North East Somerset MP Jacob Rees-Mogg has arrived for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey wearing a standout top hat. The Tory minister was seen sporting the top hat with a black tie, waistcoat, suit jacket and pair of pinstripe grey trousers.
Accompanying the likes of officials, politicians, dignitaries and decorated veterans, who already arrived early, the Business Secretary took off his hat as he headed to his seat. Labour leader Keir Starmer and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon had also been seen arriving at Westminster Abbey prior to the start of the funeral at 11 am.
A host of other senior figures also joined such as Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Nadhim Zahawi and Tory former leader Lord Hague. Former Prime Ministers David Cameron, Theresa May, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Boris Johnson later joined the arrivals, alongside their spouses.
READ MORE: Order of service for the Queen’s funeral including hymns, music and prayers
Around 2,000 guests began filing into the Abbey from 8am this morning (Monday) and include royals, world leaders and hundreds of members of the public. Meanwhile millions around the world will be watching Her Majesty's state funeral live. Most of the VIPs, including the world’s leaders, arrived by coach, meeting at the Royal Hospital Chelsea firstly before being put on a bus into Central London.
The Abbey opened its grand oak doors at 8am, three hours before the service started - where the late monarch married Prince Philip and had her coronation. Thousands of people have already packed the procession route which was declared full just before 8.30am.
Michael and Carole Middleton, the parents of the Princess of Wales, arrived two hours early for the service, followed by Tom Parker Bowles, the son of the Queen Consort, as they travelled on a bus altogether.
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