Military vigils before funeral

The coffin began its journey in Windsor

The Queen Mother's coffin will be guarded in the run-up to her full ceremonial funeral by the military regiments with which she was associated.

The Queen Mother herself approved the funeral plans.

Her coffin is currently resting in Westminster Hall, in the same spot where George VI, her husband, lay before his funeral in 1952.

During the lying in state, it will be guarded by Her Majesty's Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, by the Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard, by the Royal Company of Archers, the Queen's Body Guard for Scotland, and by Officers of the Household Division.

Mourning Timetable

9 April: Coffin moves to Westminster Abbey

9 April: Ceremonial funeral

9 April: Interment at St George's Chapel, Windsor

Officers from the Household Cavalry will mount the first vigil.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said each royal funeral reflected the life and role of individual royals.

"This is a very traditional start to the funeral, with very strong ceremony, and this befits Queen Elizabeth's role as a consort of the sovereign," she said.

The public will be able to pay their respects as the coffin lies-in-state before next Tuesday's funeral in nearby Westminster Abbey.

The hall will be open to the public on:

Saturday, Sunday and Monday between 0800 and 1800 BST

The last time a coffin lay-in-state in Westminster Hall was after the death of Winston Churchill in 1965.

George VI's coffin drew crowds of more than 70,000 a day in 1952, with the queues reported to stretch to four miles in the February cold.

Television options

The Palace spokeswoman said it was very difficult to forecast how many mourners might be expected for the Queen Mother.

"Many people today understandably will prefer to watch it on television," she said.

George VI's coffin lay-in-state in Westminster Hall in 1952

More than 20,000 people had also emailed tributes, and books of condolence were another innovation not available in 1952.

The Queen Mother will receive a "ceremonial" funeral, rather than the full state event afforded to monarchs and specially selected national figures like Churchill.

The only visible difference in a state funeral is that the gun carriage with the coffin is borne by sailors, not horse-drawn.

The spokeswoman said a state funeral had not been considered for the Queen Mother, nor was it needed, as she was automatically given full ceremony.

The main aspects of the funeral were "absolutely identical", she said, although ceremonial funerals varied greatly according to the particular royal involved.