
Cecil Beaton/Victoria & Albert museum
In the headlines
Britain has begun a 10-day period of national mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The date for the royal funeral has not been set, but it is expected to take place on Monday 19 September. Bells began tolling at midday today at Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and Windsor Castle; a gun salute in Hyde Park, Edinburgh Castle and elsewhere, with a shot fired for each year of the Queen’s life, started at 1pm. The Queen’s coffin will initially lie in rest at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. It will then be taken to Westminster Hall, where mourners will be able to file past over four days’ lying in state. King Charles III is on his way to London from Balmoral and will address the nation at 6pm this evening. He will be formally proclaimed King at the Accession Council at St James’s Palace at 10am tomorrow.