African leaders join the government and people of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the rest of the world in expressing our sincere condolence to the royal family on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
The funeral, which takes place on the morning of Monday 19 September, has witnessed the arrival of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo of Nigeria, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, prime minister of Antigua and Barbude and many of the prominent world leaders such as U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese to attend the Queen’s funeral.
According to a release issued by the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo’s media assistant, Mr Laolu Akande, the Vice President will join members of the Royal Family, world leaders including members of the Commonwealth, Heads of State, Governors-General, Prime Ministers, and foreign royal families at the ceremonies, including the funeral service scheduled to hold at Westminster Abbey on Monday.
Ahead of the service, Osinbajo will be among guests and dignitaries to be received by King Charles lll and Queen Consort Camilla, at a reception in Buckingham Palace Sunday.
Earlier on that day, the Vice President will hold a bilateral meeting with the UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly.
On Monday 19 September, at 10.44am, The Queen’s coffin will be moved from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey for the state funeral. Two thousand guests are expected to attend the service, which will begin at 11am and followed by a national two-minute silence at 11.55am.
A public procession will begin at 12.15pm as Her Majesty’s coffin travels from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch in London.
The procession, which will proceed in seven groups and be supported by a service band, will travel along Broad Sanctuary, Parliament Square, Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade, Horse Guards Road, The Mall, Constitution Hill and end at London’s Wellington Arch.
Space dedicated for those with accessibility requirements is available at the Green Park side of The Mall and the St James’s Park side of The Mall. The Albert Memorial viewing areas will have British Sign Language interpreters and a hearing loop.
Her Majesty’s coffin will then be carried from Wellington Arch by the State Hearse to Windsor where The Queen will be laid to rest.
The hearse is due to arrive in Albert Road and, at 3.10pm, it will travel in procession along Albert Road and the Long Walk before arriving to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle ahead of the committal service, where The Queen will buried next to the Duke of Edinburgh, which is not open to the public.
There are a limited number of public viewing areas on The Long Walk, including a number of viewing spaces for those with accessibility needs, and there will be big screens for people to watch the services and procession from London.
Those wishing to line the processional route are encouraged to plan ahead and prepare for delays to travel.
A National Moment of Reflection took place at 8pm on Sunday 18 September. Community groups, clubs and other organisations, as well as people at home are being encouraged to mark this moment in the form of a one-minute silence.
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