Where is the Queen Lying-in-State and what does Lying-in-State mean?

The Queen's coffin is now at Westminster Hall ahead of the monarch's state funeral on Monday 19 September

Queen Elizabeth II's coffin
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is now Lying-in-State at Westminster Hall. 

  • Her Majesty The Queen is Lying-in-State at Westminster Hall until the morning of her funeral on Monday 19 September.
  • The coffin of Her Majesty The Queen will be reposed at Westminster Hall in the Houses of Parliament 24 hours a day to allow the public to pay their respects. 
  • This is how to pay respects to the Queen Lying-in-State.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend the Queen's Lying-in-State at Westminster Hall, before Britain's longest-serving monarch's state funeral on Monday 19 September.

Queen Elizabeth II died aged 96 on Thursday, September 8, just hours after Buckingham Palace had announced she was being 'medically supervised' by royal doctors at Balmoral Castle

The news marked the end of Her Majesty's 70-year-long reign and the beginning of a new one under her eldest son, King Charles III. Her death has also meant that many members of the Royal Family have had their titles change, as the line of succession moves forward for the first time in seven decades. 

The Queen's coffin was flown into London from Scotland on Tuesday evening, after being temporarily deposed at St. Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh for the public to pay their respects. It is currently lying in the historic Westminster Hall following a sombre ceremonial procession this afternoon. 

Britain's King Charles III (L), Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales (2L) and Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex walk behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II

Queen's coffin arrives in London on Tuesday, 13 September 

(Image credit: Photo by DANIEL LEAL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

King Charles III, Prince William and Prince Harry, along with other members of the Royal Family, followed the coffin on foot as it made its way past St. James's Park and towards the Houses of Parliament, arriving at Westminster Abbey at 3pm. 

Westminster Abbey 

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Now the Queen's coffin has been positioned on a catafalque in Westminster Hall, where the Royal Family attended a short service held by the Archbishop of Canterbury on Wednesday afternoon. At 5pm on Wednesday September 14, the doors of Westminster Abbey will open for the public to pay their respects. The coffin will remain at Westminster Hall until 6.30am on the day of the Queen's funeral, Monday, September 19. 

Westminster Hall will remain open for 24 hours to give as many people as possible the chance to say their goodbyes and pay their respects to the beloved monarch.

What does Lying-in-State mean? 

Lying-in-State refers to the practice of placing the body of a deceased official, like a King or a Queen, in a state building so that the public can pay their respects. The body may be displayed in an open casket or concealed by a coffin, and is traditionally flanked by a unit of guards. In Britain, the tradition has been taking place at Westminster Hall since the death of King Edward VIII in 1910. 

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.


Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.