On September 9, Queen Elizabeth II peacefully passed away in her Balmoral home at the age of 96. Since then, proceedings for her state funeral have already begun, with official events already taking place ahead of the funeral’s official date.
As we know, the week following Her Majesty’s death is full of commemorations and events that lead up to her state funeral, which will take place on Monday, September 19. In fact, her funeral procession has technically begun with the hearse transporting the Queen’s coffin making the six-hour journey to Edinburgh, passing endless streams of mourners who bowed their heads in respect as their Queen passed by for the final time.
Ultimately, her body will make its way to Buckingham Palace before moving to Westminster Hall, and it is there that the royal family and dignitaries will have the opportunity to say their goodbyes before the same opportunity is offered to the public prior to the official funeral.
Whether you’re simply a fan of the royal family or a spectator looking to witness history in the making, scroll on for all the details about Queen Elizabeth II‘s funeral and where to watch it in Australia.
When is Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral?
According to the BBC, Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey at 11am British Standard Time on Monday, September 19. For Australia, that will likely take place in the evening of the same day, at approximately 8pm Australian Eastern Standard Time.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared September 22 will be a one-off national public holiday “to allow people to pay their respects” in Australia.
What will happen during Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral?
There are a strict set of events to take place following Her Majesty’s death, that have been meticulously planned beforehand. After all, the Queen Mother’s funeral was reportedly rehearsed for 22 years before her death.
First, the coffin will be transported in an official procession from Westminster Hall to the Abbey, where there will be two minutes of silence.
The service, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, will last one hour, after which the coffin will be transported to Hyde Park and transferred to a hearse and transported to Windsor. Once there, a committal service at Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel will take place and Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin will be lowered into the royal vault where she will be laid to rest. In the vault, she will forever rest beside her parents, George VI and the Queen Mother, as well as her sister Princess Margaret and late husband Prince Philip.
Who is invited to attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral?
According to The Times, approximately 500 heads of state, royals and other political luminaries are presumed to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II, which a London government source said was the same as packing “hundred of state visits” into mere days.
As per the guest list, representatives from multiple Commonwealth countries are scheduled to be attending the service, including Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Joining them will, of course, be members of the British royal family, from King Charles III to his sons Prince William and Prince Harry as well as their respective wives.
Other royals expected to join the leading group are Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco and King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, to name a few.
Where to watch Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in Australia
The funeral for Queen Elizabeth II will be broadcast live on the ABC from 8pm AEST on Monday September 22. Highlights will also air in dedicated programs across Channel Seven and Channel Nine from 7pm.
Keep your eyes peeled here for any updates as new information about the historic event is released.
For more rolling coverage on Queen Elizabeth II’s death, follow the links below:
- Queen Elizabeth II Has Died: A Look Back At Her History Making Tenure
- Here’s What Happens Next In The Wake Of The Queen’s Passing
- Here’s Why Reporters Changed Into Black Outfits Before Announcing Queen Elizabeth II’s Death
- A Brief History Of Queen Elizabeth II And Her 89 Year Long Royal Clan Of Corgis
- Will Duchess Camilla Be Queen Now That Charles Is King?
- Every Time The Royal Family Have Turned To Queen Elizabeth’s Vintage Wardrobe
- The Surprising Reason The Queen Always Wore Mint Green For Special Occasions
- What Will Kate Middleton’s Title Be Now That Queen Elizabeth II Has Died?
- Everything We Know About The Queen’s Funeral So Far
