The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

The Queen’s coffin is being taken in a procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy.

The coffin is draped with the Royal Standard, and the Instruments of State -- the Imperial State Crown and regalia -- are laid upon it along with a flower wreath.

The wreath -- which has been made in a sustainable manner -- contains flowers and foliage cut from the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Highgrove House at the request of King Charles III.

It sits in a nest of English moss and oak branches.

The flowers included are: scented pelargoniums; garden roses; autumnal hydrangea; sedum; dahlias; and scabious. They are all in shades of gold, pink and deep burgundy, with white elements to reflect the Royal Standard.

The foliage that has been included in the wreath was selected for its symbolism -- rosemary (for remembrance), myrtle (an ancient symbol of a happy marriage), and English oak (symbolic of the strength of love).

The myrtle was cut from a plant grown from a sprig of myrtle that featured in the Queen’s wedding bouquet when she married Prince Philip in 1947.

The Queen's coffin has been placed on the State Gun Carriage, and the procession that will take the late monarch to Westminster Abbey has begun.

The Queen's four children, including King Charles III, are following her coffin on foot.

Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin has been lifted from the catafalque in Westminster Hall, where the late monarch has been lying in state, and will now make its way towards Westminster Abbey.  

The bearer party carrying the coffin is founded by the Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.  

As monarch, Elizabeth II held the position of Company Commander of the Grenadier Guards’ Queen’s Company, making a personal review of the unit once every decade.  

“Their 12 very best soldiers will have been selected to provide the bearer party at Her Majesty’s funeral,” the British Army’s website said.  

Elizabeth II has been lying inside Westminster Hall since Wednesday, and mourners have been constantly filing through the building to pay their final respects. 

King Charles III's car is on the way to Westminster Hall, where the new monarch will grieve his mother as he follows her coffin.

Meanwhile, cars taking other members of the royal family to Westminster Abbey have also departed Buckingham Palace.

Some members of the Queen's family, including her four children and Princes William and Harry, two of her grandchildren, will walk behind her coffin as it moves from the hall towards the abbey for the funeral.

Liz Truss, Britain's new prime minister, has arrived at Westminster Abbey, shortly after the other people to have held the post walked down the aisle.

Truss met Queen Elizabeth II just two days before she died, to formally take up the role.

Before her arrival, Tony Blair, Boris Johnson, David Cameron, Theresa May, Gordon Brown and John Major -- all the living people to have previously occupied Downing Street -- took their seats.

Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, have now taken their place inside Westminster Abbey.

US President Joe Biden has stepped out of his car and entered Westminster Abbey for the Queen's funeral.

He walked into the church hand-in-hand with first lady Jill Biden.

A procession of members of Britain's armed forces is underway in London, as the start of Queen Elizabeth II's funeral nears.

The Royal Navy, Air Force and the Yeoman of the Guard at Westminster Abbey are among those represented.

Elizabeth II's coffin will soon be removed from Westminster Hall and be carried towards the Abbey for the funeral service.

Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan said Queen Elizabeth II was “symbolically queen of the world," as royals from across the globe descend on London for her funeral.

Speaking outside Buckingham Palace on Sunday, Rania told CNN's Becky Anderson that Queen Elizabeth was “public service personified."

Queen Rania is in London along with her husband, King Abdullah II, to attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral and meet with King Charles III.

She told CNN that Elizabeth II’s advice to her when she was beginning her reign was to “always be there” and have ”a sense of duty and discipline.”

Referencing the queues and the atmosphere around the UK, the Jordanian Queen remarked on how the British people have responded to her passing.

“It’s been a rough couple of years for the UK ... trying to negotiate a deal with Europe post Brexit, a pandemic, the cost of living, inflation, it has been tough. But I’ve never sensed the sense of togetherness that I feel today in the UK. She was a unifying force during her lifetime, but she is also unifying in her passing.” 

She said King Charles III has a "deep respect for what is tradition and custom ... but he’s also embracing of the future and of change and of everything new. Her Majesty was like that as well. She was always a reminder of where you came from, but also where you’re going."

On Charles III’s relationship with the Middle East, Queen Rania told CNN he has “a deep understanding of our region, a deep respect.

“He's a very wise man. I have no doubt in my mind how much he will enhance relations not just with our world, but every part of the world.”

Watch the interview here: