In life, Queen Elizabeth II traveled a great deal, logging 285 state visits abroad. She is now on her final highly ceremonial journey — about 500 miles from her castle in Scotland to her final resting place in Windsor.
The queen’s final journey: Mapping the plans for the coming days
The queen’s upcoming
500-mile journey
procession
Balmoral
Castle,
Aberdeenshire
Palace of
Holyroodhouse,
Edinburgh
St. Giles’
Cathedral
Edinburgh
Airport
Queen
lies at rest
The queen’s coffin will make
the 400-mile trip from Scotland
to England via Royal Air Force
Westminster
Hall
Wellington
Arch
Buckingham
Palace, London
RAF Northolt
Airport
Westminster
Abbey
Queen
lies in state
Windsor
Castle
St. George’s
Chapel
Procession via
The Long Walk
Queen is
interred
Distances are approximate.
The length of some procession lines
was adjusted for visibility.
Source: Buckingham Palace
The queen’s upcoming 500-mile journey
procession
Balmoral
Castle,
Aberdeenshire
Palace of
Holyroodhouse,
Edinburgh
St. Giles’
Cathedral
Edinburgh
Airport
Queen
lies at rest
The queen’s coffin will make
the 400-mile trip from Scotland
to England via Royal Air Force
Westminster
Hall
Wellington
Arch
Buckingham
Palace, London
RAF Northolt
Airport
Westminster
Abbey
Queen
lies in state
Windsor
Castle
St. George’s
Chapel
Procession via
The Long Walk
Queen is
interred
Distances are approximate.
The length of some procession lines was adjusted for visibility.
Source: Buckingham Palace
The queen’s upcoming 500-mile journey
procession
Balmoral
Castle,
Aberdeenshire
Palace of
Holyroodhouse,
Edinburgh
St. Giles’
Cathedral
Queen
lies at
rest
Edinburgh
Airport
The queen’s coffin will make
the 400-mile trip from Scotland
to England via Royal Air Force
Westminster
Hall
Wellington
Arch
Buckingham
Palace, London
RAF
Northolt
Airport
Westminster
Abbey
Queen
lies in state
Windsor
Castle
St. George’s
Chapel
Distances are approximate.
The length of some procession lines
was adjusted for visibility.
Queen is
interred
Procession via
The Long Walk
Source: Buckingham Palace
The queen’s upcoming 500-mile journey
procession
Balmoral
Castle,
Aberdeenshire
Palace of
Holyroodhouse,
Edinburgh
St. Giles’
Cathedral
Queen
lies at rest
Edinburgh
Airport
The queen’s coffin will make
the 400-mile trip from Scotland
to England via Royal Air Force
Westminster
Hall
Wellington
Arch
Buckingham
Palace, London
Westminster
Abbey
RAF
Northolt
Airport
Queen
lies in state
Windsor
Castle
St. George’s
Chapel
Distances are approximate.
The length of some procession lines was adjusted for visibility.
Procession via
The Long Walk
Queen is
interred
Source: Buckingham Palace
The plans have been in place for decades but the exact schedule is still subject to change.
The queen died in Balmoral castle, a royal estate in the Scottish highlands bought for Queen Victoria by her husband in the nineteenth century. Queen Elizabeth is said to have loved the sprawling countryside home, where she spent summers playing with her beloved corgis, horseback riding and going on nature walks.
From there, her coffin was taken to Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, where she will lie in the famous Holyrood Palace, across from the Scottish parliament.
The 16th century palace — Scotland’s official residence for the British monarch — contains the preserved living quarters of Mary, Queen of Scots, and is filled with elaborate tapestries and ornate furniture. It also boasts immaculate gardens and a collection of royal gems.
From Holyrood a procession is expected to take place along the capital’s royal mile to St. Giles’ Cathedral, which dates back to the middle ages and remains a popular tourist destination.
After Scotland has paid its respects, the queen’s coffin will be flown to London on Monday. A procession is scheduled from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where she will lie in state for several days. After the funeral service at Westminster Abbey on Sept. 19, the queen will be taken on a final procession down the Mall ending at Hyde Park Corner.
The coffin will then move to Windsor Castle, where the queen spent weekends. There, the coffin will travel in a final procession to St. George’s Chapel, where she will be laid to rest next to her husband, Philip.