Two-minute silence to mark the death of Her Majesty The Queen

News story

National silence to take place on Monday, 19 September

Image of Westminster Abbey

There will be a two-minute silence at the end of the State Funeral service on Monday, 19 September. This will be at approximately 11:55am.

To pay our respects to Her Majesty The Queen this silence will be observed in all UK government buildings. Devolved administrations will issue instructions in their estates and others as necessary.

Local authorities, businesses, organisations and individuals may choose to join us in observing this silence.

They are also encouraged to join in the National Moment of Reflection on the evening of Sunday 18 September to reflect on the Queen’s life and legacy.

The Moment of Reflection will be marked with a one-minute silence at 8pm.

Further information

Published 18 September 2022




Plans for public to watch Her Majesty The Queen’s funeral announced

  • Opportunity for public to line routes in London and Windsor for The Queen’s final journey
  • Big screens will be put up across the country for people to watch the ceremony
  • The funeral, on Monday 19 September, will also be broadcast live on BBC, Sky and ITV
  • National Moment of Reflection will be held on Sunday 18 September

The funeral takes place on the morning of Monday 19 September alongside processions in London and Windsor, with public viewing areas and big screens in both locations.

Across the country big screens will be put up, including in London’s Hyde Park, Sheffield’s Cathedral Square, Birmingham’s Centenary Square, Carlisle’s Bitts Park, Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park and Coleraine Town Hall in Northern Ireland. Cinemas across the UK are also opening their screens to show the funeral – bringing together local communities to commemorate.

The funeral service and processions will be shown live on BBC One, ITV and Sky for those who wish to watch at home.

At 10.44am, The Queen’s coffin will be moved from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey for the state funeral. Two thousand guests are expected to attend the service, which will begin at 11am and followed by a national two-minute silence at 11.55am.

A public procession will begin at 12.15pm as Her Majesty’s coffin travels from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch in London.

The procession, which will proceed in seven groups and be supported by a service band, will travel along Broad Sanctuary, Parliament Square, Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade, Horse Guards Road, The Mall, Constitution Hill and end at London’s Wellington Arch.

Space dedicated for those with accessibility requirements is available at the Green Park side of The Mall and the St James’s Park side of The Mall. The Albert Memorial viewing areas will have British Sign Language interpreters and a hearing loop.

Her Majesty’s coffin will then be carried from Wellington Arch by the State Hearse to Windsor where The Queen will be laid to rest.

The hearse is due to arrive in Albert Road and, at 3.10pm, it will travel in procession along Albert Road and the Long Walk before arriving to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle ahead of the committal service, where The Queen will buried next to the Duke of Edinburgh, which is not open to the public.

There are a limited number of public viewing areas on The Long Walk, including a number of viewing spaces for those with accessibility needs, and there will be big screens for people to watch the services and procession from London.

Those wishing to line the processional route are encouraged to plan ahead and prepare for delays to travel.

A National Moment of Reflection will take place at 8pm on Sunday 18 September. Community groups, clubs and other organisations, as well as people at home are being encouraged to mark this moment in the form of a one-minute silence.

ENDS

  • Sky News will provide full live coverage for free on Sky News, the Sky News App and on the Sky News YouTube channel, including a special programme starting at 9am from Westminster Abbey.
  • ITV will broadcast the service and procession live as part of a special programme with a documentary film broadcast at 7.30pm and a special programme at 9pm.
  • The BBC will be providing full coverage of The State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen across television, radio, iPlayer and BBC Sounds. A special programme will be on air from 0800-1700 on BBC One, BBC Two and iPlayer with BSL signed coverage on BBC Two.
  • British Sign Language Interpreters and on captioning will be on screen in Hyde Park. Hearing loops are available.

Details of local events and screenings of The Queen’s funeral can be found on gov.uk here. Events include:

  • Bedford: Bedford Borough Council will hold a public screening of the funeral at Bedford Corn Exchange.
  • Birmingham: The funeral will be shown on a big screen in Centenary Square.
  • Bradford: Bradford Cathedral will show the funeral.
  • Chester: Church services will take place on various dates across Chester, including at Chester Cathedral, Neston Parish, St Thomas Ellesmere Port and St Chad’s Winsford.
  • Coventry: The funeral will be shown on a big screen in University Square.
  • Exeter: The funeral will be screened at Northernhay Gardens, at Exeter City Football Club and at the Conference Centre at Sandy Park.
  • Leeds: Big screens will be put up in Millennium Square.
  • Litchfield: Lichfield Cathedral will hold a service of commemoration at 3.30pm on Sunday 18 September.
  • Liverpool: A service of remembrance will take place at Liverpool Cathedral at 3pm on Sunday 18 September.
  • Manchester: Manchester Cathedral will broadcast the funeral service on big screens.
  • Newcastle upon Tyne: Big screens in Old Eldon Square will show the funeral service.



Memorial Service at All Saints Anglican Church

The service led by Reverend Imad Zoorob was held on Thursday 15 September. The British Ambassador to Lebanon, Hamish Cowell, together with the Australian and Canadian Ambassadors attended the service alongside Embassy staff, diplomats, members of the British community and friends.

The British Ambassador expressed his gratitude for the thousands of warm and heartfelt messages of condolences and sympathy received over recent days, including from Lebanese officials, the public and the British community, and his appreciation for the declaration of three days of national mourning.

At the memorial service, the Ambassador said:

My colleagues at the Embassy and I have been overwhelmed and very touched by the many messages of condolence ….which reflect how much Her Majesty was respected and admired in Lebanon, as throughout the world.

In an address to the congregation, the Ambassador said:

…We come here in sadness, to share our loss. But also to celebrate and remember a unique and remarkable life…..

Queen Elizabeth II gave a lifetime of extraordinary service. Her exceptional dedication ….set an example to us all of selfless duty.

Quoting His Majesty King Charles III, Hamish Cowell said:

Queen Elizabeth’s was a life well-lived….…..a promise with destiny kept….and she is mourned most deeply in her passing.

Since Friday 9 September, hundreds have made their way to the Ambassador’s residence, the British Embassy and the National Library of Lebanon, to sign a book of condolences paying tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Her Majesty The Queen’s State Funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey, followed by a Committal Service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor on Monday 19 September. The All Saints Anglican Episcopal Church Beirut will be broadcasting the funeral live starting 12:30pm Beirut time.




Bank holiday for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral

World news story

As a mark of respect, British Embassy and all Consulates General across China will be closed on Monday 19 September.

As a mark of respect, British Embassy and all Consulates General across China will be closed on Monday 19 September, the day of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral.

Published 16 September 2022




Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II: condolence book in Brussels

World news story

Following the death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the British Embassy has opened a condolence book for the public in Brussels.

For all those who wish to pay their respects in person to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the British Embassy Brussels has opened a condolence book at the UK Ambassadorial Residence:

17 Rue Ducale
1000, Brussels

The condolence book will be open between 9am to 6pm every working day up to and including the day of the funeral on 19 September 2022.

You will be able to leave flowers if you wish, but please do not bring large or bulky items with you. Visitors will be subject to security checks.

Alternatively, we invite you to offer your condolences online. A condolence facility is available on the Royal website www.royal.uk.

Published 15 September 2022