Summary

  • The queue for members of the public to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state has now closed

  • King Charles thanks people around the world for their support since the death of his mother

  • He says he has been "so deeply touched" by the many messages of condolence and support before the Queen's "last farewell"

  • World leaders have been arriving in London ahead of the Queen's state funeral on Monday

  • US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden have paid their respects to the late monarch at Westminster Hall

  • Camilla, the Queen Consort, has paid tribute to the Queen, telling a BBC programme she “carved her own role” in a world dominated by men

  1. Our coverage is movingpublished at 01:17 British Summer Time 19 September 2022

    Our live coverage is moving ahead of the Queen's state funeral on Monday, which will see world leaders and foreign royals join members of the Royal Family on a momentous day.

    You can follow the latest developments here.

  2. A moment of history comes to a closepublished at 00:26 British Summer Time 19 September 2022

    People wait outside overnight in the Queue to see the Queen lying-in-state at Westminster Hall.Image source, Getty Images

    The closing of the queue to see the Queen lying in state brings to an end what has become a familiar sight over the last few days.

    Images of thousands of people lining up in London at all hours of the day, often in chilly temperatures, are some of the most striking to come out of this historic period.

    The wait time at one stage was estimated to be more than 24 hours; and the queue snaked from Westminster Hall, down along the River Thames and stretched south for almost 7 miles (11km).

    The map below shows the queue over the weekend.

    It brought together people from all walks of life - young children, older people who remembered watching the Queen's coronation on television in 1953, and celebrities such as David Beckham who waited for 12 hours.

    Some even travelled from outside of the UK to pay their respects.

    "There’s a profound sense of shared grief and affection for Her Majesty in this huge, diverse gathering of people from around the world," Canadian politician Jason Kenney wrote on Twitter as he stood in line.

    The queue closed to members of the public at around 22:30 BST on Sunday. The Queen will continue to lie in state until 06:30 on Monday ahead of her state funeral later in the day.

    Map of the queue, where people lined up from Westminster Hall all the way down Southwark Park in London.
  3. A long way to go for the end of the queuepublished at 00:03 British Summer Time 19 September 2022

    Kristian Johnson
    Reporting from Blackfriars Bridge

    Shortly before 11pm, the last wristband was handed out.

    Those lucky enough to secure the final few places in the queue are now making their way past Blackfriars Bridge and are being escorted by marshals.

    They still have a long way to go though - it is a two-mile walk from their position to the end point and they won’t arrive at Westminster Hall until the early hours of Monday morning.

    Several people without wristbands are still following the official end of the queue, but they will not be permitted entry to the Queen's lying-in-state.

    Image shows the end of the queue
  4. Smiling portrait of Queen released by Palacepublished at 23:32 British Summer Time 18 September 2022

    Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee portraitImage source, Ranald Mackechnie

    A previously unseen portrait of the Queen has been released by Buckingham Palace on the eve of her funeral.

    The portrait was taken at Windsor Castle in May to mark the Platinum Jubilee, and shows the monarch smiling at the camera.

    The Queen is wearing a blue dress and pearl jewellery. The diamond clip brooches were an 18th birthday present from her father George VI in 1944.

    The portrait was shared on Twitter by the Royal Family, which said: "Tomorrow, millions will come together to commemorate her remarkable life."

  5. Queue to see Queen lying in state closespublished at 22:47 British Summer Time 18 September 2022
    Breaking

    The queue for members of the public to see the Queen lying in state has closed, the government says.

    It asks people not to attempt to join the queue, saying stewards will manage those already nearby.

    The Queen will continue to lie in state until 06:30 BST on Monday, ahead of her funeral service in nearby Westminster Abbey at 11:00.

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  6. Pipers and lanterns mark Scotland’s moment of reflectionpublished at 22:21 British Summer Time 18 September 2022

    Debbie Jackson
    BBC Scotland

    Lanterns at the Kelpies pool of reflectionImage source, Getty Images

    Scotland’s moment of reflection started early with lone pipers playing sombre laments at sites in Dornoch, Fort William, Inverness and Portree.

    A spectacular display took place at The Kelpies in Falkirk, during a service at the Queen Elizabeth II canal.

    The ceremony saw 96 lanterns - one for each year of the Queen's life - being lit and lowered into the Kelpies pool of reflection beneath the giant, 30m (98ft) high Kelpies sculptures.

    Wreaths were also floated in the water as a lone piper played.

    Deputy First Minister John Swinney took to the steps of the Scottish government's St Andrew's House in Edinburgh alongside cabinet members Angus Robertson, Ben Macpherson, Jenny Gilruth, and Lesley Fraser, the director general corporate.

    In Glasgow, Rev Mark E Johnstone began a Service of Preparation at Glasgow Cathedral ahead of the silence.

    Tennis Fans at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow fell silent for a minute at the Davis Cup group D match between Great Britain and Kazakhstan.

    An image was beamed on the big screen as the moment was marked.

    Tennis Fans at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow fell silent for a minute at the Davis Cup group D matchImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Tennis Fans at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow fell silent for a minute at the Davis Cup group D match

  7. King Charles 'moved beyond measure' by tributes to Queenpublished at 22:00 British Summer Time 18 September 2022
    Breaking

    Britain's King Charles greets people, while they queue to pay their respects to Britain's Queen Elizabeth, following her death, in London, Britain, September 17, 2022.Image source, Reuters

    King Charles has thanked people around the world for their support since his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died.

    "Over the last 10 days, my wife and I have been so deeply touched by the many messages of condolence and support we have received from this country and across the world," he said.

    "In London, Edinburgh, Hillsborough and Cardiff we were moved beyond measure by everyone who took the trouble to come and pay their respects to the lifelong service of my dear mother, the late Queen.

    Quote Message

    As we all prepare to say our last farewell, I wanted simply to take this opportunity to say thank you to all those countless people who have been such a support and comfort to my Family and myself in this time of grief.

  8. BBC projects Queen's image onto Broadcasting Housepublished at 21:51 British Summer Time 18 September 2022

    Queen on Broadcasting HouseImage source, Robert Timothy

    The BBC has projected an image of the Queen onto Broadcasting House, the corporation's headquarters in central London - and home to BBC News.

    Passers-by were seen taking pictures of the monarch on the famous facade - which has previously had general election results displayed on it.

    Queen on Broadcasting HouseImage source, Robert Timothy
    Queen on Broadcasting HouseImage source, Robert Timothy
    Queen on Broadcasting HouseImage source, Robert Timothy
  9. WATCH: UK falls silent in tribute to the Queenpublished at 21:45 British Summer Time 18 September 2022

    The BBC has captured footage of people around the UK taking part in a one minute silence the evening before the Queen's funeral.

    Prime Minister Liz Truss was seen standing outside 10 Downing Street with her head bowed.

    And crowds of people were filmed silently paying tribute in towns across the UK including Newport, in Wales, Belfast, in Northern Ireland, Blackpool in England and Falkirk, in Scotland.

  10. 28,000 cups of tea and coffee issued as police patrol Londonpublished at 21:41 British Summer Time 18 September 2022

    Police patrol The MallImage source, PA Media

    As we reported yesterday, King Charles III thanked emergency service staff at New Scotland Yard for their work during the mourning period and ahead of the Queen's funeral on Monday.

    The funeral is expected to be one of the largest international event that the UK has hosted in decades.

    Vast numbers of extra officers from across the UK have been deployed to the capital to help the Metropolitan Police cope.

    As the Met gears up for Monday's state funeral - the force has released some figures behind its large policing operation:

    • Deployed 231 coaches to transport officers over the last seven days, with a further 250 coach trips up to and including the day the Queen's funeral
    • Supplied almost 500 extra vehicles to numerous parts of the Met
    • Across London 24,000 barriers (covering 36km), 5,000 cones and 1,630 signs have been placed across the capital
    • Catering team has issued around 25,000 snack bags, 50,000 bottles of water and 28,000 cups of tea and coffee
    • Six feeding centres with drinking water, power, lighting, toilets and facilities for officers to sit and eat were set up in the first three days.
  11. Big Ben fails to strike before and after minute's silencepublished at 21:30 British Summer Time 18 September 2022

    The Houses of Parliament at dusk (around 10pm) seen from across the River Thames downstream from Westminster Bridge.

    Big Ben was originally planned to strike before after the minute's silence, which was hold at 20:00 on Sunday.

    However, this did not happen, prompting an "urgent" investigation.

    Big Ben, in the Elizabeth Tower, has a big task on Monday as it is set to toll once every minute as the Queen’s coffin leaves Westminster Abbey.

    A UK Parliament spokesperson said: "We are investigating this as a matter of urgency but are confident that it will not affect the tolling tomorrow during the state funeral procession."

    People could be heard clapping and cheering after the silence ended.

  12. In pictures: A break from the vigilpublished at 21:12 British Summer Time 18 September 2022

    Ministry of Defence shares pictures of the UK Armed Forces in between guarding the Queen's coffinImage source, Ministry of Defence

    The Ministry of Defence has shared behind-the-scenes snippets of members of the UK Armed Forces taking rests and having some down time in-between standing by the Queen's coffin.

    The MoD wrote on Twitter: "The UK Armed Forces are continuing to honour their Commander-in-Chief of 70 years, Her Majesty The Queen, as they stand vigil alongside The King's Body Guard."

    Ministry of Defence shares pictures of the UK Armed Forces in between guarding the Queen's coffinImage source, Ministry of Defence
    Ministry of Defence shares pictures of the UK Armed Forces in between guarding the Queen's coffinImage source, Ministry of Defence
  13. Camilla says Queen was able to separate public duties and private lifepublished at 21:01 British Summer Time 18 September 2022

    Camilla, the Queen Consort, King Charles and the late Queen stand on the balcony of Buckingham palace during the Platinum PageantImage source, Reuters

    As we reported earlier, Camilla, the Queen Consort, has paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II in a special BBC programme.

    Sharing an intimate snapshot of her late mother-in-law, Camilla said the Queen made it a rule to have her "private time and her private passions - and then her public role". She said this was "important" because it allowed the monarch to define when she was on duty and when she was not.

    Referencing the Queen's love of Balmoral, where she died last week, Camilla said Scotland was where the Queen was able to "do the things she loved".

    Camilla also spoke of her joy at having had the opportunity to take the Queen to some of the charities she supports, such as the Medical Detection Dogs.

    "She loved them... she asked lots of questions," Camilla said, adding it was "very nice" to take the late monarch "to things I knew she'd enjoy".

    You can watch the special BBC One programme, The Eve of the State Funeral, on iPlayer here.

  14. Lying-in-state queue now ends at London Bridgepublished at 20:43 British Summer Time 18 September 2022

    Anyone looking to join the queue to see the Queen's coffin is now being asked to head to London Bridge.

    As we said earlier, waning numbers of people mean officials can slowly move the entry point further along the route to be as close to Westminster Hall as possible.

    "Entry to the queue will close when it reaches final capacity," the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) warns in it latest update, external.

    It also says the estimated wait time is now seven hours - the lowest its been in days.

    A screenshot of the government's live tracker of the queue to see the Queen's coffinImage source, DCMS
  15. In pictures: Minute's silence to remember the Queenpublished at 20:29 British Summer Time 18 September 2022

    People across the UK observed a minute's silence at 20:00 BST in a moment of reflection for Queen Elizabeth II ahead of Monday's funeral.

    Members of the public observe the national minute's silence in memory of Queen Elizabeth II on the Long Walk, Windsor, Berkshire.Image source, Andrew Matthews/PA Wire
    Image caption,

    Crowds on the Long Walk in Windsor were among those to fall silent

    People take part in a one-minute silence which is being held across the UK in Queen Elizabeth II's honour as they stand in a queue along the River Thames waiting to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state in Westminster Hall on September 18, 2022 in London, England.Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    People waiting in the queue to see the Queen's coffin during the moment of reflection

    Members of the public hold a minute of silence in Queen Elizabeth II's honour at Waterloo Station on September 18, 2022 in London, United KingdomImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    At Waterloo Station, staff and passengers stopped under a clock as they marked the moment

    Members of the public observe the national minute's silence in memory of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, at the Palace of Westminster, London, where the coffin of the Queen is lying in state on the catafalque.Image source, Sarah Meyssonnier/PA Wire
    Image caption,

    At Westminster Hall, where the Queen is lying-in-state, the queue stopped moving

  16. Rainbow as sun sets in Westminsterpublished at 20:13 British Summer Time 18 September 2022

    A rainbow is seen above Westminster Hall where the Queen's coffin currently isImage source, Alex Doherty/ BBC

    As crowds wait to see the Queen's lying-in-state for the final evening, many were touched to see the evening sky light up with a rainbow.

    Remarkably, a rainbow was also spotted at Windsor Castle on the same day the Queen died on 8 September.

    The BBC's Sophie Raworth caught the reaction of people who spotted the rainbow as she noted on Sunday: "As the sun set over Westminster tonight…the crowd gasped."

  17. Latecomers 'blessed' to join back of the queuepublished at 20:08 British Summer Time 18 September 2022

    Kristian Johnson
    Reporting from the queue

    Jessica Cooper, Anna Coward, Rochelle Pearson and Frazer Seabright show off their wristbands after joining the queue on Sunday night
    Image caption,

    Jessica Cooper, Anna Coward, Rochelle Pearson and Frazer Seabright joined the queue on Sunday night

    The end of the queue has moved to Tower Bridge, with the estimated queuing time now said to be eight hours.

    There are still people arriving to join the crowds, including Rochelle Pearson. She has travelled from Putney to be here and spoke to the BBC after running to get a wristband from stewards.

    "I made the decision to come half an hour ago. We just thought: 'We can’t miss this iconic occasion,'" she said.

    "We've literally thrown everything in our rucksacks and we've just run to get here. We feel blessed to be here," Jessica Cooper said.

  18. National minute's silence completepublished at 20:02 British Summer Time 18 September 2022

    The UK has finished observing a national minute's silence in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

    However, Big Ben did not strike before and after the silence as originally planned.

    Big Ben
  19. UK to observe minute's silence at 20:00 BSTpublished at 19:49 British Summer Time 18 September 2022

    In a few minutes, at 20:00 BST, the UK will observe a national minute's silence to remember the Queen.

    As we reported earlier, Big Ben will strike once to mark the start of the moment of reflection, and again to mark its end.

    The iconic clock tower will also ring on Monday at one-minute intervals as the Queen's state funeral procession departs from Westminster Abbey.

  20. 'We wanted to be part of history'published at 19:40 British Summer Time 18 September 2022

    Thousands are expected to spend the night on the Mall in central London, in the hope of bagging a good spot to watch the funeral procession tomorrow.

    Among them are David and Bonnie Robertson from Lillington, Leamington Spa in Warwickshire.

    David and Bonnie RobertsonImage source, David Robertson

    "We got here at about 11 this morning when there were only two or three huddles of people, but now the front of the railing is full," said Mr Roberts, 66.

    He said the couple had been planning to be in London for the Queen's funeral for four or five years.

    "We thought wouldn't it be great just to be part of that history."

    "Everyone is very friendly," he said, "and some have even got better-looking sandwiches than us."

    But, he added, "underneath there's sort of a layer of solemnity going to come to the surface tomorrow I think."

    Funeral procession route graphic
    Image caption,

    The funeral procession takes place in central London on Monday