FAREWELL TO THE QUEEN: What To Know About Queen Elizabeth II’s Funeral

The United Kingdom has entered a period of national mourning after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, which is set to last until after her state funeral.

While it is a solemn time, her death is expected to spark a surge in people traveling to Britain to pay respects. Crowds already began gathering in front of Buckingham Palace Thursday evening.

Chantal Gouveia, the U.K. and Ireland destination lead for Kensington Tours, said London is expected to fill with visitors in the days to come “to mourn and to show their respect to this head of state who has played a part in so many of our lives,” she said.

Here’s what potential visitors need to know about visiting the U.K. during this historic time.

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What events are planned?

Plans for Queen Elizabeth’s death, known as Operation London Bridge, have been in place for decades. Bells across the country tolled around midday Friday, and artillery units paid tribute with a 96-gun salute, one round for each year of her life. King Charles III returned to London to his first address as monarch and the Accession Council is expected to officially proclaim him king on Saturday.

The queen’s casket will soon be taken to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland, where it will then be processed to St. Giles Cathedral to lie at rest for 24 hours, with public viewing.

She will then be flown to London, where a procession will take her from Buckingham Palace to lie in state at Westminster Hall for about four days. Her state funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey about 10 days after her death, with the final date yet to be announced.

After the funeral, another procession will take her to Wellington Arch, where it will then be transported to St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle to be laid to rest.

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What events are open to the public?

Mourners in Scotland can attend the procession from Holyroodhouse to St. Giles Cathedral, and the public viewing at St. Giles, which will last about 24 hours.

The processions in London – from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall for the queen to lie in state, from Westminster Hall to the Abbey for her funeral, and from the Abbey to Wellington Arch – are expected to be major public events. Dates will be confirmed by Buckingham Palace in the coming days. Flowers can be left at designated locations outside the Royal Residences, including at a memorial flower garden in Green Park in London.

During the time the queen lies in state at Westminster Hall, hundreds of thousands will likely visit to pay their respects. When the Queen Mother lay in state there in 2002, more than 200,000 visited, the BBC reported.

As for King Charles III’s accession, the official proclamation, expected Saturday, will be read from the balcony above Friary Court at St. James’s Palace. Further proclamations will be made across the country, including at the Royal Exchange in London.

The king will then begin a tour of the U.K., likely beginning in Scotland on Sunday.

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What historic and tourist sites are closed?

The Royal Residences closed upon the queen’s death and will remain closed until after her funeral. This includes Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Queen’s Gallery in Edinburgh, and Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland. Information on refunds for pre-purchased tickets is available on the Royal Collection Trust website.

Other major tourist attractions like the National Gallery, London Zoo, and Legoland in Windsor announced closures Friday in memory of the queen. Sporting events, including this weekend’s slate of Premier League matches, were postponed.

Many businesses and schools are also expected to be closed on the day of the state funeral, similar to a national bank holiday, said Tim Hentschel, co-founder and CEO bookings site HotelPlanner.

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What about transportation?

Whether you’re walking, driving or taking the Tube, give yourself extra time to navigate the city. Hentschel said to expect delays and disruptions at airports, train and bus stations due to the unexpected influx of visitors.

“There’s a number of hotels along that route that will become challenging to access during those procession periods,” Gouveia said.

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Are flights or hotels getting more expensive?

Despite the strong U.S. dollar, travelers to the U.K. can expect to see higher travel prices across the board, Hentschel said.

“Demand is surging right now as thousands of Anglophiles from around the world are looking at flights and hotels in London right now,” he said.

It doesn’t help that London was already experiencing a travel boom before the week’s events. “London is an incredibly popular destination for Americans, sitting among the top five destination during the past three summer holidays,” said Jen Moyse, vice president of product for the travel planning app TripIt.

Gouveia warned travelers should “be mindful of extreme limitations on availability for someone looking to do a last minute trip.”

For a better shot, Hentschel recommends travelers book as early as possible, be flexible with travel dates and accommodations, and “pack your patience.”

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Will I run into extra security and restrictions?

Travelers can expect a more visible police presence throughout London, “even more so outside Westminster Abbey, St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace and along the funeral parade route,” Hentschel said.

With special security events, it should feel comparable to Inauguration Day in the United States.

“Visitors can expect to go through magnetometers or other enhanced screening before entry, depending on the event and location,” Hentschel said.

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Should I just cancel my trip?

While you may face closures and higher prices, some see visiting Britain at this time as being a part of history.

“It’s not every day an entire Nation comes together to celebrate the life of the longest reigning British monarch,” Hentschel said. “How lucky you will be to witness such a once-in-a-lifetime historical event.”

Gouveia agreed, adding that she expects people to make plans rather than cancel them “to participate in this incredibly sad but historic event,” particularly with the coronation in the coming months.

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Is there special etiquette to follow?

“There’s no doubt that British pubs across England will be packed with people watching the events on TV and celebrating with a pint or two as well,” Hentschel said. “But the Lying in State and Funeral Procession and the King’s Accession to the throne will be very solemn events and proper etiquette and respect is required and expected.”

TripIt’s Moyse also said it’s important for travelers to remember “this is a time of intense sadness for many who have never known a time without the Queen’s rule.”

But that doesn’t mean everyone in the country feels that way. Gouveia noted that views of the royal family and the queen vary, “so you’re going to see people who mourn and you’re going to see people who might not necessarily be as ardent supporters of the royal family,” she said.

“But there’s the basic protocol of she was a human being and to treat this with compassion and dignity as well,” Gouveia added.

(c) 2022, The Washington Post · Natalie B. Compton, James Bikales