On Monday September 19th, the day of the State Funeral, Her Majesty The Queen will make one final journey.
Her Coffin will be taken in Procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey, where the State Funeral Service will take place.
After the State Funeral has concluded, the Coffin will move from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch.
And from Wellington Arch, the Coffin will travel to St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle via the Long Walk, where a Committal Service will then take place.
As the Queen is laid to rest, you might be pondering your own way to pay tribute to England’s longest serving monarch.
And to help you in your plans, we’ve compiled a list of famous Royal attractions - and a route you might take in order to see them all in one long weekend.
One thing to note - the State Rooms, the Royal Mews and The Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and The Queen’s Gallery in Edinburgh are currently closed with an announcement to be made about their reopening.
Start: Buckingham Palace (SW1, London)
Formerly the Queen’s official residence, Buckingham Palace has been inundated with well-wishers and floral tributes in recent days. The roads around Buckingham Palace are currently closed but are set to reopen in the coming days.
Windsor Castle (25 miles, 1 hour minute drive from Buckingham Palace)
A relatively short drive to the west of London is Windsor Castle, located in Windsor, Berks, and said to be the Queen’s favourite residence. It’s also the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, typically open all year round when we’re not in a period of national mourning. If Prince Charles III is visiting Windsor, then you’ll see a Royal Standard flag flying above the Round Tower rather than a Union Flag.
Royal Chapel of All Saints, Windsor (5 miles, 25 mins from Windsor Castle)
When the global pandemic began to subside, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh began to venture out from Windsor Castle. And the first place they visited was the Royal Chapel of All Saints in Windsor. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh attended the marriage of Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi there in July this year.
Sandringham House & Estate (127 miles, 3 hours from Windsor)
Head three hours north east from Windsor and you’ll reach Sandringham House in Norfolk, close to King’s Lynn, another one of the Queen’s favourite houses and often described as ‘the most comfortable house in England’. Her Majesty often chose to spend Christmas there with her family. The Sandringham Estate is a stunning rural tourist attraction and well worth a visit when it reopens.
Palace of Holyrood House, Edinburgh (340 miles, 6 hours from Sandringham)
Standing at the end of Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyrood House was Her Majesty The Queen's official residence in Scotland.
During ‘Royal Week’ - her annual visit north of the border - the Palace forecourt would, according to Edinburgh.gov, ‘be transformed into a colourful parade ground, where 700 guests could stand to watch the enactment of an ancient ceremony, the Presentation of the Keys of the City of Edinburgh’.
Balmoral Castle and Estate (100 miles, 3 hours from Edinburgh)
Keep travelling north into the magnificent Cairngorm National Park, and in the shadow of the mighty Ben Macdui mountain you’ll find Balmoral Castle and Estate.
The Aberdeenshire property has been a private retreat of the Royal Family since the mid 1800s and its grounds are typically open to the public.
It was in the Queen’s living at Balmoral where the final images of her Majesty were taken before she died at the property, age 96.
Go the extra mile - Northern Ireland
In May 2021, to mark Northern Ireland’s centenary, The Queen sent a message to the people of Northern Ireland - a place she visited countless times as Monarch.
She said: “Across generations, the people of Northern Ireland are choosing to build an inclusive, prosperous, and hopeful society, strengthened by the gains of the peace process. May this be our guiding thread in the coming years.”
Her Majesty was, of course, a figure of reconciliation in the ongoing peace process. In 2012 she famously shook hands with former IRA Commander Martin McGuinness.
One of the locations in Northern Ireland she frequented was historic Hillsborough Castle, just south of Belfast, where she enjoyed Garden Parties.
Enjoyed this? Read our latest news:
- Motoring tributes to Queen Elizabeth II
- Meet the family-friendly new Ferrari Purosangue
- Free tickets for young grassroots football fans
- Jeep ‘Avenger’ will be brand’s first fully electric vehicle
-
World EV Day: Exclusive interview with leading climatologist
Where To Next?
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to our newsletter.
Looking for a great leasing deal? Check out our incredible range of special offers.
Read our latest reviews and find the right model for you.
Want to know more about leasing? Take a look at our comprehensive leasing guides.
Interested in everything motoring? Why not catch up on all the latest car leasing news.
