What are the plans for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral?
A long-established plan covers arrangements for the queen’s final journey to London and state funeral, to be held on September 19.
The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will take place on September 19 [File: Stuart C Wilson/Pool via AFP]
The death of Queen Elizabeth II set in motion a tightly choreographed series of ceremonial and constitutional steps, as the United Kingdom undergoes a period of national mourning and enters the reign of King Charles III.
A long-established 10-day plan, code-named Operation London Bridge, covers arrangements for the queen’s final journey to London and a state funeral. Here is a look at what will happen in the coming days:
Saturday, September 10
King Charles III met at St James’s Palace with senior officials known as the Accession Council and was officially proclaimed king. With a trumpet fanfare, an official read the proclamation aloud from a palace balcony. It was also read out in other locations across the UK.
At Parliament, new British Prime Minister Liz Truss and senior lawmakers took an oath of allegiance to the new king before holding a day of tributes to the late queen.
Prince William and his wife Kate, the princess of Wales, were joined by Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the duchess of Sussex, to view floral tributes left by the public in honour of Queen Elizabeth II.
Near Balmoral Castle in Scotland, the queen’s three younger children — Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — and their families read some of the notes left along with hundreds of floral tributes to the queen.
William, prince of Wales, Catherine, princess of Wales, Prince Harry and Meghan, the duchess of Sussex, look at floral tributes as they walk outside Windsor Castle, following the death of Queen Elizabeth [Paul Childs/Reuters]
Sunday, September 11
The queen’s oak coffin will be carried from Balmoral Castle in Scotland by six gamekeepers from her estate and driven to Edinburgh, passing through towns and villages so people can pay their respects along the route. It rests overnight at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in the Scottish capital.
In London, the king hosts a reception for diplomats from the 14 other Commonwealth countries where he is king.
Monday, September 12
The queen’s coffin, accompanied by the king and queen consort, travels to Edinburgh’s St Giles’ Cathedral where it will stay for 24 hours so the public can pay their respects. Members of the royal family will hold a vigil by the coffin in the evening.
King Charles II and Camilla, the queen consort, will visit Parliament to receive condolences from the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The royal couple then flies to Edinburgh where they attend a service of remembrance for the queen, visit the Scottish Parliament and meet senior officials.
What are the plans for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral?
A long-established plan covers arrangements for the queen’s final journey to London and state funeral, to be held on September 19.
King Charles II and Camilla, the Queen Consort, will visit Parliament on September 12 to receive condolences [Henry Nicholls/Reuters]
Tuesday, September 13
The queen’s coffin is taken by hearse to Edinburgh Airport. It will be flown by the Royal Air Force to London and taken to Buckingham Palace.
The king and Camilla visit Northern Ireland, where they meet politicians and faith leaders and attend a service of remembrance at St Anne’s Cathedral.
Wednesday, September 14
The coffin is transported from Buckingham Palace to Parliament on a gun carriage, with the king and other royals walking behind.
It is placed in Parliament’s medieval Westminster Hall, where the archbishop of Canterbury conducts a short service. The queen will then lie in state for four days, until the morning of her funeral. Members of the public will be able to pay their respects and troops will keep a round-the-clock vigil.
Friday, September 16
The king and queen consort will visit Wales.
Monday, September 19
The queen’s coffin will be taken from Westminster Hall to nearby Westminster Abbey for a state funeral that begins at 11am (10:00 GMT). Leaders and dignitaries from around the world are expected to attend. The funeral marks the end of 10 days of national morning, and the day will be a public holiday across the UK.
SOURCE: AP
THE CROWN JEWELS ARE UNINSURED
Where were you when you heard that Queen Elizabeth had passed away?
After 96 years on earth, 70 of them spent on the throne, the British queen's passing is a historic moment. Details of her last days and plans for her funeral and succession will be in the news in the coming days so let's talk a bit about the queen, royalty and, in particular, the Crown Jewels.
The Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom are a collection of royal ceremonial objects kept in the Tower of London which include the coronation regalia and vestments worn by British monarchs.
Symbols of over 800 years of monarchy, the coronation regalia are the only working set in Europe and the collection is the most historically complete of any regalia in the world.
The collection contains 23,578 stones, among them the largest clear cut diamond in the world, cut from the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found.
And yet, believe it or not, the Crown Jewels are not insured.
There is an infinite line between expensive and priceless. One might say the Crown Jewels are the most expensive stones on earth. One would only be half-right. "Most expensive" implies some kind of comparison. A comparison would require a measure. As in, "The second most expensive stones in the world are worth 15 billion; the Crown Jewels are worth 5 billion more." But that's not priceless.
Expensive - even very expensive, even most expensive - is finite. 15 billion is a lot. But it's not 16 billion. And 16 billion is not 17 billion. It's always finite.
Priceless, on the other hand, is infinite. The price goes up endlessly; its value has no end.
The value of the Crown Jewels is incalculable. How do you put on price on coronation regalia? The very royalty of the kingdom is effected by these items. How much is that worth? What could be the replacement cost of these tangibles which conferred the ultimate intangible - majesty - onto ordinary people, turning men into kings, women into queens, and turned Elizabeth Windsor into Queen Elizabeth II?
Truly priceless.
So now, can you put a price on Rosh Hashanah services?
How can you calculate the value of a finite service, performed by people with all sort of limitations, but which confers royalty onto the King of Kings, Hashem Himself?
How much would we take for the Shofar, the Machzor, the Avinu Malkeinu, the ultimate coronation regalia? The very royalty of the Heavenly kingdom is effected by them. How much is that worth?
Can there be a replacement cost for a mortal Shofar blast that beckons to an infinitely inaccessible G-d and inspires Him to become our benevolent, beloved monarch - a human act that turns Hashem into Elokeinu ("G-d" into "our G-d")?
These spiritual Crown Jewels are uninsurable. Their value is inestimable. They're literally priceless. And - they're in our hands.
Come Rosh Hashanah, the world will go silent, the angles will stand hushed, the global palace will hold its breath, and you and I will approach the King of Kings and Queens and in our hands - the Crown Jewels: a Shofar in one hand, a Machzor in the other, and the world's fate in both.
With simplicity, sincerity, and the strength of ancient holiness - all hallmarks of the call of the Shofar - we will crown G-d.
Undoubtedly there are officials in England right now who are nervously practicing the coronation ceremony as we speak. They want to be ready. They want to do it right. No wonder we practice the Shofar for a month before Rosh Hashanah.
May the queen rest in peace. And may we all be inscribed and sealed for a good, sweet year.
See you at the coronation.
