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Queen Elizabeth's state funeral is today. Here's how to watch, when to watch and what to expect

After a long procession from Balmoral Castle, Queen Elizabeth II's coffin has now been seen by thousands of people after lying in state in Westminster Hall.

On Monday her body will be carried to nearby Westminster Abbey for her state funeral before being laid to rest with her husband, Prince Philip, at Windsor Castle.

When is Queen Elizabeth's Funeral?

The Queen's state funeral will be held from 11am (8pm AEST) on Monday, September 19 at Westminster Abbey in London.

How can I watch The Queen's funeral in Australia?

ABC TV's live coverage of the Queen's funeral will begin at 4pm AEST with a special one-hour news event hosted by Jeremy Fernandez.

From 5pm AEST, ABC News will broadcast the BBC's coverage of official arrivals at Westminster Abbey, followed by the funeral proceedings.

The official funeral service will begin at 8pm AEST on ABC News and ABC TV.

What will the Queen's funeral look like?

Buckingham Palace has released plans for Monday's events, which span over more than 12 hours.

The official itinerary is as follows:

6:30am (3:30pm AEST): The final members of the public are admitted to see the Queen's coffin at Westminster Hall, as the lying in state period comes to an end.

10:44am (7:44pm AEST): The Queen's coffin leaves Westminster Hall and make the eight-minute journey to Westminster Abbey accompanied by 142 members of the Royal Navy and followed by King Charles III and members of the royal family.

11am UK time (8pm AEST): The funeral service begins. Buckingham Palace says around 2,000 people will attend the funeral service, including members of the royal family, foreign dignitaries, and guests from Commonwealth nations.

The service will be conducted by the Dean of Westminster, David Hoyle.

Scripture passages will be read by UK Prime Minister Liz Truss and the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Patricia Scotland.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will give a sermon and the commendation before the dean pronounces the blessing.

11:55am (8:55pm AEST): The service will draw to a close with two minutes of silence.

Reveille, the national anthem, and a lament played by the Queen's Piper will round out the service, which will end at 12pm UK time (9pm AEST).

12:15pm (9:15pm AEST): The procession and the Queen's coffin will begin its last journey through London, down The Mall and past Buckingham Palace.

The procession is scheduled to arrive at Wellington Arch at 1pm (10pm AEST), where the Queen's coffin will be transferred to a hearse.

3:00pm (Midnight AEST): The hearse will reach Windsor and join a procession to St George's Chapel.

4pm (1am AEST): A smaller committal service will be held inside St George's Chapel with around 800 guests.

During this service, the coffin will be lowered into the royal vault.

7:30pm UK time (4:30am AEST): A private burial service will be held in King George VI Memorial Chapel with just the royal family in attendance.

Queen Elizabeth II will then be buried with her late husband, Prince Philp.

What is the difference between a state and a ceremonial funeral?

Queen Elizabeth II's funeral carries the distinction of being the UK's first state funeral since Sir Winston Churchill in 1965.

While a handful of royal funerals have occurred since then, they have all been ceremonial services.

The two differences between them are:

  • A parliamentary motion must authorise a state funeral
  • Royal Navy sailors tow the gun carriage bearing the coffin in state funerals, rather than horses

Prince Philip, Princess Diana and the Queen Mother all had ceremonial funerals.

What have other modern royal funerals looked like?

As per his wishes, Prince Philip's 2021 ceremonial was a "no fuss" affair. Those wishes combined with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic meant his funeral was much more subdued than a regular royal send-off.

Just 30 mourners, mostly members of the royal family, attended the private service at Windsor Castle.

There was a full military guard, and the UK observed a minute of silence at the conclusion of his service.

One of the only special requests Philip made was that his coffin was to be carried in a customised, dark green Land Rover – a favourite vehicle of the Prince.

Stark photos of Queen Elizabeth sitting alone during her husband's funeral due to pandemic safety bubbles were widely shared.

The 1997 ceremonial funeral for Princess Diana was a much more elaborate affair with 2000 people in physical attendance and an estimated 2-2.5 billion people watching the event worldwide.

The funeral plan for the Queen Mother, codenamed Operation Tay Bridge, was used as the basis for Diana's funeral.

Prince Phillip, then-Prince Charles and Diana's two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry were part of the procession, along with 500 representatives from various charities the Princess worked with.

Music is often incorporated into royal funerals, usually classical pieces.

Diana's funeral broke tradition by having long-time friend Elton John perform a re-written version of his song Candle In The Wind during the hour and 10 minute long service.

Princess Diana was buried within the grounds of Althorp Park, her family home.

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