Five things to know about the queen's coffin procession

Five things to know about the queen's coffin procession

The ceremonial processions at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral are steeped in royal traditions
The ceremonial processions at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral are steeped in royal traditions. Photo: Victoria Jones / POOL/AFP
Source: AFP

PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy!

The ceremonial processions taking Queen Elizabeth II's coffin to London's Westminster Abbey and then towards her burial place at Windsor reflect the ancient traditions of the British monarchy.

Hauled by the Royal Navy

Royal Navy sailors will use ropes to pull the queen's lead-lined coffin mounted on a gun carriage from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey. Their comrades in a team of 142 sailors will walk alongside to act as a brake if necessary.

This tradition dates back to Queen Victoria's funeral in February 1901.

The horses meant to haul the gun carriage weighing more than two tons panicked and began kicking, threatening to drop the coffin.

One of the queen's relatives, Prince Louis of Battenberg, a Royal Navy captain, suggested to the new king, Edward VII, that this problem could be avoided by replacing horses with sailors.

Read also

Who's invited -- and who's not -- to Queen Elizabeth II's funeral

PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see YEN.com.gh News on your News Feed!

Nine years later when Edward VII himself died, this idea was put into practice again and it has since become an unchanging tradition at state funerals.

Pallbearers in bearskins

Eight soldiers from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards will have the task of carrying the queen's coffin from Westminster Hall to the gun carriage outside, and then into Westminster Abbey.

Eight pallbearers from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards will carry the queen's heavy lead-lined oak coffin
Eight pallbearers from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards will carry the queen's heavy lead-lined oak coffin. Photo: Jacob King / POOL/AFP
Source: AFP

One of the most ancient in the British army, the regiment is one of five infantry regiments that make up the Queen's (now King's) Life Guard.

The regiment's soldiers normally wear tall bearskin hats, a uniform they copied from the grenadiers of Napoleon's Imperial Guard, defeated at Waterloo in 1815.

The soldiers will be accompanied by Service Equerries to the Queen, attendants who assist the royals in carrying out public duties.

Read also

King Charles to host world leaders as UK readies for queen's funeral

Guard of Honour

Three regiments will play a particularly important role in the procession, marching very close to the queen's coffin.

The Yeomen of the Guard, the oldest military unit in the British Army created in 1485, and the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms are two former bodyguard units for the royals that now perform only a ceremonial role.

The Yeomen of the Guard -- the oldest military unit in the British army -- are part of the monarch's bodyguard
The Yeomen of the Guard -- the oldest military unit in the British army -- are part of the monarch's bodyguard. Photo: Marco BERTORELLO / POOL/AFP
Source: AFP

The Yeomen of the Guard always wear a red-and-gold uniform dating back to the Tudor era (16th century).

One of their best-known activities is searching the Palace of Westminster for gunpowder before the State Opening of Parliament.

This annual ritual commemorates the Gunpowder Plot, a failed attempt led by Guy Fawkes to blow up King James I and parliament in 1605.

They will be followed by members of the Royal Company of Archers, who acted as bodyguards for Elizabeth II whenever she was in Scotland.

Some detachments from other regiments in Britain and from the armed forces of the Commonwealth, a group of countries headed by the British monarch, will rejoin the funeral procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner near Buckingham Palace.

Read also

Leaders head to UK for queen's funeral as public pays tribute

Elizabeth II's royal house

While members of the royal family led by the new King Charles III will follow the casket, following them will be members of the queen's royal household, including the most senior officer of the royal household, the lord chamberlain.

In front of them will come the pipers and drummers of the Scottish and Irish regiments, the Brigade of Gurkhas brigade made up of soldiers from Nepal that is part of the armed forces. There will also be 200 Royal Air Force musicians.

6,000 troops

Some 6,000 soldiers, sailors and pilots from the British armed forces will take part in the procession, Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Tony Radakin told the BBC on Sunday.

Queen Elizabeth II in the past took the salute herself at military parades
Queen Elizabeth II in the past took the salute herself at military parades. Photo: - / CENTRAL PRESS/AFP/File
Source: AFP

At several points along the route they will perform a royal salute, for example when they pass the Victoria Memorial commemorating the queen.

"For all of us, this is our last duty for Her Majesty the Queen and it's our first prominent duty for His Majesty King Charles," he said.

New feature: Сheck out news that is picked for YOU ➡️ find “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy!

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.