is expected to fly into the UK today.

Tomorrow, he will meet Liz Truss for their first face-to-face chat since she became PM.

The Met has drawn up contingency plans to deal with threats including terror attacks, crowd crushing and criminals looking to exploit mourners.

It comes after two women were allegedly sexually assaulted in the queue to attend the Queen’s lying in state .

A man was remanded in custody.

A total of 34 people have been arrested in London in incidents connected with the period of mourning, several of them for protesting.

Police said that number was low.

• Additional reporting: Natasha Clark and Julia Atherley

Bishops: Help all to grieve together

THE Archbishops of Canterbury and York have written an open letter urging people up and down the country to ensure no one is left to grieve alone during the Queen’s funeral.

Campaign group the Together Coalition, backed by community organisations and charities, is urging groups and individuals to reach out to those who might be alone.

Writing in The Sun, Justin Welby , the Archbishop of Canterbury, urges Britons to come together on Monday.

THE funeral of Her Majesty The Queen on Monday will be an enormous moment for this country.

It will be a great privilege to be involved but this event is not just for the people who will be in Westminster Abbey — it’s for us all.

This is a time for the nation to come together, to remember and give thanks for the life of Her Majesty .

Grief is a normal response to loss and the funeral will be an opportunity for us to face it together.

It will be a Christian service but I believe there will be something in it — perhaps a song, a prayer, or a line from the Bible — that people of any faith or no faith might find comforting.

The important thing is that we come together, because in each other we find support, comfort and care.

Jesus asks us to love our neighbour.

On Monday, that means looking out for each other, especially those who might find the day particularly hard because they are alone, or remembering loved ones they have lost.

If each of us commit to calling someone who might appreciate it, or inviting someone to watch the funeral with us, or meeting friends or family, we can make sure no one feels alone and isolated on Monday.

I believe God is close to those who suffer.

But He also reminds us to show that same love to other people and be part of a community that cares for each other.

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We are urging firms, councils and public spaces to do what they can to open up places where people can be together.

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Inside the Queen’s final journey – from London to Windsor Castle where thousands will line roads to say their goodbye

• Scarlet Howes
• Mike Sullivan
• Published : 22:06, 16 Sep 2022
• Updated : 6:43, 17 Sep 2022
• Published : Invalid Date,

HUNDREDS of thousands of the Queen’s loyal subjects are expected to line the roads as she makes her last journey from London to Windsor Castle on Monday.

The final details of the route were revealed yesterday — chosen to maximise the chance for well-wishers to bid Her Majesty farewell .

Almost 15,000 cops will be taking part in the funeral — in what has been called Britain’s biggest ever security operation.

After the state funeral, the Queen’s coffin will be drawn by Navy sailors on a gun carriage from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch, on Hyde Park Corner.

There, it will be lifted into the royal hearse to journey to Windsor Castle .

A Buckingham Palace source yesterday told The Sun: “The route was planned with the public in mind.”

Read More On The Queen's Death

Charles 'would strip Harry & Meg of titles' if Netflix doc damages The Firm

Andrew appears in military uniform as he stands vigil beside Queen’s coffin

Instead of taking the M4, which would have been the speediest route, the coffin will travel at 12mph along A-roads west from London to Berkshire.

Teams of cleaners have worked through the night and over the past 36 hours to prepare the route by litter picking, cutting verges and jet washing the roads.

The hearse will first travel through Knightsbridge on the Cromwell Road — past Harrods, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum.

It will then continue on the A4 past Earl’s Court and the Famous Three Kings pub before making its way to the Chiswick roundabout beside the landmark Fuller’s Brewery.

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Continuing on the Great West Road, it will then turn onto the A30 at Hounslow to leave central London towards Heathrow Airport.

It will then travel along the A30 towards Staines, Surrey, where it will join the A308 towards Old Windsor.

The hearse will then pass the site where the Magna Carta was signed by King John in 1215.

The famous Runnymede field is a perfect spot for mourners, and many thousands are expected to be there.

While at Runnymede, Her Majesty will pass the JFK memorial and the Air Force Memorial which honours World War Two airmen.

The hearse will then travel though the village of Old Windsor, passing the Bells of Ouzeley Harvester pub and the Toby Carvery before reaching Albert Road, which leads to Windsor and flanks the Royal Estate.

At Shaw Farm Gate, on Albert Road, the hearse will pause to be joined by King Charles III and other royals before making the journey to The Long Walk, where tens of thousands of mourners will watch it enter Windsor Castle .

Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson were seen there yesterday, looking at floral tributes.

It comes as...

• Kate and Wills reveal  how kids George, Charlotte and Louis are coping  after their great-grandmother's tragic death
• Sophie Wessex shares an  emotional hug with a well-wisher  at a memorial for Her Majesty
• Mourning Brits queue for hours  to visit the late monarch's coffin lying in state at Westminster Hall
• Prince  Harry faces a lonely 38th birthday  without children Archie and Lilibet
• Details of the  Queen's state funeral  are revealed - from  where William and Harry will stand  to  how Meghan will travel

The Duke of York, 62, looked deep in thought as he walked through the grounds to view the sea of flowers.

And in her first appearance since the Queen’s death , Sarah, 62, could be seen bending down to read the messages left by well-wishers.

It is thought the Duchess of York will attend the Queen’s funeral on Monday with her daughters Princesses Beatrice, 34, and Eugenie, 32 .

Around 10,500 Met Police officers will be on duty in London, supported by 2,000 colleagues from almost every other force.

More than 2,000 Thames Valley cops will also be present at Windsor.

Details about the huge scale of the operation emerged yesterday as police geared up to the task of protecting world leaders, hundreds of VIPs and millions of mourners.

Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said: “As a single event, this is larger than the 2012 Olympics, it is larger than the Platinum Jubilee.

"The range of officers, police staff and all those supporting the operation is truly immense.”

Mr Cundy said the funeral would be the Met’s biggest ever global security operation — with US President Joe Biden among world leaders visiting.

Mr Biden is expected to fly into the UK today.

Tomorrow, he will meet Liz Truss for their first face-to-face chat since she became PM.

The Met has drawn up contingency plans to deal with threats including terror attacks, crowd crushing and criminals looking to exploit mourners.

It comes after two women were allegedly sexually assaulted in the queue to attend the Queen’s lying in state .

A man was remanded in custody.

A total of 34 people have been arrested in London in incidents connected with the period of mourning, several of them for protesting.

Police said that number was low.

• Additional reporting: Natasha Clark and Julia Atherley

Bishops: Help all to grieve together

THE Archbishops of Canterbury and York have written an open letter urging people up and down the country to ensure no one is left to grieve alone during the Queen’s funeral.

Campaign group the Together Coalition, backed by community organisations and charities, is urging groups and individuals to reach out to those who might be alone.

Writing in The Sun, Justin Welby , the Archbishop of Canterbury, urges Britons to come together on Monday.

THE funeral of Her Majesty The Queen on Monday will be an enormous moment for this country.

It will be a great privilege to be involved but this event is not just for the people who will be in Westminster Abbey — it’s for us all.

This is a time for the nation to come together, to remember and give thanks for the life of Her Majesty .

Grief is a normal response to loss and the funeral will be an opportunity for us to face it together.

It will be a Christian service but I believe there will be something in it — perhaps a song, a prayer, or a line from the Bible — that people of any faith or no faith might find comforting.

The important thing is that we come together, because in each other we find support, comfort and care.

Jesus asks us to love our neighbour.

On Monday, that means looking out for each other, especially those who might find the day particularly hard because they are alone, or remembering loved ones they have lost.

If each of us commit to calling someone who might appreciate it, or inviting someone to watch the funeral with us, or meeting friends or family, we can make sure no one feels alone and isolated on Monday.

I believe God is close to those who suffer.

But He also reminds us to show that same love to other people and be part of a community that cares for each other.

Read More on The Sun

Kate's gesture for young girl who wanted to leave Corgi teddy for Queen

Charles stunned after man roller skates in front of his car and is arrested

That was what Her Majesty taught us as well — that we can face hard days together, knowing we are never alone.

We are urging firms, councils and public spaces to do what they can to open up places where people can be together.

• Royal Family
• The Sun Newspaper
• Prince Charles
• Westminster
• Windsor Castle

2,300 police to oversee Queen’s journey to Windsor Castle

Around 2,300 police officers will oversee the Queen’s final journey from Westminster Abbey to Windsor Castle .

One thousand officers, alongside military personnel, will line the route from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch, as the Queen’s coffin is transported from the funeral service by gun carriage.

More than 3,000 officers from forces outside London will form part of the 10,000-strong team policing the funeral on Monday, which Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy described as the “final and most complex phase” of the operation after the death of the monarch.

Speaking to the PA news agency in the specialist operations room of the capital’s police force on Sunday, Mr Cundy said: “This is a policing operation the Met has been planning for a considerable amount of time but on Monday we will enter our final and most complex phase of our policing operation.

“First and foremost, our priority is to ensure a safe and a secure state funeral and processional route, but also safe and secure for everyone who’s attending.

“As part of the route from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch, we will have 1,000 police officers alongside military personnel lining the route.

“Those officers will be engaging with the huge crowds that we’re expecting in London and I’d ask anybody, if you are coming to London, to pay your respects and to see Her Majesty the Queen: if you see anything out of the ordinary, if you hear anything suspicious, please speak to one of the thousands of police officers who will be on duty.”

Speaking about the final leg of the procession, he added: “As Her Majesty the Queen takes her final journey across London and then to Windsor, we will have another 1,300 officers as part of that route.

“We have a well-developed and a well-rehearsed plan with Thames Valley Police and the Surrey Police as Her Majesty the Queen makes her final journey.”

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The Metropolitan Police said the 1,300 officers on the route between London and Windsor would be working in “a mobile capacity”.

Asked how officers would respond to any potential demonstrations, Mr Cundy said officers had been briefed and the force would “always take a balanced and proportionate response to whatever issues that we find”.

“Over the last week we have had so many people coming here to London to pay their respects to Her Majesty the Queen.

“All of our officers who will be on duty for the state funeral and for the route and across London have been briefed, they understand what their role is, and they all feel immensely privileged to be part of this overall police response.

“We will always take a balanced and proportionate response to whatever issues that we find. And we will only take action that is absolutely necessary.”

Speaking about concerns for the safety of officers after the stabbing of two members of the Met on duty in Westminster on Friday morning, Mr Cundy said: “The terrible, serious stabbing of two of our colleagues will always send a shockwave across all of us within the Met Police.

“I’m pleased to say that one of those officers has been released from hospital.

“We are professional in what we do, we have an absolute focus on what our responsibilities are, and on Monday for the state funeral, first and foremost our role is to ensure a safe and secure state funeral route and for all those who are coming to London.”

The specialist operations room in Lambeth is the largest of its kind in UK policing, and has played a central role in managing the capital’s largest events, including the 2012 Olympics and Trooping the Colour ceremonies.

On Saturday, King Charles III met new Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley and officers involved in the security operation.

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Dad Who Filmed Kate Middleton Blasts 'Delusional' Conspiracies: 'I Saw Them with My Own Eyes'

Nelson Silva, who saw the Prince and Princess of Wales at a farm shop in Windsor, said he's "shocked" that rumors about Kate's health have continued after the video was shared

Janine Henni is a Royals Staff Writer for PEOPLE Digital, covering modern monarchies and the world's most famous families. Like Queen Elizabeth, she loves horses and a great tiara moment.

Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty

The man behind the camera of Kate Middleton 's first public outing caught on video following her abdominal surgery is speaking out.

On Tuesday, Nelson Silva spoke to The Sun about the skepticism surrounding Princess Kate’s visit to the Windsor Farm Shop with Prince William on Saturday. The outlet credited him for filming the clip, which went wide online after TMZ published it on Monday with co-credit to The Sun , which was the first to report news of Kate's post-procedure outing.

"This is a video clearly showing her and William. I saw them with my own eyes. It was a completely relaxed situation," Silva told The Sun , adding that the conspiracy theorists who don't believe it's Princess Kate in the video are "delusional."

According to the outlet, the engineer lives in the area with his family and was shopping for steak when he spotted the Prince and Princess of Wales, who looked "relaxed and happy."

Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty Images

"I had about 40 minutes to kill and decided to get some produce. I went into the shop and at first I noticed their figures, they were standing near the bread," he explained. The local dad said he wound up behind the royals in the meat section, where the couple chatted with the staff.

"I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but the staff seemed overwhelmed in a nice way. When I went to pay for my produce, the girl at the counter was so shocked she was hardly breathing," Silva told The Sun . He added that there was a "really nice atmosphere" to Prince William and Princess Kate’s visit, and as he made his way to the car, he decided to start filming a video to show his family in Portugal. 

"I started to record as they walked towards the car park. They just looked very happy and relaxed together. William was obviously protective of Kate, and I quickly stopped recording because I didn’t want to make them uncomfortable," Silva said. 

Silva described filming William and Kate’s off-duty moment, where they wore casual clothes and carried shopping bags, as out of his comfort zone. He added that the clip was originally only intended to be for his family. 

"But I realized that this video of two people happy and shopping could help make all these rumors fall flat," Silva said.

SUZANNE PLUNKETT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The video of Prince William, 41, and Princess Kate, 42, walking through a parking lot at the Windsor Farm Shop has been viewed over 29 million times on X since TMZ shared it on Monday. However, conspiracy theories about the clip circulated online.

"I’m not so much shocked that these comments have continued, I’m just confused how exactly they can continue," he told The Sun.

He added, "What more do you need to lay off her? I thought after this was released they’d go quiet."

ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty

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The Princess of Wales was last seen in public on Christmas Day for the royal family’s traditional church outing at Sandringham. Kensington Palace announced on Jan. 17 that she had " planned abdominal surgery " the day prior and was unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter. Kate was seen for the first time since the procedure on March 4 in the passenger seat of a car driven by her mother, Carole Middleton , and photographed again last Monday in the backseat of a car with Prince William.

PEOPLE understands that Princess Kate was heading to a private appointment while Prince William joined fellow members of the royal family for the annual Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration at Westminster Abbey.

Kate Middleton and Prince William Spotted Leaving Windsor Castle Amid Photo Controversy

Hours after kate middleton apologized for "any confusion" caused by her edited family picture, the princess of wales was photographed leaving windsor castle alongside husband prince william march 11..

Kate Middleton is sticking to her schedule.

Shortly after issuing an apology over her edited family photo , the Princess of Wales was spotted leaving Windsor Castle alongside husband  Prince William  March 11. In photos published by the  Daily Mail , the couple was seen sitting next to each other in the backseat of a car as Kate— who is recovering from abdominal surgery —looked out of her window.

At the time they were photographed, William was en route to Commonwealth Day services at London's Westminster Abbey while Kate was heading to an appointment, according to multiple reports .

Earlier in the day, Kate reacted to the controversy over the Mother's Day U.K. portrait she shared on her and William's social media accounts March 10. 

"Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing," the 42-year-old wrote on X , formerly known as Twitter. "I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother's Day. C."

The photo in question, which featured her kids   Prince George , 10,  Princess Charlotte , 8, and  Prince Louis , 5, was pulled from photo agencies amid accusations it had been manipulated. 

"The Associated Press initially published the photo, which was issued by Kensington Palace," AP said in a statement to NBC News March 10. "The AP later retracted the image because at closer inspection, it appears that the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet AP's photo standards. The photo shows an inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte's left hand."

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This incident has only continued to fuel social media  conspiracy theories , which have been running rampant amid Kate's time out of the public eye. In fact, the family photo was supposed to mark the first official portrait of Kate since her operation, though it has now made headlines for other reasons. 

E! News has reached out to Kensington Palace for additional comment and has not heard back.

Since announcing Kate's health news in early 2024, the Palace has maintained that she will remain out of the spotlight until Easter March 31. 

"The Princess of Wales wishes to apologize to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements," their Jan. 17 statement noted. "She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible."

Kate herself even addressed royal fans in her Mother's Day message. "Thank you for your kind wishes," she captioned the family portrait, "and continued support over the last two months."

To revisit the latest royal family news, including King Charles III 's own health journey , keep reading...

Kate Middleton Apologizes for Edited Family Photo Controversy

After photo agencies pulled the picture Kensington Palace shared of Kate since having her abdominal surgery on March 10, the Princess of Wales addressed claims the photo was doctored. 

"Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing," she tweeted on March 11. "I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother's Day. C."

Lady Kitty Spencer Privately Welcomes Baby

Princess Diana 's niece  celebrated Mother's Day in the U.K. by sharing she and her husband Michael Lewis privately welcomed their first baby.

“It’s the joy of my life to be your mummy, little one. I love you unconditionally," she captioned her March 10 Instagram post . "Happy Mother’s Day to those who celebrate today."

Queen Camilla Takes a Break

After keeping up her full slate of engagements in the wake of her husband's cancer diagnosis, the palace cleared Camilla's schedule.

The Times pointed out March 2 that the 76-year-old didn't have any engagements on her calendar until March 11, when she'd be due at Westminster Abbey to observe Commonwealth Day.

Thomas Kensington Dies at 45

The husband of Lady Gabriella Windsor and ex-boyfriend of Pippa Middleton , was found dead Feb. 25. Days later, a coroner's inquest found that he died by suicide.

King Charles Diagnosed With Cancer

While King Charles III was in the hospital for his benign prostate enlargement procedure, the royal family member was diagnosed with cancer .

"His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties," Buckingham Palace said Feb. 5. "Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible."

Sarah Ferguson Is Diagnosed With a Second Type of Cancer

The Duchess of York's rep said in a statement on Jan. 21 that Sarah was recently diagnosed with malignant melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer. Several months prior, she underwent a single mastectomy to treat breast cancer.

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark Abdicates the Throne

On Jan. 14, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark made history as she officially abdicated the throne, handing the crown over to her son, now known as King Frederik the 10th . 

Kate Middleton Is Hospitalized

Kensington Palace announced on Jan. 17 that Kate Middleton underwent planned abdominal surgery and was set to remain in the hospital for 10 to 14 days.

"Based on the current medical advice," the Palace said, "she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter."

Prince William Adjusting His Schedule

Amid Kate's recovery, Prince William postponed a number of engagements as he supported his family, including the couple's three children, Prince George , Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis .

King Charles III Undergoing Treatment

Shortly after Kate's hospitalization was made public, Buckingham Palace shared that Charles "has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate."

"His Majesty's condition is benign and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure," the statement added. "The King’s public engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation."

Luxembourg Welcomes a New Baby

Princess Claire and Prince Felix of Luxembourg welcomed son Balthazar Felix Karl on Jan. 7, the first royal baby of the New Year!

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Image of Queen Elizabeth II was 'digitally enhanced at source', Getty picture agency says

Kensington Palace shared the picture on 21 April last year, saying it was taken by the Princess of Wales at Balmoral in the summer of 2022.

Tuesday 19 March 2024 15:46, UK

A photograph of the late Queen, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, was "digitally enhanced at source", according to Getty Images.

The picture agency says it has added an editor's note to the image, which was shared by Kensington Palace in April 2023 on what would have been the late Queen 's 97th birthday.

The palace shared the picture on 21 April last year, saying it was taken by the Princess of Wales at Balmoral in the summer of 2022.

In a statement, Getty said: "Getty Images can confirm that in accordance with its editorial policy it has placed an editor's note on a handout image stating the image has been digitally enhanced at source."

The decision by Getty follows picture agencies issuing a "kill notice" for a photo released on Mother's Day by the Princess of Wales. She later admitted to editing the image.

A photo forensics expert has told Sky News the alterations made to the image featuring the late Queen are a better editing job than Kate's Mother's Day photo - and might not have been made by the same graphic artist.

There are at least three vertical splices and a variation in the number of light reflections in their eyes, they said.

Major international picture agencies pulled the Mother's Day photograph amid concerns "the source had manipulated the image" after people cited several peculiarities, including issues with Princess Charlotte 's sleeve, the uneven pattern on Prince Louis 's jumper and the window frame behind Prince George .

It was supposed to be a family photo to mark Mother's Day - and to quell speculation about Kate's health and whereabouts.

But the release of the picture of the Princess of Wales with her three children by Kensington Palace ended up triggering more conspiracy theories.

Today would have been Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s 97th birthday. This photograph - showing her with some of her grandchildren and great grandchildren - was taken at Balmoral last summer. 📸 The Princess pic.twitter.com/1FOU4Ne5DX — The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) April 21, 2023

The 42-year-old future queen was admitted to the London Clinic for a planned abdominal surgery on 16 January.

She was last officially pictured on Christmas Day as she attended the Royal Family 's annual church service in Sandringham, Norfolk.

However, several images of the princess have been published this month.

US celebrity news site TMZ published a picture of Kate wearing dark sunglasses and sitting in the passenger seat of a black Audi being driven by her mother, Carole Middleton, which it says was taken near Windsor Castle on 4 March.

A photo of her leaving Windsor in a car with Prince William as he was driven to the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in London was published a week later.

Kate did not attend the service, but is understood to have had a private appointment.

Yesterday, footage of Kate and William was published by The Sun , which the newspaper said was taken on Saturday at Windsor Farm Shop, close to their Adelaide Cottage home in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

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It showed a smiling Kate walking alongside and chatting with her husband and carrying a large white bag.

The couple also spent Sunday morning watching their children taking part in a sports event, according to The Sun.

Read more from Sky News: Trust in royals not dented by conspiracies, poll shows Kate's doctored photo poses big questions of royals What the data says about Kate's edited photo 'Where is Kate?': US reaction to royal story is 'extraordinary'

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A spokesperson for Kate said she was "making good progress" when she returned home to Windsor following her operation.

The London Clinic is the private hospital where the King underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate in the new year.

Charles, 75, visited his daughter-in-law's bedside after being admitted himself on 26 January.

Kate is not expected to return to official royal duties until after Easter.

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Inside the Queen’s final journey – from London to Windsor Castle where thousands will line roads to say their goodbye

• Scarlet Howes
• Mike Sullivan
• Published : 22:06, 16 Sep 2022
• Updated : 6:43, 17 Sep 2022
• Published : Invalid Date,

HUNDREDS of thousands of the Queen’s loyal subjects are expected to line the roads as she makes her last journey from London to Windsor Castle on Monday.

The final details of the route were revealed yesterday — chosen to maximise the chance for well-wishers to bid Her Majesty farewell .

Almost 15,000 cops will be taking part in the funeral — in what has been called Britain’s biggest ever security operation.

After the state funeral, the Queen’s coffin will be drawn by Navy sailors on a gun carriage from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch, on Hyde Park Corner.

There, it will be lifted into the royal hearse to journey to Windsor Castle .

A Buckingham Palace source yesterday told The Sun: “The route was planned with the public in mind.”

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Instead of taking the M4, which would have been the speediest route, the coffin will travel at 12mph along A-roads west from London to Berkshire .

Teams of cleaners have worked through the night and over the past 36 hours to prepare the route by litter picking, cutting verges and jet washing the roads.

The hearse will first travel through Knightsbridge on the Cromwell Road — past Harrods, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum.

It will then continue on the A4 past Earl’s Court and the Famous Three Kings pub before making its way to the Chiswick roundabout beside the landmark Fuller’s Brewery.

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Continuing on the Great West Road, it will then turn onto the A30 at Hounslow to leave central London towards Heathrow Airport .

It will then travel along the A30 towards Staines, Surrey, where it will join the A308 towards Old Windsor.

The hearse will then pass the site where the Magna Carta was signed by King John in 1215.

The famous Runnymede field is a perfect spot for mourners, and many thousands are expected to be there.

While at Runnymede, Her Majesty will pass the JFK memorial and the Air Force Memorial which honours World War Two airmen.

The hearse will then travel though the village of Old Windsor, passing the Bells of Ouzeley Harvester pub and the Toby Carvery before reaching Albert Road, which leads to Windsor and flanks the Royal Estate.

At Shaw Farm Gate, on Albert Road, the hearse will pause to be joined by King Charles III and other royals before making the journey to The Long Walk, where tens of thousands of mourners will watch it enter Windsor Castle .

Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson were seen there yesterday, looking at floral tributes.

It comes as...

• Kate and Wills reveal  how kids George, Charlotte and Louis are coping  after their great-grandmother's tragic death
• Sophie Wessex shares an  emotional hug with a well-wisher  at a memorial for Her Majesty
• Mourning Brits queue for hours  to visit the late monarch's coffin lying in state at Westminster Hall
• Prince  Harry faces a lonely 38th birthday  without children Archie and Lilibet
• Details of the  Queen's state funeral  are revealed - from  where William and Harry will stand  to  how Meghan will travel

The Duke of York, 62, looked deep in thought as he walked through the grounds to view the sea of flowers.

And in her first appearance since the Queen’s death , Sarah, 62, could be seen bending down to read the messages left by well-wishers.

It is thought the Duchess of York will attend the Queen’s funeral on Monday with her daughters Princesses Beatrice, 34, and Eugenie, 32 .

Around 10,500 Met Police officers will be on duty in London, supported by 2,000 colleagues from almost every other force.

More than 2,000 Thames Valley cops will also be present at Windsor.

Details about the huge scale of the operation emerged yesterday as police geared up to the task of protecting world leaders, hundreds of VIPs and millions of mourners.

Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said: “As a single event, this is larger than the 2012 Olympics, it is larger than the Platinum Jubilee.

"The range of officers, police staff and all those supporting the operation is truly immense.”

Mr Cundy said the funeral would be the Met’s biggest ever global security operation — with US President Joe Biden among world leaders visiting.

Mr Biden is expected to fly into the UK today.

Tomorrow, he will meet Liz Truss for their first face-to-face chat since she became PM.

The Met has drawn up contingency plans to deal with threats including terror attacks , crowd crushing and criminals looking to exploit mourners.

It comes after two women were allegedly sexually assaulted in the queue to attend the Queen’s lying in state .

A man was remanded in custody.

A total of 34 people have been arrested in London in incidents connected with the period of mourning, several of them for protesting.

Police said that number was low.

• Additional reporting: Natasha Clark and Julia Atherley

Bishops: Help all to grieve together

THE Archbishops of Canterbury and York have written an open letter urging people up and down the country to ensure no one is left to grieve alone during the Queen’s funeral.

Campaign group the Together Coalition, backed by community organisations and charities, is urging groups and individuals to reach out to those who might be alone.

Writing in The Sun, Justin Welby , the Archbishop of Canterbury, urges Britons to come together on Monday.

THE funeral of Her Majesty The Queen on Monday will be an enormous moment for this country.

It will be a great privilege to be involved but this event is not just for the people who will be in Westminster Abbey — it’s for us all.

This is a time for the nation to come together, to remember and give thanks for the life of Her Majesty .

Grief is a normal response to loss and the funeral will be an opportunity for us to face it together.

It will be a Christian service but I believe there will be something in it — perhaps a song, a prayer, or a line from the Bible — that people of any faith or no faith might find comforting.

The important thing is that we come together, because in each other we find support, comfort and care.

Jesus asks us to love our neighbour.

On Monday, that means looking out for each other, especially those who might find the day particularly hard because they are alone, or remembering loved ones they have lost.

If each of us commit to calling someone who might appreciate it, or inviting someone to watch the funeral with us, or meeting friends or family, we can make sure no one feels alone and isolated on Monday.

I believe God is close to those who suffer.

But He also reminds us to show that same love to other people and be part of a community that cares for each other.

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That was what Her Majesty taught us as well — that we can face hard days together, knowing we are never alone.

We are urging firms, councils and public spaces to do what they can to open up places where people can be together.

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• Queen Elizabeth II
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Queen Camilla and Prince William share a giggle as they lead royals at Commonwealth Day service in King's absence - with Anne, Sophie and Edward among VIPs gathered in Westminster Abbey

Queen Camilla and Prince William  were seen sharing a giggle as they led the royals at today's Commonwealth Day Service while King Charles continues his recovery from cancer .

The Prince of Wales and the Queen appeared to put a day of royal chaos behind them as they were joined by  Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh  at Westminster Abbey.

The heir to the throne was pictured leaving Windsor Castle with the Princess of Wales . However, she did not attend the service due to her continuing recovery from the 'planned abdominal surgery' she had in January. 

MailOnline understands that Kate - who last stepped out with the Royal Family for the Christmas  Day church service at Sandringham - was heading to a private appointment instead. 

It came as Kensington Palace came under increasing pressure to release the original Mother's Day photograph after the Princess of Wales apologised after she admitted she had edited the family portrait of herself sitting with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis .

Experts told MailOnline it was changed using Photoshop and related AI tools.

William, dressed in a dark blue suit, could be seen speaking to guests at today's service. 

The Prince of Wales chatted with the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal as they waited near the Great West Door for the Queen to finish meeting people in the welcoming line.

READ MORE:  Kate Middleton is pictured leaving Windsor Castle in car with William as she heads for 'private appointment' - while Prince makes his way to Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey  

The prince greeted Edward with a friendly pat on the arm and a kiss on both cheeks, before standing in conversation with his aunts and uncle.

As Camilla approached, William was seen to say 'hello' to his stepmother before moving forward to kiss her on both cheeks.

They smiled and chatted as they stood side by side ready for the national anthem to be played.

Outside Westminster Abbey, a handful of protesters had gathered with  bright yellow placards bearing the slogan 'Down with the Crown'.

Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, said: 'The royals need to stop using the Commonwealth as a vehicle for their own PR.

'The platitudes we hear from Charles and Camilla only serve to paper over serious concerns about human rights abuses and a lack of democracy in many Commonwealth countries.

'The royal family funded, promoted and defended slavery for centuries, and then presided over an empire that caused untold damage to people's lives that continues to have an impact to this day.

'Reparations are a reasonable demand. As a hereditary monarch, Charles can hardly argue that what his ancestors did has nothing to do with him.'

Earlier today, the Princess of Wales publicly apologised after admitting editing the image William took of her and their children which was released by Kensington Palace to mark Mother's Day. 

Kate said sorry with a statement on social media which read: 'Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.

'I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused.

'I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother's Day. C.'

The photograph of Kate and her children was the first to be issued since the princess's abdominal surgery and was released by the Palace to mark Mother's Day.

But it was withdrawn with a 'Kill' notice by international picture agencies hours later, and the UK's PA news agency on Monday, because of suspicions it had been manipulated.

Royal sources said the Princess of Wales made 'minor adjustments' and that Kate and the Prince of Wales wanted to offer an informal picture of the family together for Mother's Day.

'This was an amateur, family photograph taken by the Prince of Wales. Their Royal Highnesses wanted to offer an informal picture of the family together for Mother's Day,' the source said.

'The Princess made minor adjustments as she shared in her statement on social media, the Wales family spent Mother's Day together and had a wonderful day.'

Despite calls for the original to be published, Kensington Palace said it would not be reissuing the unedited photograph of Kate and her children.

While Charles is unable to attend the service in person, he has thanked people for their 'wonderfully kind and thoughtful good wishes' over his cancer diagnosis in a video address to be played at Westminster Abbey.

In a royal first, he has recorded an address that will be played to the congregation, reflecting on the journey the Commonwealth has made since its inception in 1949. 

In his absence, the family is being led by the Queen, William and an extended roster of royals including the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.

The King's video was filmed last month at Windsor Castle, one of the places where His Majesty has been recuperating.

He refers to the origins of the Commonwealth in the network of countries that once formed the British Empire, saying: 'The 75th anniversary of the Commonwealth is a moment to reflect on the remarkable journey our unique family of free and independent nations has made since 1949.

'Last year, the Bahamas celebrated its 50th anniversary of Independence, as Grenada has this year, and Papua New Guinea will next year.

'Each of these milestones – and many others like them – represent the fulfilment of countless aspirations and the achievement of such remarkable potential.

'And the Commonwealth's growth, with new members continuing to join our family of nations, demonstrates clearly that whilst we may not all have a shared history, we have common ambitions for a better future – working together to build resilience and respond to global challenges.' 

In what many will interpret as a veiled reference to colonialism and slavery, the King referenced 'inequalities and injustices' of the past 'which still resonate today' and urged member nations to continue to 'find ways of healing'. 

Referring to climate change, the loss of nature and the social and economic changes new technologies are bringing, he said: 'Our diversity means that these challenges affect us all differently and that we experience their impacts in different ways.

'Their seriousness, however, is common to each one of us. All of this means that we must work together to understand each other's perspectives, including the inequalities and injustices which still resonate to this day.

'We must find ways of healing, and to support each other to pursue solutions. I cannot say often enough that it is by coming together that we create the best chances to improve our world and the lives of people everywhere.'

The King concludes: 'In recent weeks, I have been most deeply touched by your wonderfully kind and thoughtful good wishes for my health and, in return, can only continue to serve you, to the best of my ability, throughout the Commonwealth.' 

Photos show just how divided the royal family has become

• The royal family has been in turmoil for years now.
• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from royal life in 2020, sparking ongoing tensions.
• Kate Middleton's photo-editing scandal exposed new divisions in the royal family.

From Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's departure from their royal duties to the deaths of Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth to Kate Middleton's photo-editing scandal, the royal family has been in turmoil for years.

Popularity is essential to the survival of the monarchy. With taxpayers shelling out around £300 million , or about $381 million, to sustain the institution each year, nonstop royal scandals — as well as King Charles III's cancer diagnosis — have left the monarchy more vulnerable than ever .

A photo recap of the last four years of royal life shows how divisions in the royal family have grown.

Tensions appeared high at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's final royal engagement in March 2020, where they didn't interact with Prince William and Kate Middleton.

After announcing their decision to step back as senior working royals, Harry and Meghan reunited with royal family members at the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey.

William and Kate chatted with Prince Edward (then Earl of Wessex) and Sophie (then Countess of Wessex), but did not appear to speak to or make eye contact with Harry and Meghan, who were seated a row behind them.

In March 2021, Harry and Meghan dropped bombshell after bombshell in a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey.

The couple said that some royal family members expressed concerns about how dark Archie's skin would be before he was born, and that Meghan felt suicidal due to constant bombardment from British tabloids. Meghan also said that she was "silenced" by the royal family , unable to defend herself against numerous false reports while other family members' reputations were prioritized.

"That was hard to reconcile because it was only once we were married and everything started to really worsen that I came to understand that not only was I not being protected, but that they were willing to lie to protect other members of the family," she said. "They weren't willing to tell the truth to protect me and my husband."

After the interview aired, Buckingham Palace issued a statement calling the issues Meghan and Harry raised "concerning."

"Whilst some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately," the statement said.

William and Harry didn't walk side-by-side at Prince Phillip's funeral in April 2021, which the palace said was a "practical change."

At Prince Phillip's funeral procession , Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips, walked between William and Harry.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson told People magazine that the arrangement was "a practical change rather than sending a signal."

"This is a funeral and we are not going to be drawn into perceptions of drama," the palace spokesperson said. "The arrangements have been agreed and represent Her Majesty's wishes."

While they didn't walk next to each other at the funeral, William and Harry were seen walking and talking together afterwards.

At Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022, Harry and Meghan were seated far away from other royal family members.

Charles (then Prince of Wales), Camilla (then Duchess of Cornwall), William, and Kate were all seated in the front row on the left side of the church. Harry and Meghan were located on the opposite side of the aisle in the second row.

After Queen Elizabeth's death in September 2022, the former "Fab Four" made a rare joint appearance ahead of her funeral.

Entertainment Tonight reported that William reached out to Harry an hour before he and Kate were scheduled to walk around Windsor Castle to view tributes left in the Queen's memory to ask if he and Meghan wanted to join.

Greeting members of the public in black outfits, it marked the first appearance of the group formerly known as the "Fab Four" since Harry and Meghan stepped back from their royal roles in March 2020.

At Queen Elizabeth's funeral, Harry reportedly wasn't permitted to wear his military uniform, creating a stark contrast with his other family members.

Only working members of the royal family were allowed to wear military uniforms to the Queen's funeral events, The Telegraph reported. Hello! magazine reported that Harry didn't salute at the funeral for the same reason.

When Harry stepped back from his role as a working royal, he was stripped of the title "His Royal Highness" and his military patronages, despite two tours in Afghanistan throughout his 10-year military career.

Harry was ultimately allowed to wear his military dress to stand guard over the Queen's casket before the funeral but still wore a morning suit to the funeral itself.

"His decade of military service is not determined by the uniform he wears and we respectfully ask that focus remain on the life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II," a spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex told Business Insider in a statement.

In December 2022, the Netflix docuseries "Harry & Meghan" shared new details of their tumultuous royal life.

In the docuseries , Harry said that it's "normal" for royal family members to exert financial control over other members, and called the palace's relationship with the British press a "dirty game" that involves leaking and planting stories to sabotage some family members in order to protect others.

"If the comms team want to be able to remove a negative story about their principal, they will trade and give you something about someone else's principal," he said. "So the offices end up working against each other."

The docuseries began with a title card reading "Members of the Royal Family declined to comment on the content within this series." Palace sources reportedly disputed this statement, saying they weren't given the chance to comment, but a source at Netflix told Business Insider in 2022 that Charles' and William's offices were contacted ahead of its premiere.

A month later, Harry's explosive tell-all memoir, "Spare," hit shelves worldwide.

"Spare" sold a record-breaking 1.43 million copies on its first day, surpassing first-day sales of both Michelle Obama and Barack Obama's best-selling memoirs, The New York Times reported. Harry reportedly was paid a $20 million advance in a multi-book deal.

With anecdotes from Harry's upbringing, rivalry with William, and courtship with Meghan, the book provided an unprecedented glimpse into the personal lives of the royal family.

In the book, Harry referred to William as his "beloved brother and archnemesis" and wrote that William physically attacked him after an argument. He also wrote that he'd asked Charles not to marry Camilla and suspected her of leaking private conversations to the press.

At Charles' coronation in May 2023, Harry was seated two rows behind Kate with Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank.

Meghan did not attend the coronation and stayed home with their children, Archie and Lilibet , instead.

It was a quick 28-hour trip to London for Harry, during which he was not seen interacting with William .

After Kate's extended absence from public life while recovering from surgery, an altered Mother's Day photo exposed cracks in her and William's once-united front.

In January, the palace announced that Kate would undergo "planned abdominal surgery" and pause public engagements until after Easter while she recovered.

When William issued a rare solo statement about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and missed a church service in February due to a "personal matter," speculation about her prolonged absence erupted on social media.

In a statement to Business Insider, the palace clarified that Kate was "doing well" and that they would not be providing daily updates.

Then came Mother's Day.

Kensington Palace released a photo of Kate posing with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis thanking the public for their "kind wishes and continued support over the last two months" — the first official photo of her since surgery.

After numerous inconsistencies in the photo sparked questions about its authenticity, photo agencies issued kill notifications , with the AP saying that it would no longer distribute the photo because "it appears the source has manipulated the image."

The official response from the palace — a post on X signed by Kate in which she apologized and wrote, "Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing" — only intensified public scrutiny.

Royal commentator Kristen Meinzer told Business Insider that she was "surprised" that the palace "chose to essentially hang Kate out to dry" — a departure from the united front that had sustained the couple as the future of the monarchy.

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