Following the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II
Updated: 11:40am on September 9th 2022
Advice for Churches
Follow the link for advices for churches and clergy.
Prayers, liturgy & Parish Guidance
Follow the link for Diocese/Cathedral locally-produced liturgies and prayers – including new National Anthem.
Remembering Her Majesty The Queen
Advice for Churches in the Diocese
Sign the Online Book of Condolence
The Church of England has opened an Online Book of Condolence which you may wish to sign here. Your local church may have a Book of Condolence available to sign.
Outline of Events.
A timeline for the period of National Mourning is detailed below but PLEASE NOTE: these timings may be adjusted.
D-Day (Friday 9th September)
- The formal announcement of the death of the Queen was made yesterday evening.
- Bells may be tolled for one hour at noon.
- Flags to be flown at half-mast and to remain at this height until the day after the funeral.
D-Day+1 (Saturday 10th September) ‘Proclamation Day’
- 11.00am – Proclamation of new Monarch at the appropriate Royal Palace, followed by further proclamation at noon in London.
- 11.00am – Flags to be raised to full height until 13.00 on D+2.
D-Day+2 (Sunday 11th September)
- Noon – Proclamation of new monarch in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.
- 13.00 – Flags to be lowered to half mast, and to remain at this height until the day after the State Funeral.
- 14.00 – Proclamation of new monarch at County/Unitary Authority level.
- 16.00 onwards – Proclamation of new monarch at parish level.
- Bells should be rung open (i.e. unmuffled) in celebration of the accession at a practicable time (with the agreement of the Parochial Church Council) following the announcement. Bells should then revert to being rung muffled until the day of the state funeral.
D-Day+5
- Lying-in-state begins in Westminster Hall.
D-Day +10 (or +11 if +10 is a Sunday)
The Royal Household have requested that, if they can, parishes toll their bells for the hour immediately prior to the time of the funeral service.
- State funeral, Westminster Abbey
- Two minutes silence observed nationally (time to be confirmed)
- Public Holiday (if weekday)
Day after the Funeral
- Flags return to full mast at 8am
- Removal of flowers (possible local ceremony to mark this)
- Books of condolence close by 5pm