In pictures: Queen leaves Buckingham Palace for final time

Pall bearers carry the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II

The coffin carrying Queen Elizabeth II left Buckingham Palace on Wednesday to make the short, sombre journey to Westminster Hall in central London, where it will lie in state for four full days until her funeral on Monday.

The procession carrying the Queen's coffin on The Mall

The coffin departed the palace for Westminster Hall carried on an open gun carriage of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, drawn by a team of black horses.

The coffin draped in the Royal Standard and topped with the Imperial State Crown The coffin on an open gun carriage of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, drawn by a team of black horses
The coffin leaving the grounds of Buckingham Palace and heading down The Mall

Huge crowds assembled along the route, with people hoping to get a glimpse of the Queen's coffin and King Charles III, who followed behind on foot with other senior royals.

King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward walk behind the Queen's coffin King Charles III and Prince William walk behind the Queen's coffin The coffin being pulled by a gun carriage of The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery

Guns were fired at one-minute intervals throughout the procession from Hyde Park, where people watched the event on large screens.

A crowd of people watch the procession on a large screen in Hyde Park An image of Queen Elizabeth II is shown on a big screen in Hyde Park
The King鈥檚 Troop fire a gun from Hyde Park during the procession

Some 1,000 members of the armed forces took part in events surrounding the parade. Captain Amy Cooper led the procession on a huge 18 hands-tall (183cm) veteran horse named Lord Firebrand.

Captain Amy Cooper leads the procession on a veteran horse named Lord Firebrand
A military band play music as they march during the procession The procession crossing Horse Guards Parade
Members of the household Cavalry Regiment march in the Procession Membes of the public trying to catch a glimpse of the procession as it turns off of The Mall
Children peer from a window above Whitehall as the procession passes by A man climbing a bus stop sign trying to see the coffin being carried into Westminster
The procession going through Horse Guards Arch before turning on to Whitehall The procession passing Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster

The gathered crowds fell silent as the procession reached the Palace of Westminster - the home of the UK Parliament.

King Charles III and the other members of the Royal Family saluted as the bearer party carried the Queen's coffin into Westminster Hall.

The gun carriage carrying the Queen's coffin arriving at Westminster Hall Member of the Royal Family saluting as the coffin is carried into Westminster Hall King Charles III and the Queen Consort leading a line of member of the Royal Family
Catherine, Princess of Wales and Sophie, Countess of Wessex watch the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex inside Westminster Hall
The Queen's coffin resting on a raised platform, known as a catafalque Soldiers from units that serve the Royal Household guarding each corner of the platform

Credits

Words and production by Mike Hills, design by Oli Powell and development by Becky Rush, Alex Nicolaides and Shilpa Saraf. Images: Getty Images, PA and Ministry of Defence.

More on this story