The officiant will usually lead the procession and
The pallbearers hail from the Queen's Company, the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. 'It's their role to protect her body, both in life and in death, remaining in the Queen's Company until King Charles decides otherwise,' explained Major Adrian Weale to the PA.
Queen Consort Camilla and Sophie, Countess of Wessex had followed behind the rest of their loved ones in a car, but Princess Anne walked behind the coffin with her siblings because she is daughter of the Queen. The Princess Royal's husband, Sir Tim Laurence, was a a few steps behind the royal siblings.
4. She must walk a few steps behind King Charles. Prior to their deaths, Prince Philip walked a few steps behind Queen Elizabeth out of respect. And now, the same rule applies to King Charles and his wife.
Queen Anne had to be carried to her coronation ceremony on a specially designed sedan chair. At just 37, she was too unwell and overweight to walk the traditional processional route from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey – about 400ft – by herself.
Traditionally, the order of family in a funeral procession is direct family immediately behind the hearse, followed by close family and friends. Then others who were important to your loved one might join the procession, like neighbours, carers or colleagues.
Queen Elizabeth's coffin bearers were specifically chosen to protect her body after her death. Soldiers from the Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, were chosen to lift the coffin during the service at Westminster Abbey and Windsor Castle.
It is flanked by 10 pallbearers and Grenadier Guards. The coffin is draped with the royal standard and adorned with the Imperial State Crown, which the queen wore for her coronation 70 years ago, resting on a velvet cushion and a wreath of flowers.
Soldiers in ceremonial uniform were maintaining a constant, 24-hour vigil around the Queen's coffin at Westminster Hall. While the soldiers were permitted to rotate position every 20 minutes, they were ordered to stand completely still around the four corners of the coffin for six hours a shift.
Guards are present at all times of day because the lying in state is 24 hours a day so the public may pay their respects to the late monarch.
Following the service, the Queen's coffin will now make its way to Windsor, where she will be buried with her beloved late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh. The coffin will be taken to Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, as members of the public watch on, before it is taken to Windsor Castle.
Royal Navy sailors have the honour of pulling the State Ceremonial Gun Carriage bearing the Queen's coffin for two miles through the streets of London – a duty they have performed since the funeral of Queen Victoria in 1901.
According to Metro, this is because lead seals the coffin from moisture, slowing decomposition for up to a year.
The unit of soldiers had a close connection with the Queen, who held the position of company commander and carried out a personal review of the company every 10 years. Those watching the events from across the world highlighted the work of the eight pallbearers, with many describing them as “heroes”.
The eight men are members of the Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards – this unit of the British Army have a close connection with the Queen, who held the position of company commander and personally reviewed the company every decade.
3-5 days after death — the body starts to bloat and blood-containing foam leaks from the mouth and nose. 8-10 days after death — the body turns from green to red as the blood decomposes and the organs in the abdomen accumulate gas. Several weeks after death — nails and teeth fall out.
For those who are embalmed and buried in a coffin, five to 10 years is a more typical decomposition timeline, he said. At that point, the tissue is gone and only bones remain. The quality of the embalming job also plays a role, Wescott said.
When the Queen's coffin is taken to her funeral service at Westminster Abbey it will be carried on a royal navy state gun carriage pulled along by sailors. This royal tradition has been a feature at every funeral for a monarch since Queen Victoria was laid to rest over 100 years ago.
The favouring of sailors over horses during state funeral processions was entrenched in tradition after Queen Victoria's funeral in 1901 when chilly weather spooked the horses that were due to pull the gun carriage.
The lead-lined English wood casket for Prince Philip was made to match the casket for the Queen. But why a lead-lined casket? As a royal tradition, a lead-lined casket is used to help preserve the body for extended periods of time.
Following royal tradition, which dates back as far as the 1600s, the queen's coffin was lined with lead, which ensures that her remains stay intact for up to a year. This is because the lead makes the coffin airtight, stopping moisture from getting in and therefore slowing down the decomposition of the body.
Queen to be buried next to her beloved Prince Philip in 16ft deep vault. Her coffin will take the same route through the quire of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle as the Duke of Edinburgh, who passed away last year.
Lisa Levinson, head of communications at the Natural Diamond Council, has told Metro: 'Her Majesty is an incredibly humble woman at heart who is unlikely to be dressed in anything but her simple Welsh gold wedding band to rest and a pair of pearl earrings. '
During the Lying-in-State period, the coffin rests on a raised platform in the middle of Westminster Hall. Members of the public are free to file past the platform and pay their respects.