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Daily Record
Daily Record
World
Ted Hennessey & Nicola Roy

Who are the coffin bearers for the Queen's funeral and what will they do?

Millions of people will say goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II today as Her Majesty's state funeral marks the end of the national period of mourning.

All eyes are on London today as the Queen's funeral is set to take place at Westminster Abbey following her period of lying-in-state for four days.

Her Majesty's coffin will be taken to Westminster Abbey from Westminster Hall, and then there will be a procession around London to Windsor where she will be laid to rest.

The coffin bearers at the Queen's funeral are from a unit that the Queen was Company Commander - the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.

The Queen's coffin will be taken to Westminster Abbey for the funeral service (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Soldiers from the Queen's Company have been chosen to lift the coffin during the service at Westminster Abbey and Windsor Castle.

And although a senior officer oversaw the day-to-day control of the company, the Queen had a very strong connection with the group, and they will pay tribute to her during the service.

The Queen’s Company will keeps its name up until the monarch is laid to rest, and will later change to reflect the new King.

Former British Army soldier Major Adrian Weale told the PA news agency: "They became the Queen’s Company immediately after the death of George VI and the Queen has been commander ever since.

"It’s their role to protect her body, both in life and in death, remaining the Queen’s Company until King Charles decides otherwise.

"Their duties will then be transitioned to the next monarch."

The coffin will be taken from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey in time for the service to begin at 11am.

A public procession will begin at 12.15pm as the Queen’s coffin makes the 1.5-mile journey from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch in London.

Guests have began to take their seats for the funeral service (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

It will then be carried by the state hearse to Windsor in Berkshire, where the Queen will be laid to rest.

Major Johnny Hathaway-White, 36, from Wiltshire, will lay the Camp Colour of the Captain of the Queen’s Company at Windsor Castle after it is placed onto a catafalque – a raised platform.

It had been at the Regimental Headquarters of the Grenadier Guards being prepared.

The colour was presented to the Grenadier Guards by the sovereign after the Queen became the monarch, and it was only paraded in her presence and has never been changed or replaced.

On the day the Queen died, the unit was deployed on operations in Iraq, and was returned from operations.

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