LYING-IN-STATE

The Coffin of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother lay in State in Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the Houses of Parliament, from Friday 5 April until the morning of Tuesday, 9 April 2002.

People were able to pay their respects at Westminster Hall from Friday 5 April to Monday 8 April. Westminster Hall was kept open past the scheduled opening hours to allow the long queues of well-wishers to pay their respects.

Whilst Her Majesty's Coffin lay in State, a constant and solemn guard was kept under the direction of the Commander Household Cavalry. Her Majesty's Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, The Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard, The Royal Company of Archers, The Queen's Body Guard for Scotland, Officers of the Household Cavalry, and Officers of the Foot Guards variously took turns in mounting Watch. 

Each Watch lasted six hours, and was divided into twenty-minute Vigils. At any time, four Officers stood guard around the Catafalque, with others stood nearby. The first Vigil was kept by the Household Cavalry, the last by the Irish Guards.

A Princes' Vigil was observed on Monday, 8 April from 5.40p.m. to 6.00p.m.. The Queen Mother's four grandsons  - The Prince of Wales, The Duke of York, The Earl of Wessex and Viscount Linley - paid a silent tribute to their grandmother in Westminster Hall, standing guard at each corner of the coffin.

The ceremony had Royal precedent in a similar vigil mounted for George V in 1936 in Westminster Hall, when his sons, Edward, Albert, Henry and George, stood at their father's coffin.

On the morning of Tuesday, 9 April 2002, the coffin was taken from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey for the funeral service.