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The Queen was “joyful”, said the Archbishop of Canterbury in his sermon, and the pain of her death was felt by her family, but also by the whole nation and the Commonwealth.
Referring to the late monarch’s Covid lockdown broadcast, he ends the sermon by saying:
We will all face God’s merciful judgment: we can all share the hope of the Queen who in life and death inspired her servant leadership.
Service in life, hope in death. All those who follow the example of the Queen, and inspiration of trust and faith in God, can say with her: “We will meet again”.
Updated at 11.36 BST
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, delivers the sermon.
The Queen promised in a 21st birthday broadcast that her whole life would be dedicated to serving the nation and the Commonwealth. “Rarely has such a promise been so well fulfilled,” the archbishop said.
His late Majesty’s example was set not by his position or his ambition, but by whom he followed. I know that His Majesty shares the same faith and hope in Jesus Christ as his mother; the same sense of service and duty.
Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, delivers the sermon. Photograph: BBC News
Updated at 11.33 BST
This image shows the layout of Westminster Abbey. The coffin is in the center. The King and the rest of Elizabeth II’s immediate family sit next to her.
The layout of Westminster Abbey
The second hymn is The Lord is my Shepherd, sung to the tune of Crimond.
The tune returns to a parish in Aberdeenshire, not far from Balmoral Castle. The hymn was sung at the wedding of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Updated at 11.30am BST
Here’s a look at who has been invited to the Queen’s state funeral and who hasn’t.
French President Emmanuel Macron (fourth left) arrives with his wife Brigitte (third left). Photo: James Manning/AP South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Kun-hee. Photo: YONHAP/EPA US President Joe Biden accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden. Photo: Reuters The former King of Spain, Juan Carlos, and the former Queen Sofia of Spain. Photograph: Reuters
Updated at 11.32 BST
Prime Minister Liz Truss reads the second lesson.
Taken from John 14, the lesson is one of comfort, evoking the promise of eternal life in heaven.
Liz Truss, the British Prime Minister, reads the second lesson. Photograph: BBC News
Updated at 11.24am BST
Baroness Scotland, the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, is reading the First Lesson in tribute to the Queen’s lifetime of dedication and service to the family of nations.
The lesson is taken from Corinthians 15, and includes the triumphant line: “O death, where is thy sting?”.
O death, where is thy sting? Oh sepulchre, where is your victory? The needle of death is sin; and the force of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
The first hymn, The Day You Gave, Lord, Is Done, was written by John Ellerton and evokes the image of one day, one era, leading to another.
Baroness Scotland reads the first lesson. Photograph: BBC News
Updated at 11.21 BST
Emine Sinmaz
A live radio broadcast of the funeral has begun at Horse Guards. The audience is now silent as they listen to the service.
Royal Air Force veteran Liam DeMarney said earlier: “The Queen was my Commander-in-Chief for 25 years, so I’ve come to pay my respects to her.
“I was in the Royal Air Force for 25 years and have met King Charles and other members of the Royal Family.
“The Queen was an exemplar of the human spirit, she had a true sense of duty and was unwavering in that devotion. That’s why I joined the army.”
The father-of-two from Huntington, who proudly displayed his Iraq and Afghanistan medals, added: “I’ve just finished a night shift and I came straight here at 6.30am. I want to see the his coffin”.
The Queen was consulted on today’s order of service for many years. It was prepared by the Dean of Westminster together with Lambeth Palace.
The service will be led by the Dean of Westminster, who will also deliver the benediction.
The Prime Minister and the Secretary General of the Commonwealth will read the Lessons.
Prayers will be given by the Archbishop of York, the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and the Moderator of the Free Churches.
The sermon will be delivered by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who will also deliver the citation.
Updated at 11.18 BST
Rachel Hall
My colleague Rachel Hall is watching the funeral service with crowds lining the mall.
A somber hush has fallen over the previously chatty crowds gathered along the mall as the plaintive funeral music played at the service wafts through the procession. Some people have started to cry and friends are comforting them. pic.twitter.com/KDtKB6tZMI
— Rachel Hall (@rachela_hall) September 19, 2022
Here is the full order of service for Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral at Westminster Abbey:
Updated at 11.18 BST
A radio broadcast of the Queen’s funeral is being played over Horseguards Road loudspeakers.