Britain will see decades of plans unfold in style for Queen's funeral

Britain and the Royal Family will see decades of plans unfold in majestic style for The Queen’s funeral, writes SAM GREENHILL

• Hundreds of soldiers, sailors and airmen are rehearsing before Queen’s funeral
• Today, the Queen’s grandchildren will perform vigil at her coffin lying in state
• Foreign leaders welcomed to reception at Buckingham Palace on Sunday night
• The Queen’s funeral: All the latest Royal Family news and coverage

Britain and the Royal Family are gearing up for perhaps the most spellbinding spectacle in this island’s history.

All eyes will be on London on Monday as the Queen’s State Funeral unfolds in majestic style.

The elaborate ceremonies have been decades in the planning – and this weekend the final touches are being made to the momentous occasion.

Hundreds of soldiers, sailors and airmen are conducting last rehearsals for the magnificent procession that will sweep through the capital.

Day of reverence and spectacle: Resplendent in red, soldiers rehearse in the Mall for the Queen’s funeral on Monday

Members of the military take part during an early morning rehearsal in London on Thursday for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II ahead of her funeral on Monday

Hundreds of soldiers, sailors and airmen are conducting last rehearsals for the magnificent procession that will sweep through the capital

And the royals themselves are spending the weekend adding their own special touches to the lead-up to the funeral.

Today, The Queen’s eight grandchildren will perform a unique vigil at her coffin lying in state.

Prince William and Prince Harry will stand at the head and foot, with their cousins Zara Tindall, Peter Phillips, Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn at the flanks.

They will stand heads bowed for 15 minutes as a mark of respect to their grandmother, mimicking the vigil held by a grieving King Charles and his siblings last night.

Both William and Harry will be in military uniform, after the King gave permission for his youngest son – despite convention dictating he should wear civilian clothing because he is not a working royal.

King Charles III, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex depart after they held a vigil beside the coffin of their mother, Queen Elizabeth II, as it lies in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall

Prince Harry (left) and Meghan (second left) Duchess of Sussex, Prince William (second right) and Kate (right), Princess of Wales leave Westminster Hall in London on Wednesday

It is considered the latest move towards reconciliation between the King and Harry, whose relationship has become strained since he quit as a working royal.

Foreign dignitaries, the world’s kings, queens, presidents, prime ministers and a host of VIPs, will begin to arrive in the UK from today ahead of the funeral.

And they will be welcomed to an extraordinary reception at Buckingham Palace on Sunday night to be hosted by the King. Some, such as New Zealand premier Jacinda Ardern, will have travelled for more than 24 hours before what is set to be one of the largest official state receptions in history.

Then on Monday, London will host the first state funeral since Sir Winston Churchill’s in 1965. Most people will never have seen anything like it, and a formidable operation is under way to ensure as many as possible can get to events or watch them on screens.

Four giant screens have been erected in Hyde Park, and dozens more are being set up in towns and cities across the UK.

Rail operators are adding services to London, and transport chiefs are making plans to cater for possibly millions of extra people descending on the capital.

They are also organising for London buses to pull over at 11.55am – when the nation will come to a standstill for the two-minute silence to honour Her Majesty.

The late monarch’s coffin will be borne on a 123-year-old gun carriage for the ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

Later, she will make her final journey to Windsor Castle, where she will be buried alongside her husband Philip.

The momentous set of events will truly be fitting for a Queen who meant so much to so many.

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