Today is the funeral of Her Majesty the Queen, set to go down in history.
With billions expected to tune in and thousands flocking to London to watch the funeral procession in person, the public are reminded they cannot watch from Westminster Abbey, where Her Majesty’s funeral will take place.
Westminster Abbey instead will welcome the likes of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden to the Emperor of Japan, with the funeral guestlist including heavyweights from the world of politics, nobility and more.
But how many people are expected and how many people can fit inside Westminster Abbey?
What is the capacity at Westminster Abbey?
Westminster Abbey can seat up 2,200 people.
2000 guests are expected to attend the Queen’s funeral, which will begin at 11am and be followed by a national two-minute silence at 11.55am.
Guests range from political leaders to nobility – including Monaco’s Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco and King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain.
Also, noted celebrities including Sir David Attenborough are expected to attend.
After the service at Westminster Abbey, a public procession will begin at 12.15pm as Her Majesty’s coffin travels from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch in London.
Westminster Abbey is no stranger to large scale events.
Back in 2011, the abbey reached capacity after over 2000 guests attended the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
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Schedule for The Queen's funeral
6.30am: Lying-in-state at Westminster Hall will end.
8am: The doors to Westminster Abbey, where the funeral will be held, open three hours early to the 2,000 invitees.
10.35am: Her Majesty The Queen's coffin will leave its current location of Westminster Hall, where HM is lying-in-state, and travel in the State Gun Carriage to Westminster Abbey.
A procession, led by the Royal Navy, will lead through New Palace Yard, Parliament Square and Broad Sanctuary and the Sanctuary, before reaching the Abbey.
The procession - which will be to the sound of bagpipes and muffled drums - will be joined by King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward along with Prince William and Prince Harry.
10.52am: The Queen's coffin will arrive at the Great West Door of Westminster Abbey.
11am: The Queen's funeral will begin.
11.55am: The funeral will draw to a close with the sounds of the Last Post.
12pm: The UK will observe a two-minute silence at the end of The Queen's funeral.
12.15pm: After the funeral, The Queen's coffin will travel by gun carriage from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch near Hyde Park Corner, before continuing on to Windsor.
King Charles and members of the Royal Family will walk behind the coffin to Wellington Arch, via Parliament Square, Parliament Street, Whitehall, Horse Guards (including Horse Guards Arch and Horse Guards Road), The Mall, Queen's Gardens, finally Constitution Hill and Apsley Way.
1pm: Just after this time, Her Majesty's coffin will be moved from the State Gun Carriage to the State Hearse, and travel from London to Windsor on an as-yet unknown road.
3.15pm: Now in Windsor, the final procession to St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, via the Long Walk, begins at Shaw Farm Gate on Albert Road.
Once again, there will be a process of Royal Family members and The King behind the State Hearse.
4pm: The Queen's coffin will be carried into St George's Chapel, where a televised Committal Service will take place, held by the Dean of Windsor.
7.30pm: The Queen will be interred alongside Prince Philip at King George VI Memorial Chapel in Windsor Castle privately.
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Surprisingly, the future King chose Westminster Abbey as his wedding location for its intimacy.
It is intimate, at least, compared to St Paul’s Cathedral where Prince Charles and Princess Diana were wed, as this seats up to 3,500.
At the time of the wedding, William’s private secretary said the pair decided to become the 16th royal couple to marry at Westminster Abbey ‘because of its staggering beauty, its 1,000 years of royal history and its relative intimacy despite its size.’
Princess Diana’s funeral took place at Westminster Abbey and also received 2000 guests, including former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, US First Lady Hillary Clinton, South Africa President Nelson Mandela, Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Mariah Carey, Richard Branson, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.
Who is buried at Westminster Abbey?
There are 3,300 buried at Westminster Abbey, including 30 kings and queens – although Her Majesty the Queen will be buried at King George VI’s Memorial Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle, alongside Prince Philip.
One former monarch buried at Westminster Abbey is King Edward the Confessor, whose opulent shrine stands just behind the High Altar.
Henry III, who happened to build the church visitors see and visit today, is buried near him.
Queen Elizabeth I is buried there, along with her half-sister, the Catholic Queen Mary I. On the floor beside their tomb is the inscription: ‘Remember before God all those who divided at the Reformation by different convictions laid down their lives for Christ and conscience sake.’
It isn’t just royalty buried there, though. Other notable figures who have Westminster Abbey as either their final resting place or a tribute to them include:
- Jane Austen (author of Pride and Prejudice and more)
- Sir Isaac Newton (scientist who discovered gravity)
- Noel Coward (famous playwright)
- Charles Darwin (scientist known for the theory of evolution)
- Robert Burns (Scottish poet)
- Laurence Olivier (actor)
- Olaudah Equiano (Gustavus Vassa) (writer and slave abolitionist)
- Martin Luther King Jr (civil rights leader)
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