Queen Elizabeth II, Coffin Lies In State After Arriving At Buckingham Palace

During their tour of the regions across His Majesty’s kingdom, The King and Queen Consort visited Northern Ireland.

Today His Majesty, King Charles III and the Queen Consort arrived in Northern Ireland for the second leg of being crowned the new Monarch. Multiple stops are scheduled for the new King, with centuries of Royal traditions.  A number of engagements were held at Hillsborough Castle for Their Majesties, including meetings with the Lord Lieutenant for the County Borough of Belfast, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and the Chief Executive of Belfast City Airport.  

He also met with representatives of the political parties for a private audience. Additionally, the Speaker of The Northern Ireland Assembly sent condolence messages on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland, to which The King responded:

“In the years since she began her long life of public service, my mother saw Northern Ireland pass through momentous and historic changes. Through all those years, she never ceased to pray for the best of times for this place and for its people, whose stories she knew, whose sorrows our Family had felt, and for whom she had a great affection and regard.” Said, His Majesty The King

In the afternoon, Their Majesties attended a Service of Reflection for the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, at St. Anne’s Cathedral, before meeting members of the public at Writers’ Square.

Later in the day, the Queen’s coffin was flown back to London, where it was escorted back to Buckingham Palace by the Royal Guards. Tens of thousands of people lined the streets in the rain to get a final glimpse of the Queen’s hearse as it drove by. 

The Queen will now lie in state in Westminster Hall, where the public will be able to pay their respect up until 6.30 am on Monday, September 19 – the day of the Queen’s funeral.

Image source Buckingham Palace