Queen leaves Buckingham Palace for the final time to lie in state

The King and his family walked behind the Queen’s coffin

Author: Chris MaskeryPublished 14th Sep 2022
Last updated 14th Sep 2022

The Queen has left Buckingham Palace for the last time and will now lie in state for four days ahead of her funeral on Monday.

Tens of thousands of people lined the streets of London to see the procession taking Queen Elizabeth's coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.

Pulled on a gun carriage of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, the coffin was draped with a Royal Standard and adorned with the priceless, glittering Imperial State Crown.

The King, his sons and other members of the Royal family walked behind her coffin in solemn procession.

The King walked in line with the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex.

Behind the quartet were the Queen’s grandsons in a line – Peter Phillips, the Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales – who were followed by the late monarch’s son-in-law Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of Gloucester, the Queen’s cousin, and her nephew the Earl of Snowdown.

The Queen Consort, the Princess of Wales, the Countess of Wessex and the Duchess of Sussex travelled by car.

Thousands of people gather in London to pay tribute

Thousands of mourners flocked to see the moving sight of the Queen departing the official residence where she spent so much of her working life at the heart of the nation.

Our reporters were in London with the crowds:

Thousands of people watched the procession on a big screen in Hyde Park.

The Queen now lies in state

This procession marked the final journey the Queen's coffin will take as she now lies in state at Westminster Hall until the funeral on Monday, September 19th.

Before this, the coffin was firstly taken from Balmoral to Holyrood House on Sunday, September 11th where it rested in the throne room until the following day.

It was then taken to St Giles’ Cathedral where a vigil was held in honour of the late Queen, which was attended by King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort.

King Charles and his siblings stand next to their mother's coffin at a vigil in Edinburgh's St Giles Cathedral

The Queen's coffin remained at the cathedral until yesterday afternoon when it travelled from Scotland by Royal Air Force aircraft, arriving at RAF Northolt later that evening.

It was then finally escorted to Buckingham Palace where it spent the night in the historic Bow Room - until today's procession began.

Tributes to Queen Elizabeth II:

Flowers are being laid outside many of the Queen's homes, following her death. Here a family lay flowers outside Windsor Castle in Berkshire, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II

Crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace the evening after the news of the Queen's death was made public.

Mourners gather at Buckingham Palace placing flowers and paying their respect

Messages on the flowers included this 'Forever our Queen' message

Even the gates of Buckingham palace were adorned with flowers

Books of condolence have been set up in many places across the UK, including this one at Liverpool Cathedral

Birmingham Cathedral also had a space for remembrance

People were queuing to sign the book of condolence in Birmingham

Flowers at the gates of Balmoral in Scotland

Brighton UK 9th September 2022 - A tribute to The Queen at a bus stop in Brighton today after her death at the age of 96 was announced yesterday .

Floral tributes to Queen Elizabeth II at the gate of Buckingham Palace.
London, England, UK. 9th Sep, 2022.

Newmarket, UK. 9 September, 2022. Floral tributes left in memory to Queen Elizabeth II after her death on 8th September on a bronze statue designed by Etienne Millner, which is situated at the Newmarket Racecourse entrance which was a gift from the town in the year of her 90th birthday. Pictured is Matt Hancock Conservative MP, for West Suffolk, with his floral tribute the Queen.

Mourners make their way along the Long Walk to pay their respects at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Union Flag flies at half mast at the City Chambers in Edinburgh, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

John Houston of the Merchant Navy Association pays his respects at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Floral tributes and messages at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Floral tributes and messages at the gates of Sandringham House on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, following the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Minutes of silence before the game to pay respect after the death of Queen Elizabeth II before the UEFA Europa Conference League match at the London Stadium, London.
London, England, 8th September 2022.

Crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II who died on Thursday 8th September.
London, England, UK. 8th Sep, 2022.

Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie looks at Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland. The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon, Buckingham Palace has announced.

Floral tributes left at the gates of Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland. The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon, Buckingham Palace has announced.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson looks at floral tributes at Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland. The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon, Buckingham Palace has announced.

Floral tributes continue to be left outside several locations across the country and the world. Here, on 11th September, at the gates of Buckingham Palace, the crowds continue to gather and leave flowers and other tributes.

Six-year-old Terezka Cernianska leaves flowers at the gates of Balmoral in Scotland, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Large crowds gather to show their respect along the A90, Forfar, as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is taken to Edinburgh.

Floral tributes left next to a fountain in St James' Park outside Buckingham Palace.

If your favourite music icons are the Spice Girls and your favourite Ks are Kylie and the Kardashians, you need heat Radio in your life! heat Radio is portable, so you can listen to us on the move. Simply download our app from your phone’s app store, listen online at heatradio.com and at heatworld.com. We’re on all the smart speakers too, just say “play heat Radio".