Queen’s coffin reaches the Palace of Westminster

Princes William and Harry, along with King Charles III, walked behind the coffin in a procession from Buckingham Palace. BBC News

Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin has reached the Palace of Westminster - the home of the UK Parliament - after a solemn procession through the streets from Buckingham Palace.

The gathered crowds fell silent as it arrived in Parliament Square at 3pm.

Next, the bearer party will carry her coffin to a catafalque (raised wooden platform) in the oldest part of the estate, Westminster Hall.

Members of the Royal Family will process into the hall themselves, in order to attend a short service conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury supported by the Dean of Westminster.

The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex walked side-by-side as they joined King Charles to walk behind the Queen’s coffin as it was taken in a solemn procession to its Lying-in-State.

The late monarch left Buckingham Palace for the final time as her coffin made its way to Westminster Hall to lie in state.

William and Harry were positioned behind their father as part of the procession through the streets of London, which left the palace at 2.22pm.

Charles and his sons appeared solemn as they walked behind the coffin.

The sun shone as the procession moved onto The Mall in central London and members of the crowd threw yellow roses into the road as the gun carriage passed them.

The last time Charles and his two sons were all seen together in public was at the service of thanksgiving for the Queen in St Paul’s Cathedral during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June.

But on that occasion, Harry and the Duchess of Sussex were seated some distance from Charles and William on the other side of the aisle in the second row.

In April 2021, Harry and William joined their father when they walked behind the Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin at his funeral.

The brothers were separated by their cousin Peter Phillips but he dropped back half a pace at one point so the siblings appeared closer together.

The Duke of York, the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex, also formed part of the procession, while Anne’s son Peter Phillips and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of Gloucester and the Earl of Snowdon also walked behind.

The Queen Consort, the Princess of Wales, the Countess of Wessex and the Duchess of Sussex traveled by car, while thousands lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the royal procession. - BBC News and agencies