The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

Liz Truss, the UK prime minister, is reading the second lesson from John 14: 1–9.

Truss has been in the job less than two weeks; she met the Queen two days before the monarch's death to formally take up the role, in what would be the Elizabeth II's final act of official service.

Her reading follows a rendition by the choir by Judith Weir, Master of the King's Music.

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you," Truss reads.

"I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

"Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

"Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father."

You could hear a pin drop on the Mall in central London as silence descended at the start of the Queen’s funeral in Westminster Abbey.

While there are no screens, hundreds of mourners are able to hear a radio broadcast of the funeral.

People are standing still, gazes lowered. Some are staring into the distance as the broadcast pipes the singing choir in Westminster Abbey.

Before the broadcast, 11-year-old Carly Orton from Buckinghamshire said despite not being able to see anything, “I wanted to experience the crowds and it's been amazing so far.”

She came with her mother Maya Orton, 42, and family friend Kindarti, 40.

“I've been to all the events like the platinum jubilee and I'm glad I can pay my respects to the Queen,” Kindarti told CNN.

Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland is reading a lesson.

Formally known as Baroness Scotland, she was Attorney General under Tony Blair for three years – the first woman to hold the post.

The reading is from 1 Corinthians 15:

"Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming," she reads.

"Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

The opening hymn, The Day Thou Gavest, Lord Is Ended, is sung by mourners inside the Abbey including King Charles III and the Queen's relatives.

Those present sing:

The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle MBE, Dean of Westminster, is opening the Queen's funeral service with a bidding.

"With gratitude we remember her unswerving commitment to a high calling over so many years as Queen and Head of the Commonwealth," he said. "With admiration we recall her life-long sense of duty and dedication to her people. With thanksgiving we praise God for her constant example of Christian faith and devotion. With affection we recall her love for her family and her commitment to the causes she held dear."

King Charles is wearing a Royal Navy no. 1 tailcoat with a sword.

His military uniform includes the following medals:

A choir sings as Elizabeth II's coffin is carried down the aisle of Westminster Abbey.

King Charles III, Princes Andrew and Edward, and Princess Anne are following their mother towards the front of the abbey.

They are joined by several of the Queen's other descendants, including Princes William and Harry.

Camilla, the Queen Consort, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, The Duke of Kent and Prince Michael of Kent have joined the royal procession behind the coffin as it makes it way through the abbey.

Watch the moment here:

The Queen's coffin is being carried into Westminster Abbey after a short procession from the Westminster Hall, where it lay in state.

Elizabeth II's funeral service is beginning.

Waiting for the Queen’s coffin in Parliament Square is a tri-service honor guard of three officers and 53 rank-and-file from each service with colours draped. It is accompanied by a Band of the Royal Marines with Drums draped and muffled.

In a few moments, the coffin will enter Westminster Abbey and the service will begin