Queen’s State Funeral: Kate and Sophie Given Privilege, Meghan Excluded

Buckingham Palace has unveiled new details for the Queen's state funeral set to take place next Monday, marking a somber moment as the nation bids farewell to the beloved monarch.

The procession will see Kate and Sophie Wessex accompanying the late Queen in a car, while King Charles will lead the royal family on foot behind the coffin's journey from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey.

Kate, William, and the Countess of Wessex, who shared a close bond with the Queen, are expected to be among the royals traveling by car, contrasting with Meghan's absence from the procession at the decision of Charles.

This move comes after Kate and Sophie previously traveled together as the Queen made her way from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, where she currently lies in state ahead of the funeral.

Charles, having spent a quiet day at his Burke Hall residence in Gloucestershire, will be joined by his siblings Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward in walking to Westminster Abbey on Monday.

Following them will be Prince William, Prince Harry, Peter Phillips, Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Lawrence, the Duke of Gloucester, and the Earl of Snowdon, forming a solemn procession.

The historic event will feature a 123-year-old gun carriage carrying the Queen's coffin, pulled by 98 Royal Navy sailors in a tradition dating back to Queen Victoria's funeral.

The procession will be accompanied by Scottish and Irish regiments, the Brigade of Kirkers, and the Royal Air Force, totaling 200 musicians.

The congregation is expected to enter Westminster Abbey from 8 am before the service commences at 11 am under the guidance of the Dean of Westminster.

A notable presence of two thousand individuals, including world leaders like US President Joe Biden and French leader Emmanuel Macron, will pay their respects inside the central London church.

At 10.44 am on Monday, the coffin will be transported to Westminster Abbey, with poignant moments such as the sounding of the last post at 11.55 am marking the service's conclusion.

A national two-minute silence will follow, observed by both attendees and millions across the UK in honor of the late Queen.

As mourners continue to gather at Westminster Hall to bid their farewells, queue times have surged to an estimated nine hours, with lines stretching up to 4.9 miles.

However, authorities caution that wait times could potentially extend to over 30 hours based on various factors.

A live stream tracking the queue's progress has been made available for viewers.

The procession of mourners is moving at a pace of approximately 0.5 miles per hour, leading even those near the front to endure lengthy waits.

To accommodate the influx of visitors, an additional three miles of queue infrastructure has been installed, allowing the total queue distance to reach almost 10 miles.

To ensure a smooth experience, attendees are advised to dress appropriately and carry essentials like food and water, which must be discarded before entering Westminster Hall.

Portable toilets and water stations have been set up along the queue route, with clear water bottles allowed but requiring contents to be emptied before security checks.