Queen’s State Funeral: Charles Gives Kate and Sophie Special Privilege, Meghan Banned

Buckingham Palace has released new details for the upcoming state funeral of Queen Elizabeth, as the nation prepares to bid a final farewell.

In a historic occasion, Kate Middleton and Sophie Wessex have been granted the privilege of following the Queen's funeral procession by car.

However, tensions arise as Meghan Markle is reportedly banned from attending by Prince Charles.

The state funeral, set to take place next Monday, will see King Charles leading members of the royal family in walking behind the late monarch's coffin from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey.

Among those expected to travel by car are Kate, William, and the Countess of Wessex, who was known to have a close bond with the Queen and was considered like a second daughter to her.

Meanwhile, Meghan Markle has allegedly been excluded from participating in the procession.

During the Queen's departure from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, Kate and Sophie had previously shared a vehicle.

However, this time, they will be joined by other royals as they complete the solemn journey by car.

Charles, who spent the day at his Burke Hall residence in Gloucestershire, will walk alongside his siblings Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward in the procession to Westminster Abbey.

Following them will be Prince William, Prince Harry, Peter Phillips, Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Lawrence, the Duke of Gloucester, and the Earl of Snowdon.

The procession itself will feature a 123-year-old gun carriage, pulled by 98 Royal Navy sailors using ropes, in a tradition dating back to Queen Victoria's funeral.

Leading the way will be the pipes and drums of Scottish and Irish regiments, the Brigade of Kirkers, and the Royal Air Force, comprising 200 musicians.

At 8am, the congregation will begin filing into Westminster Abbey, where the service will be conducted by the Dean of Westminster, starting at 11am.

Among the attendees will be around 2,000 people, including world leaders and foreign royals who will gather in central London to bid farewell to the beloved late Queen.

Notable figures such as US President Joe Biden and French leader Emmanuel Macron are expected to be present.

The coffin will be moved to Westminster Abbey at 10.44am on Monday for the service.

As the service nears its end, the last post will be sounded at 11.55am, followed by a two-minute national silence observed by the congregation and millions across the UK.

In the lead-up to the funeral, thousands of mourners have already paid their respects to the Queen as she lies in state at Westminster Hall.

Queue times have been estimated at nine hours, with the line stretching 4.9 miles.

However, it has been warned that queue times could extend to 30 hours or more, depending on the time and day.

A live stream is available for viewers to track the progress of the queue, which is moving at a rate of approximately 0.5 miles per hour.

Even those near the front of the line are facing long waits.

To accommodate the large number of mourners, additional queue infrastructure has been installed, extending the total distance to almost 10 miles.

As Brits wait, they are advised to wear appropriate clothing and bring essentials such as food and water.

Portable toilets and water stations are available along the queue route.

While clear water bottles are permitted in Westminster Hall, their contents must be emptied before entering the security search point.

As the nation prepares to bid farewell to Queen Elizabeth, the state funeral will undoubtedly be a solemn and significant event, bringing together world leaders, foreign royals, and thousands of mourners to honor the life and legacy of a beloved monarch.