It's the day of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II: The UK and the world bid farewell to the longest-serving monarch in British history, disappeared on September 8th. Today, Monday 19 September the funeral of Queen Elizabeth they started at 11 (local time, 12 Italian). Event attended by heads of state and representatives of 200 nations, at Westminster Abbey, where Elizabeth married Philip in 1947, in front of about two thousand people and up to two million citizens and tourists along the route of the funeral procession. A solemn rite that will conclude ten days of vigils and greetings to the sovereign in an armored London, with Scotland Yard engaged in its largest security operation to control the crowd with over 10 thousand agents. But even outside the capital there will be many to pay homage to her, throughout the country, still for National mourning (offices and shops closed, even hospital visits and other funerals cancelled).
According to estimates the event should also establish a television record with 4,5 billion viewers, and which will be available with long streams not only in London but all over the world. Cinema chains will also broadcast the event.
It will be a day of excitement, pomp and ceremony unlike any seen since the last state funeral, that of Winston Churchill, nearly 60 years ago.
Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II: invited and excluded
In Westminster Abbey expected 2000 invited to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth: about 500 between Heads of State and dignitaries of all the world. Among those present, the head of state, Sergio Mattarella, accompanied by his daughter Laura, while Bishop Paul Gallagher will represent Pope Francis. The US president also gave a final farewell to the longest-lived monarch of the United Kingdom Joe Biden with his wife Jill, the French president Macron, Turkish president Erdogan and the Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau. Representing Ukraine, the First Lady Olena Zelenska, while Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelensky will remain in his country.
Also invite all other active royal families in Europe, as well as many Asian monarchies and former royal families. And then a row of sultans, like hassanal from Brunei and haitham of Oman. Finally, the emperor Naruhito and the empress Masako of Japan.
excluded Russia, Belarus, Afghanistan, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Syria and Venezuela.
Also among the absent Xi Jinping, whose invitation embarrassed conservatives, e Mohammed bin salmananother cause for tension.
The program of the day: all times
All times refer to local times (one hour behind Italy).
6:00-8:30. As the last day of national mourning dawned, the King's Guards held their final vigil at the Queen's oak coffin. The chapel closed at 8:30. Meanwhile, the two thousand guests have begun to take their seats in Westminster Abbey, the Gothic cathedral near the Parliament building in London where the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II has been on display since last week.
9:00. Big Ben tolled (96 like the years of the Queen). Then, the hammer of the bell was covered with a thick pad of leather to cushion its blows for the rest of the day, out of respect for the late monarch.
10:30. The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II was transferred from Westminster Hall, in the Parliament building, to Westminster Abbey with a funeral procession. The coffin was carried on a cannon carriage pulled by 142 sailors rather than horses. The same carriage was used for the funeral of George VI, from whom Elizabeth II inherited the kingdom in 1952. The procession was attended by King Charles III and various members of the royal family, including Princes William and Harry.
11:00-12:00. Having reached Westminster Abbey, the state funeral began, reserved only for sovereigns and other prominent personalities. The Abbey was the scene of many of the most important stages in the Queen's life, from her coronation to her marriage to Prince Philip, as the Reverend David Hoyle recalled in a voice breaking with emotion as he opened the liturgy after the singing of a first solemn hymn. At the end of the funeral service, there will be two minutes of national silence.
12:00-13:00. The long funeral procession begins through the streets of London, from Westminster Abbey to Hyde Park Corner, near the Wellington Arch. The procession is punctuated by the tolling of Big Ben every minute and by blank shots fired from Hyde Park. The procession travels along the Mall, the large avenue that starts near Trafalgar Square and reaches Buckingham Palace. The coffin will then begin its final journey to Windsor, the castle where the Queen lived the last years of her life, until its final resting place at St George's Chapel, where it will arrive at 16.15pm.
16:45. After the ceremony in San Giorgio, the royal family prepares for the last ceremony. Before the last hymn, the Imperial State Crown, scepter and orb will be removed from the coffin by the Crown Jeweler.
20:30. In a private ceremony, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom is buried alongside Prince Philip, his parents and his sister Margaret. Charles III will symbolically spread a handful of earth on his mother's coffin, built in English oak and lined with lead.
