The Important Role The Guard Of Honor Plays In Queen Elizabeth’s Funeral

Now that Queen Elizabeth II’s remains are in London, British soldiers are pulling all the stops to prepare for the funeral taking place on September 19 — which can be watched through various platforms. The soldiers are gathering in the wee hours of the morning dressed in full uniform to conduct a complete rehearsal of the event while the general public is asleep. The troops have reportedly been rehearsing non-stop for days to ensure that everything will be perfect. “For everybody on parade it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” major general Christopher Ghika told The Guardian. “It’s a very sad day but it’s our last opportunity to do our duty for the Queen, and our first opportunity to do our duty for the King.”

Per Insider, the funeral will involve a procession that takes 25 minutes to walk, with 500 members of the military confirmed to take part. The whole affair will be televised as the queen’s coffin travels to St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, where she will be laid at her final resting place alongside her husband, Prince Philip.