Queen Elizabeth death editorial: A right royal send-off fit for a queen

Members of the public file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall ahead of her funeral on Monday. Photo / Danny Lawson, Photo via AP

Editorial

EDITORIAL

What a week it has been of emotional scenes and spectacular pomp from Scotland and England.

By Friday morning New Zealand time, the queues were estimated to stretch 9km in London as mourners lined up for a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin lying in state at Westminster Hall.

One cannot help but wonder what the Queen would have made of it all, although she would have had some idea, having had a direct hand in the planning. The funeral at Westminster Abbey in London is likely to cost more than $10.1 million and has the potential to be the biggest global TV event in history.

On Monday, the lying in state will end at 5.30pm our time and, at 9.44pm, her coffin will be transported to Westminster Abbey on the state gun carriage.

The state funeral will be conducted by the Dean of Westminster. British Prime Minster Liz Truss and Commonwealth secretary general Patricia Scotland will read lessons, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will preach the sermon.

At the end of the service the Last Post will sound, followed by two minutes' silence.

Reveille, the national anthem and a lament played by the Queen's piper will bring the service to an end at approximately noon.

Following the service, there will be a long procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch, with King Charles III leading members of the royal family once again walking behind.

Her coffin will then be transferred to the state hearse, and travel by road to Windsor. The committal service, to be attended by 800 people, will be held at St George's Chapel at 3am New Zealand time. Her family will later attend the private interment service.

Expect then, many tears through Monday afternoon, evening and Tuesday morning.

Not everyone is a fan, of course, and that is their right. There is no denying however, that the British know how to conduct a ceremony. These events have been centuries in the development; decades in planning; and many covertly rehearsed the night before.

As well as pageantry, the British have once again proved to be world-beaters at queuing. Far from being frustrated, many in the lines spoke appreciatively of the experience. "I'm glad there was a queue, because that gave us time to see what was ahead of us, prepared us and absorbed the whole atmosphere," healthcare professional Nimisha Maroo told the Associated Press. Eventually, officials had to ask people to stop joining the queue.

By 6am on Tuesday our time, after a lifetime of royal duty, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor will be placed next to her beloved Philip. May she rest in peace.