visit queen funeral

Advertisement

Supported by

Thousands Pay Tribute as Britain Says Final Farewell to Its Queen

More than 100 world leaders, including President Biden, attended the funeral for Queen Elizabeth II, and Britons lined the streets for a procession that took her to her final resting place at Windsor Castle.

• Share full article

By Mark Landler

LONDON — Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest on Monday after a majestic state funeral that drew tens of millions of Britons together in a vast expression of grief and gratitude, as they bade farewell to a sovereign whose seven-decade reign had spanned their lives and defined their times.

It was the culmination of 10 days of mourning since the queen died on Sept. 8 in Scotland — a highly choreographed series of rituals that fell amid a deepening economic crisis and a fraught political transition in Britain — and yet everything about the day seemed destined to be etched into history.

Tens of thousands of people lined the route of the cortege past the landmarks of London. In Hyde Park, people watching the service on large screens joined in “The Lord’s Prayer” when it was recited at Westminster Abbey. Thousands more cheered, many strewing flowers in the path of her glass-topped hearse, as the queen’s coffin was driven to Windsor Castle, where she was buried next to her husband, Prince Philip.

“In this changing world, she was a pillar of the old world,” said Richard Roe, 36, who works in finance in Zurich and flew home for the funeral. “It’s nice to have something that’s stable and stands for good values.”

An unbroken thread of sadness ran through the day, but also an acute sense of uncertainty. The queen, who died at 96, was one of the last living links to World War II and the twilight of Britain’s imperial age. The country she embodied with such dignity has fundamentally changed.

A new Britain is taking shape among the diverse crowds that turned out with their iPhones and Instagram accounts to document the funeral. But its contours, and the role of the monarchy, are still up for grabs, as people struggle with less regal concerns like rising gas and electricity bills, and a looming recession.

On Tuesday, Britain will return to wrestling with the gravest economic crisis in a generation. Fears about its public finances have driven the pound to its lowest levels against the dollar since 1985. The survival of the monarchy’s far-flung realm is in question, as Caribbean countries debate whether to cast off the king as their head of state.

Britain’s uncertain future, however, was a matter for another day, as it paid tribute to one of the great symbols of its past. More than 100 world leaders, including President Biden and Emperor Naruhito of Japan, converged on London, the largest such gathering since the funeral of Nelson Mandela in 2013 in South Africa.

Years in the planning, the tribute to the queen was both intimate and grand: from the gun carriage that carried her flag-draped coffin through the streets of London to a lone bagpiper playing his lament, its haunting strains carried aloft in the hushed nave of Westminster Abbey.

“The pattern of many leaders is to be exalted in life and forgotten after death,” the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said in a eulogy that seemed to speak to a world plagued by misrule. Not so of Elizabeth, of whom he said: “Few leaders receive the outpouring of love that we have seen.”

To judge by the tear-streaked faces, and the cries of “God bless the queen,” in the streets and parks, his words were not an overstatement.

“She is everything that I am proud to be British about,” said Bea McArthur, 38, a hospital worker who traveled from Hampshire, England, on Friday, camping out with her two daughters and a friend to secure a spot in the front row of the parade route.

“She made a promise when she was 21, and she did not falter,” Ms. McArthur said. “When she first became queen, there weren’t many women in powerful roles, and she blew everyone else out of the water.”

Mr. Roe, the Zurich businessman, was more upbeat. “I think people have dealt with the grief side of it now,” he said. “This is more of a last goodbye, a celebration.”

The service was also designed to showcase Britain’s imperial history, its constitutional democracy and its Commonwealth. The carriage used for the queen’s coffin was first used for that purpose in Queen Victoria’s funeral in 1901. The new prime minister, Liz Truss, read from the Gospel of John, while the secretary general of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, read from Corinthians (“O death, where is thy sting?”).

Archbishop Welby described the queen as a beacon of hope. He recalled a speech she gave during the coronavirus pandemic, when she promised Britons enduring isolating lockdowns, “We will meet again,” the refrain of a cherished World War II-era song by Vera Lynn.

“All who follow the queen’s example, and inspiration of trust and faith in God,” he declared, “can with her say, ‘We will meet again.’”

Britain has not held a state funeral since 1965, when it buried Winston Churchill, the wartime leader who acted as a mentor to a young Elizabeth after she unexpectedly came to the throne on the death of her father, King George VI, in 1952.

There were echoes of that history as the queen’s cortege rolled past statues of Churchill and George VI. But there were also glimpses of the royal family’s future. Prince George, 9, who is the elder son of Prince William and second in line to the throne, stood in the front row at the abbey, along with his 7-year-old sister, Princess Charlotte. Both sang dutifully from their hymnals.

The new king, Charles III, was a quiet presence on a day devoted to his mother. On her coffin, next to a wreath of roses, hydrangea and dahlias — all arranged, by order of the king, without the use of floral foam to make it more sustainable — he had left a handwritten note, “In loving and devoted memory, Charles R.”

He marched behind the coffin as it was conveyed to Westminster Abbey from Westminster Hall, where she had lain in state for four days, viewed by tens of thousands of people, including dignitaries like Mr. Biden and ordinary people who lined up in what became known as “The Queue,” waiting up to 24 hours to pay their respects.

He marched behind it on its procession up Whitehall, down The Mall and past Buckingham Palace, before reaching Wellington Arch, where an honor guard transferred the coffin to the hearse. And he saluted as a military band played a wistful last rendition of “God Save the Queen” when she departed.

The procession, a mile and a quarter long, projected the full splendor of the monarchy: seven groups, each with its own marching band; detachments from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the British armed forces; and mounted soldiers from the Household Cavalry.

Charles, wearing a Royal Navy tailcoat and carrying a sword, was joined by members of the royal family, their turbulent recent history traced in their choice of dress. Prince Andrew, who served in the Royal Navy during the Falklands War, wore a morning suit rather than a uniform, reflecting his banishment from royal duties because of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sexual predator.

Prince Harry also wore a suit because of his withdrawal from royal duties when he moved to the United States in 2020 with his American-born wife, Meghan. He had received the king’s permission to wear a uniform to stand vigil over the queen’s coffin on Saturday, but it did not have her monogram, E.R., on its shoulders, denoting his diminished status.

The royal family, Archbishop Welby said, was grieving as any family would, but in this case, it had to do it “in the brightest spotlight.”

The spotlight still shone bright, but the setting was more intimate after the queen’s coffin arrived at Windsor, the turreted castle where she had spent most of her final days, sequestered during the pandemic. In April 2021, she buried Philip, her husband of 73 years, in an austere funeral at St. George’s Chapel there that was memorable for images of the queen, isolated and masked in a choir stall.

As her hearse rolled up the Long Walk, the tree-lined boulevard that leads to the castle, it was cheered by more crowds and flanked by a detachment of the queen’s Grenadier Guards and Household Cavalry.

But as the cortege drew closer to the castle, these symbols of royalty gave way to more personal reminders of the queen’s life there: her Fell pony, Emma, ears and tail twitching as she watched the cortege pass; and two of her corgis, Muick and Sandy , waiting patiently by the door.

If anything, the ceremony at Windsor, known as the committal, was even more laden with ritual than the funeral. Before the final hymn, the crown jeweler removed the imperial state crown, the orb and the scepter — precious regalia symbolizing the crown — from the coffin and placed them on the altar.

As a totem of the end of his service, the queen’s lord chamberlain, the most senior officer in the royal household, broke his wand of office into two pieces and placed them on to the coffin, to be buried with his sovereign.

The coffin was then lowered into the royal vault, where the queen was interred next to Philip in a private family ceremony later in the evening. Once again, the queen’s piper played a mournful lament, its sound dying out as he walked slowly away from the chapel.

In a last reminder of the monarchy’s continuity, the congregation sang, “God save the King.” Charles, his face bearing the weight of grief and, perhaps, the burdens of his new job, looked on wordlessly.

Saskia Solomon and Emma Bubola contributed reporting.

Mark Landler is the London bureau chief. In 27 years at The Times, he has been bureau chief in Hong Kong and Frankfurt, White House correspondent, diplomatic correspondent, European economic correspondent, and a business reporter in New York. More about Mark Landler

Photography

In photos: Alexei Navalny’s funeral draws thousands of mourners to Moscow church

By Washington Post staff | Mar 1, 2024

Alexei Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most formidable critic, was lowered into the ground to the strains of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” as thousands of his supporters outside the cemetery chanted to be allowed to pay their respects. Under the supervision of busloads of riot police, Navalny’s body was whisked into the church for a brief ceremony before being taken for burial. Navalny died suddenly at the age of 47 in the Polar Wolf prison colony in northern Russia — a death that his widow, Yulia Navalnaya , and other supporters have described as “murder” but which Russian authorities attributed to “natural causes.”

undefined/AP

March 1 | Moscow

Mourners gather outside the church in support of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Law enforcement officers walk outside the church during services.

Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images

Mourners gather outside the church ahead of the funeral.

Anatoly Navalny, right, and Lyudmila Navalnaya, parents of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, arrive for services.

The hearse carrying the coffin of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny arrives.

A crowd looks on as the hearse parks outside Mother of God Soothe My Sorrows church.

Stringer/Reuters

Russian people pay their respects next to the hearse with the coffin carrying Alexei Navalny.

Maxim Shipenkov/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

A woman holds a portrait of Alexei Navalny and his wife, Yulia, with the words "Eternal love has no death."

Mourners gather outside the church.

Stringer/AFP/Getty Images

U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy, center, stands in line outside the church.

Pallbearers carry the coffin of Alexei Navalny into the church for his funeral.

Services for Alexei Navalny get underway inside Mother of God Soothe My Sorrows church.

-/AFP/Getty Images

People holding red carnations gather near the church.

People walk outside the church amid carnations.

Supporters watch as Alexei Navalny's coffin is removed from the church on its way to the cemetery.

Mourners follow the hearse carrying the coffin of Alexei Navalny.

March 1 |Moscow

Lyudmila Navalnaya, third from right, and Anatoly Navalny, second from right, parents of Alexei Navalny, attend services at Borisovo cemetery.

Olga Maltseva/AFP/Getty Images

More from the Post

Russian opposition leader buried as police keep public at arm’s length

The latest from The Washington Post

Photo editing and production by Troy Witcher

Funeral of Kremlin critic Navalny to be held in Moscow on Friday

Widow of the Russian opposition leader unsure whether his funeral will pass off peacefully after Russia blocked memorial service plans.

The funeral of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, who died earlier this month in a remote Arctic penal colony, will be held in Moscow on Friday, his family and spokesperson have said.

Navalny’s widow Yulia Navalnaya announced the funeral date on Wednesday, but she said she was unsure if it would pass off peacefully and that plans for a civil memorial service had been blocked.

Keep reading

Alexey navalny’s widow calls russian president a ‘bloody monster’, navalny was close to being freed from prison before his death, says ally, uk imposes sanctions on heads of penal colony where russia’s navalny died, navalny widow says russia’s putin torturing him even in death, demands body.

“The funeral will take place the day after tomorrow and I’m not sure yet whether it will be peaceful or whether police will arrest those who have come to say goodbye to my husband,” Navalnaya said in a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday.

The funeral will be held at the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God in Moscow’s southeast Maryino district on Friday afternoon, Navalny spokesperson Kira Yarmysh said on the social media platform X, after several locations declined to host the service.

He will then be buried at the Borisovskoye cemetery, about 2.5km (1.5 miles) away on the other side of the Moskva River.

Navalny’s allies have accused the Kremlin of thwarting their attempts to organise a separate civil memorial service in a hall which could have accommodated more people. The Kremlin has said it has nothing to do with such arrangements.

“Two people – Vladimir Putin and [Moscow Mayor] Sergei Sobyanin – are to blame for the fact that we have no place for a civil memorial service and farewell to Alexei,” Navalnaya wrote on X .

“People in the Kremlin killed him, then mocked Alexei’s body, then mocked his mother, now they are mocking his memory.”

The Kremlin has denied any involvement in Navalny’s February 16 death at age 47 and his death certificate – according to his supporters – says he died of natural causes.

‘Putin killed my husband’

Yarmysh spoke of the difficulties his team encountered in trying to find a site for a “farewell event” for Navalny.

Writing on X , she said most venues said they were fully booked, with some “refusing when we mention the surname ‘Navalny'”, and one disclosing that “funeral agencies were forbidden to work with us”.

Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, said the funeral was initially planned for Thursday – the day of Putin’s annual address to Russia’s Federal Assembly – but no venue would agree to hold it then.

“The real reason is clear. The Kremlin understands that nobody will need Putin and his message on the day we say farewell to Alexey,” Zhdanov wrote on Telegram.

In Navalnaya’s Wednesday speech before European lawmakers, she said, “Putin killed my husband … On his orders, Alexey was tortured for three years. He was starved in a tiny stone cell, cut off from the outside world and denied visits, phone calls and then even letters.”

In the 12 days since her husband’s death, Navalnaya has staked a claim to take on the leadership of Russia’s fragmented opposition, saying she will continue his work.

Speaking in English, her voice sometimes faltering, she described Putin as a “bloody monster” and told lawmakers it was not possible to negotiate with him.

“You cannot hurt Putin with another resolution or another set of sanctions that is no different from the previous ones,” she said, calling for more effective action against the money flows of Russia’s ruling elite.

Navalny’s allies have accused Putin of having him murdered because the Russian leader could allegedly not tolerate the thought of Navalny being freed in a potential prisoner swap, but they have not published proof to back up that accusation.

The Kremlin has denied state involvement in his death and has said it was unaware of any agreement to free Navalny.

Queen's funeral plans: Everything you need to know - from how to watch to royal traditions

Tens of millions of people around the world are expected to watch as the Queen's funeral takes place on Monday. Here is our guide to what is happening on the day, from the service and the procession, to the music and burial - and how the rehearsals have secretly taken place.

Sunday 18 September 2022 22:56, UK

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

The plans have been honed over years, a strict timetable of procedure for what will be the biggest state funeral and security operation ever held in the UK.

The funeral for the Queen , Britain's longest reigning monarch, takes place on Monday, and details of what will happen on the day have now been announced by Buckingham Palace.

It will be a day of emotion and sadness, but also a celebration of the monarch's life and 70-year reign, and thousands are expected to line the streets in London and Windsor to pay their respects as she makes her final journey.

Queen lies in state - latest news Watch live: Queen lies in state

Millions more will be watching at home in the UK and around the world as the funeral is televised in what could become the most watched broadcast in history.

It has been 70 years since the death of the previous monarch, Queen Elizabeth II's father George VI, so the vast majority of people in the UK are unaccustomed to the traditions and pageantry that have been on display over the last few days. And for those who do remember her father's reign and death, the Queen's funeral, taking place in the digital age, will be incomparable in scale and much more accessible.

The man in charge of the operation, the Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk, says the state funeral will "unite people across the globe and resonate with people of all faiths", and pay a "fitting tribute to an extraordinary reign".

Here is our guide to the event - from details of the rehearsals and everything happening beforehand to the Queen's burial, other state funerals and the historic significance of the locations.

What time is the Queen's funeral, where does it take place - and why?

After several days of her coffin lying in state, the Queen's funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey in London on Monday, starting at 11am. Poignantly, this is where she married Prince Philip 75 years ago and her coronation also took place here in 1953.

Breaking centuries of tradition, this is the first funeral service for a monarch to take place at Westminster Abbey since the ceremony for King George II in 1760, as they were later held at Windsor. However, the funerals for both Princess Diana and the Queen Mother took place here in 1997 and 2002 respectively.

It is thought the move was chosen by the Queen herself, according to reports, as the venue can hold more people and the London location is better to accommodate crowds.

The funeral will be conducted by the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle Dean of Westminster, while the sermon will be preached by the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Choirs of Westminster Abbey and His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace will perform under the direction of James O'Donnell, the Abbey's Organist and Master of the Choristers.

What happens before the service?

A continuous vigil of her coffin is kept by the King's Body Guards at the Palace of Westminster. Each watch lasts for six hours, with individuals within those watches keeping vigil for 20 minutes.

The coffin is draped with the Royal Standard, on which lie the Instruments of State, the Imperial State Crown, the Orb and the Sceptre. These will remain for the duration of the event.

A national moment of reflection takes place the day before the funeral, at 8pm on Sunday, and will be marked by a one-minute silence.

Community events and vigils may be organised to observe this across the UK, but people can also mark the moment privately at home or on doorsteps alongside neighbours. Those who want to pay their respects overseas are also encouraged to observe the one-minute silence at 8pm BST.

The Queen's lying in state closes at 6.30am on the morning of the funeral. Following this, her coffin will be taken in a grand military procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey, which is closed for preparations until the funeral.

Following the coffin will be the King, members of the Royal Family, and members of the King's household.

And what happens afterwards?

Following the funeral, the Queen's coffin will travel in procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch, also known as Constitution Arch, which was built as an original entrance to Buckingham Palace and sits between the corners of Hyde Park and Green Park.

From there, the coffin will travel to Windsor. Here, the hearse will travel in procession to the gothic St George's Chapel, which sits within the walls of Windsor Castle, via the Long Walk. A committal service will then be held at St George's.

This is the church regularly chosen by the Royal Family for weddings, christenings and funerals - where Prince Harry and Meghan were married in 2018 and where Prince Philip's funeral was held just last year.

Later in the evening, there will be a private interment service with senior members of the Royal Family.

Where will the Queen be laid to rest - and will it be with Prince Philip?

The Queen's final resting place will be the King George VI memorial chapel, a small annex to the main chapel at Windsor - where her mother and father were buried, and where the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret, are kept.

Reports on why Margaret was cremated differ - some say she opted for this as she felt a burial was "too gloomy", others say her decision was influenced by the fact there was not much room left for typical burials.

When Prince Philip died, he was temporarily laid to rest in the Royal Vault at St George's, but will now be moved to the memorial chapel to join the Queen.

The Navy's important role

The procession will involve a total of about 6,000 representatives from all three armed forces, with members of the Navy towing the gun carriage which will carry the Queen's coffin to Westminster Abbey.

This follows the tradition set at the funeral of Queen Victoria in 1902, when horses panicked and a party of sailors were commandeered to haul the carriage through the streets of Windsor.

Since then, the carriage, originally built in 1899, has been kept in an environmentally secure room at HMS Excellent in Portsmouth - where its custodian, Lieutenant Commander Paul "Ronnie" Barker turns its wheels a quarter-turn each week to ensure they do not become bowed by gravity.

And the role of the former head of MI5...

Lord Chamberlain - Baron Parker of Minsmere - is the most senior official of the Royal Household, and the former head of the spy agency.

He headed the Queen's working household and it is his job to ensure the smooth running of all the different departments.

On ceremonial occasions, the Lord Chamberlain carries a white staff and a gold key, the symbols of his office - and tradition dictates that he must now break his staff over the Queen's grave - a symbolic gesture marking the death of the sovereign he serves.

The last Lord Chamberlain to break his staff in this manner was the Earl of Clarendon over King George VI's grave in 1952.

The Queen's journey to Westminster Abbey

On the day of the funeral, after lying in state finishes at Westminster Hall at 6.30am, the doors will be closed in preparation.

Shortly after 10.35am, the Queen's coffin will be lifted and carried in procession to the state gun carriage of the Royal Navy positioned outside the north door.

The gun carriage will then set off at 10.44am, with the route to the abbey lined by members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

A tri-service guard of honour will take place on Parliament Square, accompanied by the band of the Royal Marines.

The procession will arrive at 10.52am and the coffin will be carried into the abbey for the service.

The doors to Westminster Abbey will have opened at 8am to allow the general congregation to take their seats.

The ceremony itself

Invited heads of state and overseas government representatives, including foreign royal dignitaries, will travel collectively from Royal Hospital Chelsea to the abbey.

The funeral will be conducted by the Dean of Westminster, with Prime Minister Liz Truss and the Secretary General of the Commonwealth to read Lessons. The Archbishop of York, the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and the Free Churches Moderator will say prayers.

The sermon will be given by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who will also give the commendation. The Dean of Westminster will then pronounce the blessing.

Towards the end of the ceremony, at about 11.55am, the Last Post will sound, followed by a two-minute silence to be observed in the Abbey and throughout the UK.

The national anthem will be played and there will be a lament at the close of service at around midday.

The coffin will be followed out by the King, the Queen Consort and members of the Royal Family.

Procession to Wellington Arch

Members of the Royal Family will walk in procession from the abbey to Wellington Arch, where the procession is due to arrive at 1pm.

The King and members of the Royal Family will again follow in the procession, which will also include detachments from the Armed Forces of the Commonwealth. Minute guns will be fired in Hyde Park by the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery.

Big Ben will toll throughout this procession.

At Wellington Arch, the coffin will be transferred from the gun carriage to the state hearse to travel to Windsor. As the procession departs, the parade will give a royal salute and the national anthem will be played. His Majesty The King and Members of the Royal Family will then depart for Windsor.

The Queen Consort, the Princess of Wales, the Duchess of Sussex and the Countess of Wessex will follow by car.

There will be a procession led by a dismounted attachment of the Household Cavalry, with pipers and drums and a band from the Coldstream Guards. Members of the Queen's personal staff will follow.

The route will be lined by the armed forces. Minute guns will be fired and a bell will toll.

The procession will halt at the West Steps of St George's Chapel, and the coffin will be carried inside.

Some 800 people, including members of the Queen's Household and Windsor estate staff, will attend the committal service, which starts at 4pm.

The coffin will be lowered into the Royal Vault as the Dean of Windsor reads a psalm.

The Queen's piper will play a lament as he walks away.

The Archbishop of Canterbury will give a blessing, and the national anthem will be sung.

The burial service will be entirely private, taking place at 7.30pm and conducted by the Dean of Windsor.

The earth that will be scattered onto the coffin will have been gathered from the royal mausoleum at Frogmore.

How has such a large operation been rehearsed?

In the quiet of the early hours of the morning on Thursday, thousands of military personnel took part in preparations for the procession of the Queen's coffin from Westminster Hall to Wellington Arch.

Bagpipes sounded at 2.45am, marking the start of the procession through the dark and quiet streets of the capital, with many areas sealed off for the operation.

Towed by almost 100 naval personnel and bearing a black coffin, the State Gun Carriage travelled from Westminster Hall, on to Westminster Abbey, and then through central London.

While the rehearsal was held early for as much privacy as possible and to avoid disruption, hundreds of mourners who had waited in line overnight to pay their respects to the Queen lying in state got to witness the historic preparations.

Those who were there saw the Scots Guards marching away from New Palace Yard and on to the abbey, followed by sailors pulling the gun carriage using white ropes, and several members of the Household Cavalry on horseback.

Four soldiers stood either side of the coffin as it was taken into Westminster Abbey, where indoor procedures were also rehearsed.

Mournful brass and drums heralded the coffin leaving the venue before the procession moved on to Wellington Arch.

At around 5.20am, the sound of brass playing God Save The Queen rang out from under the arch, before the state hearse departed through the Apsley Gate of Hyde Park between rows of Household Cavalry.

Beethoven's Funeral March and the hymn Jerusalem could be heard before the sun came up.

What is a state funeral and who else has received one?

A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony held to honour people of national significance. While usually reserved for monarchs in the UK, Britain's last state funeral was that of former prime minister Sir Winston Churchill (pictured above) in 1965.

The Queen herself granted permission for the use of both Westminster Hall and St Paul's Cathedral for his ceremony, acknowledging that the nation should "have the opportunity to express their sorrow" over the death of an "inspiring leader who strengthened and supported us all" during Second World War Two.

Prince Philip, the Queen Mother, Princess Diana and Baroness Thatcher all had ceremonial funerals, which share many of the same features. A ceremonial funeral was also held for King Richard III in 2015 following the discovery of his skeleton under a car park in Leicester in 2012, more than 500 years after his death.

Who will attend (and who won't)?

Westminster Abbey can hold up to 2,200 people. On the day of the funeral, world leaders, politicians, public figures and those who worked with the Queen, as well as monarchs from other countries, will join members of the Royal Family to pay their respects.

The Queen's four children - King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward - will be present, as will Camilla, the Queen Consort, and the monarch's grandchildren - Princes William and Harry, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.

Spouses of all close family are expected to be present too, including Catherine, the Princess of Wales , and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.

Prime Minister Liz Truss, Labour leader Keir Starmer and other UK politicians will also attend.

Members of Europe's royal families, from countries including Spain, the Netherlands, Monaco, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, and Greece, are likely to fly to London for the funeral, and about 500 foreign dignitaries are also expected to attend.

US President Joe Biden and his wife, First Lady Jill Biden, were among the first to say they would be there, and French President Emmanuel Macron has also confirmed his attendance.

Read more: Your questions answered King Charles in pictures

It is understood all holders of the Victoria Cross or George Cross are able to attend and nearly 200 key workers and volunteers recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list have also been invited.

Invites have not been sent to Russia, Belarus, Myanmar, Syria, Venezuela or Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, while Iran, North Korea and Nicaragua have been invited only at an ambassadorial level, according to Whitehall sources.

The UK does not have diplomatic relations with Syria or Venezuela, while the political situation in Afghanistan since the Taliban swept to power a year ago means no representative has been invited from Kabul.

You can read more on who is set to attend here .

Attendance is by invitation only. However, as they did as the Queen's body travelled from Balmoral to Edinburgh, thousands are expected to line the funeral cortege route and millions around the world will watch at home on TV.

Security for the event

The complexity of organising the funeral, with dignitaries from around the world expected, has been compared by Whitehall insiders to organising hundreds of state visits within a matter of days, while normally there might only be two or three a year.

It presents a huge logistical, diplomatic and security challenge, with practice runs taking place in the dead of night.

The complex seating plan could only be formalised once guests had responded to the invitations - the deadline was on Thursday.

Air Marshal Edward Stringer, a former director of operations for the Ministry of Defence, was involved in revising the planning for Operation London Bridge back in 2017, and says procedures will have been revised and updated regularly since then.

Plans are carried out in accordance with the monarch's wishes, he says - and gives the example of the Queen approving for her body to be flown on a C-17 cargo plane, the same used for aid missions in Ukraine and for evacuations in Afghanistan, in the event it needed to be.

According to reports, the Queen said that if the plane was "good enough for my boys, it's good enough for me".

The funeral will be the "biggest security operation ever mounted" and the plans are "given regular revisits... and of course the sad passing of the Duke of Edinburgh during the pandemic will have made the whole business very real again".

One example of changes that have been made recently includes the announcement that NHS workers will be involved, Air Marshal Stringer said. "Well, that wouldn't have happened pre-pandemic. So [the plan] is continually revised and of course will be revised again in light of what King Charles wants."

The scale of the operation is "unprecedented" with "global public interest", he added.

"The plan is nothing, the planning is everything. Lots of planning and repeating the planning - you think through all the contingencies and what might happen and the plan itself might always have to change within the last week, but at least if you've thought about all possible options, you can adjust quite quickly."

One aspect to consider is so many heads of state being in the same place at the same time.

"You have an unprecedented collection of global VIPs - and it's the British state's responsibility to look after them. There's a lot to consider."

People travelling to London by train are being urged to stay for lunch to avoid mass crowds at Tube and train stations once the procession leaves the centre.

A full weekday timetable will operate, with about 250 additional services, including some overnight trains.

Transport for London (TfL) said most Tube lines will remain open for an additional hour until about 1am on the night of the funeral, to ensure people can "travel around the capital safely".

On the roads, National Highways will pause any planned closures of motorways serving London until after the funeral.

Martin Fellows, who is leading the organisation's planning for the mourning period, said some of the worst potential congestion hotspots on motorways are the M25 and roads feeding into London such as the M1, M3, M4, and M11.

He advised motorists to "allow plenty of time for your journey" and make sure vehicles are "well prepared".

London Victoria coach station and many central London roads will be closed on Monday.

Most National Express coaches due to depart from or arrive at London Victoria will use Wembley Stadium instead, while Megabus will switch to Hillingdon.

More than 100 of Heathrow Airport's flights will be also be cancelled to avoid aircraft disturbing the funeral.

The airport said it wants to ensure the skies over London will be quiet during the two-minute national silence as the Queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey nears its end shortly before noon.

No flights will be allowed to take off or land from 15 minutes before the silence starts until 15 minutes after it ends.

Departures and arrivals will also be halted during the arrival of the funeral cortege and procession at Windsor Castle, and diverted around the castle during the private family service on Monday night.

British Airways - the most-affected airline - will cancel 100 short-haul flights due to the restrictions. Virgin Atlantic said it will cancel four flights.

Heathrow warned that many roads near the airport will be closed on Monday due to the events in Windsor, and passengers are "strongly advised" to use London Underground and rail services to get to and from the airport.

The history of Westminster Abbey and the monarchy

As an 11-year-old girl, the Queen watched as her father was crowned at the Abbey, a venue that has been linked to the Royal Family since the 11th century, when Edward the Confessor rebuilt the church.

King Edward was the first to be buried here in January 1066. From then until 1760, some 13 kings of England - including Henry V and Henry VII, four reigning queens including Elizabeth I, 11 queen consorts and two other queens, including Mary Queen of Scots - have been buried in the Abbey. Since George II's burial in 1760, royal burials have been at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, or in the nearby mausoleum at Frogmore.

Queen Elizabeth's own coronation also took place here.

The last funeral for a British monarch

Prince Albert, Duke of York, the second son of King George V and Queen Mary, was proclaimed King in December 1936, following the abdication of his brother Edward VIII over his relationship with American divorcee Wallis Simpson.

He took one of his middle names, George, on succeeding to the throne.

George VI died on 6 February 1952 and his coffin lay in Westminster Hall where a short service was held and more than 300,000 people turned out to pay their respects. His funeral service took place at St George's Chapel in Windsor on 15 February 1952.

The Queen's coffin

The coffin is constructed out of English oak, lined with lead, and was made decades ago, according to experts.

Former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Prince Philip and Princess Diana all had such coffins made for them, Sarah Hayes, manager for the Coffin Works museum in Birmingham, has said.

"It's to preserve the body for as long as possible, it's really about slowing down the process of decomposition," she said.

This is especially important for the queen because her coffin will be eventually placed in a church, not buried in the ground, she added.

The coffin is made of oak from the Royal Family's Sandringham Estate according to royal tradition, Ms Hayes said.

How will music play a part?

Funeral marches by classical composers Beethoven, Chopin and Mendelssohn will be played at the ceremony, as they were during the funeral procession for Queen Victoria in 1901, according to a former military music director.

"Everything that we do in state ceremonial is born out of a golden thread of history, heritage and tradition," retired Lieutenant Colonel Graham Jones, former senior director of music for the Household Division, said.

Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts

Throughout his 40-year career serving as a military musician and then director of music, Lt Col Jones was responsible for planning, co-ordinating and delivering the music for major state ceremonial events such as the funeral of the Queen Mother, the Queen's birthday parade, and the Armistice Cenotaph Parade.

He said the funeral service at the abbey could reflect the Queen's personal taste in music, which was said to include musicals such as Oklahoma! and show tunes such as Cheek To Cheek, performed by Fred Astaire (pictured above).

"That's a matter between church and monarch, to decide the service and service content, and I know there has been quite a little bit of rumblings in the media about Her Majesty's top 10 favourite tunes and will any of those feature in the service," he said.

Related Topics

• Royal Family

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

With Navalny dead, his allies keep fighting to undermine Putin’s grip on power

FILE - People walk toward the Borisovskoye Cemetery for the funeral ceremony of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, in Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 1, 2024. After Navalny died last month in an Arctic penal colony, his allies quickly returned to work undermining Vladimir Putin’s 24-year grip on power. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - In this handout photo taken from video provided by the Moscow City Court on Feb. 2, 2021, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny shows a heart symbol while standing in a cage for defendants in Moscow, Russia. After Navalny died last month in an Arctic penal colony, his allies quickly returned to work undermining Vladimir Putin’s 24-year grip on power. (Moscow City Court via AP, File)

FILE - Workers carry the coffin and a portrait of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny out of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God Soothe My Sorrows, in Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 1, 2024. After Navalny died last month in an Arctic penal colony, his allies quickly returned to work undermining Vladimir Putin’s 24-year grip on power. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - Relatives and friends pay their last respects at the coffin of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God Soothe My Sorrows, in Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 1, 2024. After Navalny died last month in an Arctic penal colony, his allies quickly returned to work undermining Vladimir Putin’s 24-year grip on power. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - People gather outside the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God Soothe My Sorrows, in Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 1, 2024. After Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died last month in an Arctic penal colony, his allies quickly returned to work undermining Vladimir Putin’s 24-year grip on power. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, center, and his team, pose for a picture at the office of the Foundation for Fighting Corruption in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday, May 18, 2017. After Navalny died last month in an Arctic penal colony, his allies quickly returned to work undermining Vladimir Putin’s 24-year grip on power. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny heads to a meeting in Moscow, Russia on Dec. 25, 2017. After Navalny died last month in an Arctic penal colony, his allies quickly returned to work undermining Vladimir Putin’s 24-year grip on power. (AP Photo/Evgeny Feldman, File)

FILE - Police officers detain a demonstrator with a poster that reads: “Freedom for Alexei Navalny”, in Pushkinskaya Square in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, June 4, 2023. After Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died last month in an Arctic penal colony, his allies quickly returned to work undermining Vladimir Putin’s 24-year grip on power. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is surrounded by journalists inside a plane carrying him back to Russia from the airport near Berlin, Germany, on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021. After Navalny died last month in an Arctic penal colony, his allies quickly returned to work undermining Vladimir Putin’s 24-year grip on power. (AP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov, File)

FILE - Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny appears in a video link provided by the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service in a courtroom in Moscow, Russia, on Oct. 18, 2022. After Navalny died last month in an Arctic penal colony, his allies quickly returned to work undermining Vladimir Putin’s 24-year grip on power. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - Police detain a man honoring the life of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny at a large boulder from the Solovetsky islands, where the first camp of the Gulag political prison system was established, in St. Petersburg, Russia on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. After Navalny died last month in an Arctic penal colony, his allies quickly returned to work undermining Vladimir Putin’s 24-year grip on power. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny addresses the European Union’s parliament on Wednesday Feb. 28, 2024 in Strasbourg, eastern France. Navalnaya announced that she will continue her late husband’s work. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias, File)

FILE - Leonid Volkov, chief of staff for the 2018 presidential election of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, looks on, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, Dec. 15, 2021. Volkov was recently attacked near his home in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias, File)

FILE - Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, center left, and his mother-in-law Alla Abrosimova visit his grave at the Borisovskoye Cemetery, in Moscow, Russia, on Saturday, March 2, 2024. (AP Photo)

• Copy Link copied

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Alexei Navalny’s team is used to working independently. The most potent foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin was frequently absent for long stretches after being arrested, assaulted, poisoned, or imprisoned.

But when Navalny died suddenly in February at age 47 in a remote Arctic prison, his team was left with a monumental challenge: sustaining an opposition movement against Putin — who is all but assured to be reelected — without the living example of their defiant and charismatic leader.

After the initial shock wore off, Navalny’s closest allies returned to the work that cost his freedom and his life: undermining Putin’s iron-fisted grip on power .

A significant test will come Sunday, the last of three days that voters can go to the polls in an election that is widely viewed as more of a formality than an exercise in democracy .

That’s when Navalny’s team — with the endorsement of his widow, Yulia Navalnaya — is calling for a protest dubbed “Noon Against Putin.” They are asking Russians to flock to polling stations Sunday at noon local time across the country’s 11 time zones to demonstrate their discontent with Putin’s rule and his war against Ukraine .

“It is a very simple and safe action, it can’t be banned,” Navalnaya said in a video address. “It will help millions of people to see their like-minded allies and to realize that we are not alone, we’re surrounded by people who are also against the war, against corruption and against lawlessness.”

Navalny’s followers have expressed a wide mix of emotions in the weeks since his death, from renewed inspiration to a sense of defeat.

Maria Obukhova of Moscow, who paid tribute to Navalny on Wednesday at the Borisovskoye Cemetery, said the crowds she saw at his funeral — which numbered in the thousands — were motivational.

“It was a huge surprise for me, because it seemed before like everything had died here, that Russia is no longer, that it had died,” said Obukhova, who placed white daisies at Navalny’s gravesite.

Valery, another Muscovite at the cemetery, who withheld his last name for security reasons, said he had little hope for the future and that after Navalny’s death, that “something has really broken” inside of him.

Just several days after her husband’s death, Navalnaya expressed determination to keep his mission alive.

In the past month, she has addressed the European Parliament, met with United States President Joe Biden, and urged Western countries not to recognize the results of Russia’s election. She has also called on the West to impose more sanctions on those close to Putin.

Leading up to the election, Navalny’s team urged supporters to cast their ballots for any candidate other than Putin, or to invalidate them by choosing two or more candidates. They also had dozens of volunteers call ordinary Russians to ask them about their grievances and try to turn them against Putin.

The phone campaign was announced by Navalny over the summer, and since then “tens of thousands” of calls were made, Leonid Volkov, Navalny’s top strategist, said a video. “We will not stop doing that,” he vowed.

Volkov also gave a video address shortly after Navalny’s death in an effort to rally supporters, and perhaps tap into his longtime ally’s spirit of persistence. “It will be a monument to Alexei’s cause if you and I live to see how this regime disintegrates before Putin’s eyes,” he said.

Still, the Putin opposition’s uphill battle has only gotten steeper with its leaders in exile.

“(Putin’s) regime pushes people out of the country because it understands very well that the possibilities of influencing political processes in Russia from abroad are minimal,” said Nikolay Petrov, a visiting researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

Sunday’s “Noon Against Putin” protest will be a test of how much Navalny’s team can do in Russia from abroad, said Sam Greene, a director at the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington.

“One part of what they want to do is to send a message to those who remain in Russia that you’re not alone, that the opposition in exile has their back to a certain extent and will support them,” said Greene. “But then the question is, how do they support them?”

Efforts are underway to disrupt the protest. Navalny’s team said fake emails have been sent around purporting to be from them telling Putin opponents to show up at the polls at 5 p.m. instead of noon.

Russia’s independent election watchdog, Golos, reported that officials in at least one region are being instructed to report large gatherings near polling stations to the police.

On Thursday night. the Prosecutor’s Office in Moscow warned that unauthorized rallies near polling stations “may prevent citizens from freely exercising their voting rights and the work of election commissions,” a criminal offense punishable by up to five years in prison.

The personal risks for Putin’s opponents remain high.

On Tuesday, Volkov was attacked near his home in Lithuania . Assailants smashed a window of his car, sprayed tear gas into his face and beat him with a hammer, according to Navalny’s team.

Volkov was taken to a hospital, and upon release said his arm was broken and his leg was injured so much it was painful to walk.

He accused “Putin’s henchmen” of the attack and said it was an attempt to intimidate the team ahead of the “Noon Against Putin” protest.

With Navalny gone, some of his supporters are recalibrating their expectations.

Valery, one of many people who visited Navalny’s grave in southeastern Moscow in recent weeks, said he is less optimistic about the opposition’s prospects going forward.

“Even though Yulia, his wife — his widow — has picked up the baton, I’m not sure that it is going to be the same as it was when Alexei was alive,” he said.

The funeral of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny will be on Friday, spokesperson says

The Associated Press

February 28, 2024, 2:00 PM

• Share This:
• share on facebook
• share on threads
• share on linkedin
• share on email

The funeral of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny , who died earlier this month in a remote Arctic penal colony, will take place Friday in Moscow after several locations declined to host the service, his spokesperson said.

His funeral will be held at a church in Moscow’s southeast Maryino district on Friday afternoon, Kira Yarmysh said Wednesday. The burial is to be at a nearby cemetery.

Navalny died in mid-February in one of Russia’s harshest penal facilities. Russian authorities haven’t announced the cause of his death at age 47, but many Western leaders have already blamed it on Russian President Vladimir Putin .

His widow, Yulia Navalnaya , accused Putin and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin of trying to block a public funeral. “We don’t want any special treatment — just to give people the opportunity to say farewell to Alexei in a normal way,” she wrote on X, previously Twitter.

Yarmysh described the difficulties his team encountered in trying to find a site for a funeral, saying that most venues claimed they were fully booked, with some “refusing when we mention the surname ‘Navalny,” and one disclosing that “funeral agencies were forbidden to work with us.”

Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, said the funeral was initially planned for Thursday –- the day of Putin’s annual state-of-the-nation address – but no venue would agree to hold it then.

“The real reason is clear. The Kremlin understands that nobody will need Putin and his message on the day we say farewell to Alexei,” Zhdanov wrote on his messaging app channel.

In an interview with the independent Russian news site Meduza on Wednesday, Zhdanov said authorities were pressuring Navalny’s relatives to “have a quiet family funeral” and move the burial to the Khovanskoye cemetery on Moscow’s southwestern outskirts.

“They are again blackmailing relatives and saying: either hold a quiet family funeral, or nothing will really work out for you,” Zhdanov said.

He said Navalny’s lawyer, Vasily Dubkov, who helped Navalny’s mother retrieve her son’s body, was briefly detained on Tuesday “as some kind of suspicious person” when he went to visit the morgue, where Zhdanov said there currently is a strong police presence.

Zhadov declined to comment on the circumstances of Navalny’s death, but repeated claims by close Navalny associate Maria Pevchikh that there had been negotiations for a possible prisoner exchange involving Navalny before his death.

The exchange “was at the final stage” and would have taken place “with the mediation of the United Arab Emirates and Roman Abramovich,” Zhdanov said.

Claims about negotiations for a prisoner exchange, which were repeated on social media by other Navalny aides, could not be independently confirmed.

Shortly after the announcement of the funeral plans, Navalny’s widow addressed European lawmakers in Strasbourg.

Speaking at the European Parliament, she confirmed that her husband would be buried on Friday and expressed fears that the police might interfere.

“I’m not sure yet whether it will be peaceful or whether police will arrest those who have come to say goodbye to my husband,” Navalnaya said.

Appearing tearful at some points amid applause from lawmakers but largely resolute, Navalnaya said her husband’s death “showed everyone that Putin is capable of anything, and that you cannot negotiate with him.”

She appealed to the European Parliament to be “innovative” in its approach to the Russian president and those close to him.

“You cannot hurt Putin with another resolution or another set of sanctions,” she said, urging lawmakers instead to “apply the methods of fighting organized crime, not political competition.”

She asked the parliament to investigate “financial machinations” and “mafia associates” in their countries and “discreet lawyers and financiers who are helping Putin and his friends to hide money.”

Navalnaya and Navalny were married for more than 20 years, and she was at his side as he helped lead the biggest protests in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

In introducing Navalnaya, the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, paid tribute to Navalny.

“For many in Russia and outside, he represented hope. Hope in better days. Hope in a free Russia. Hope in the future,” she said.

Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

Related News

United Methodists endorse change that could give regions more say on LGBTQ and other issues

Poland lays claim to a leadership role in Europe as Russia’s war threatens stability

Brazilian authorities bury deceased migrants who drifted in African boat to the Amazon

Recommended.

Prince George's Co. to enforce youth curfew at National Harbor starting Friday

Israel-Hamas protests: George Washington University wants student encampment cleared by 7 p.m.

3 killed in 3 separate shootings in less than 2-hour span across DC

Related categories:.

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Queen’s funeral: Elizabeth II laid to rest alongside husband, royal family announces – as it happened

The official website of the royal family said a private burial took place in the King George VI Memorial Chapel. This blog is now closed

• A timeline of the day’s key moments
• 19 Sept 2022 Summary
• 19 Sept 2022 Tuesday's UK newspaper front pages
• 19 Sept 2022 Royal family publishes unseen photograph of the Queen after her burial
• 19 Sept 2022 Queen is buried alongside late husband Duke of Edinburgh
• 19 Sept 2022 Queen's burial service to begin shortly
• 19 Sept 2022 What is the royal vault?
• 19 Sept 2022 Queen’s coffin lowered into the family vault
• 19 Sept 2022 Queen's coffin reaches St George's chapel
• 19 Sept 2022 King joins procession at Windsor
• 19 Sept 2022 Queen's coffin arrives at Windsor
• 19 Sept 2022 Queen's coffin moved to state hearse
• 19 Sept 2022 Queen's coffin arrives at Wellington Arch
• 19 Sept 2022 Procession to Wellington Arch begins
• 19 Sept 2022 Queen's coffin leaves Westminster Abbey
• 19 Sept 2022 National anthem sung for the King
• 19 Sept 2022 The Last Post is heard before two-minute nationwide silence
• 19 Sept 2022 Archbishop of Canterbury gives the sermon
• 19 Sept 2022 Service begins
• 19 Sept 2022 Queen's coffin arrives at Westminster Abbey
• 19 Sept 2022 Procession to Westminster Abbey begins
• 19 Sept 2022 Queen's coffin leaves Westminster Hall
• 19 Sept 2022 King travels down the Mall
• 19 Sept 2022 Prime minister Liz Truss arrives
• 19 Sept 2022 Former UK prime ministers arrive
• 19 Sept 2022 President Biden arrives
• 19 Sept 2022 President Macron arrives
• 19 Sept 2022 Bells begin to toll at Westminster Abbey
• 19 Sept 2022 All public viewing areas for Queen’s funeral procession full
• 19 Sept 2022 Westminster Abbey opens
• 19 Sept 2022 Lying in state ends
• 19 Sept 2022 The last in line
• 19 Sept 2022 What will happen today?
• 19 Sept 2022 Opening summary

Queen is buried alongside late husband Duke of Edinburgh

The Queen has been buried alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, at the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle, an announcement on the royal family’s official website said.

“The Queen was buried together with the Duke of Edinburgh, at The King George VI Memorial Chapel,” the statement said.

As a momentous day in UK history draws to a close, here’s a roundup of what happened as Britain said goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II.

Queen Elizabeth II , Britain’s longest reigning monarch, has been buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel in St George’s chapel, Windsor Castle, in a small private ceremony attended by family.

Earlier on Monday 2,000 guests including heads of state gathered in Westminster Abbey for her funeral.

The coffin was then taken to Wellington Arch in a procession featuring members of the armed forces and their bands. The Queen’s children, including King Charles III followed behind the coffin on its journey after it left the abbey. His sons, Prince William and Prince Harry joined them. The Queen’s coffin was later driven to Windsor Castle.

A service of committal was held at St George’s chapel , where the Queen’s coffin was lowered in to the royal vault and her instruments of rule were placed on the altar.

That’s all for today, drawing our live coverage of the Queen’s death, period of mourning and funeral to a close. It is an honour to have been part of the team that has brought you updates of what has happened since she died on 8 September. Thank you for following along. I leave you with Caroline Davies’ recap of today’s historic events.

Tuesday's UK newspaper front pages

As we approach midnight, the front pages of Tuesday’s newspapers are being published before they go on sale tomorrow.

The Guardian has a striking image of the Queen’s coffin being carried in to Westminster Abbey.

Guardian front page, Tuesday 20 September 2022: The final farewell pic.twitter.com/RiafgKpeDA — The Guardian (@guardian) September 19, 2022

The Times , a newspaper that loves a wrap-around picture on big occasions, also goes with a photograph of the Queen’s coffin being carried into Westminster Abbey.

Tuesday’s Times: Carried to her rest #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/zQRRiQbVM5 — Helena Wilkinson (@BBCHelena) September 19, 2022

The Telegraph leads with a photograph of King Charles putting the Queen’s company camp colour on her coffin at St George’s Chapel.

Tuesday’s Daily Telegraph: An outpouring of love #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/2XERQ4QMXV — Helena Wilkinson (@BBCHelena) September 19, 2022

The Sun has a two-part wrap, proclaiming: “We sent her victorious.”

Tuesday’s Sun #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/cFW8X8Q8ty — Helena Wilkinson (@BBCHelena) September 19, 2022

The Daily Mail has a photograph of the scene in St George’s Chapel, at Windsor Castle.

Tuesday’s Daily Mail: Her final journey #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/eM89vOsvLj — Helena Wilkinson (@BBCHelena) September 19, 2022

Another two-part wrap, this time for the i, which says it’s “The end of the Elizabethan Age.”

Front and back page of Tuesday’s i: The end of the Elizabethan age #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/NS0deWPrw0 — Helena Wilkinson (@BBCHelena) September 19, 2022

Finally, the Financial Times leads with a quote from Justin Welby’s sermon at Westminster Abbey.

Tuesday’s Financial Times: ‘People of loving service are rare in any walk of life. Leaders of loving service are rarer’ #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/ZD61pi8H3y — Helena Wilkinson (@BBCHelena) September 19, 2022

After what was described as the biggest security and policing operation in London’s history, the Metropolitan police has released the number of arrests it made during the 11 days after the Queen’s death.

It said it had made 67 arrests in the areas near the palace and Westminster Hall as of 5pm on Monday, for what it said was a range of offences.

More than 3,000 officers from almost every force in the UK were helping the Met’s operation in London. A total of 10,000 officers were deployed for the Queen’s funeral on Monday.

Armed police, motorbike escort riders, officers carrying out patrols on horseback, dog teams and the marine unit were among the specialist teams involved.

Rooftop snipers were in place while the cortege was moving, accompanied by a helicopter escort anywhere outside of the capital, PA Media.

There were more than 22 miles of barriers in central London alone to control crowds and keep key areas secure.

About 2,300 police officers were in place to oversee the Queen’s final journey from Westminster Abbey to Windsor Castle.

About a thousand lined the route, alongside military personnel, from the Abbey to Wellington Arch while the Queen’s coffin was carried from the service by gun carriage.

Royal family publishes unseen photograph of the Queen after her burial

The royal family has released a new photograph of the Queen, after they announced that she had been buried at Windsor Castle this evening.

The previously unpublished image shows her walking on moorland. She is wearing sunglasses, with a headscarf on, walking stick in hand and has a coat draped over her arm.

It is captioned: “‘May flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest.’ In loving memory of Her Majesty The Queen. 1926 - 2022".”

‘May flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest.’ In loving memory of Her Majesty The Queen. 1926 - 2022 pic.twitter.com/byh5uVNDLq — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 19, 2022

Sir Keir Starmer has said the Queen’s funeral marked “the passing of an era” as he planned to open Labour’s conference with a tribute to the late monarch and the national anthem.

The Labour leader was among the 2,000 mourners gathered in Westminster Abbey for the service on Monday.

He wrote on Twitter : “Today marks the passing of an era. “The dignity, courage, spirit, selflessness and good humour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II showed throughout her reign will always be with us.

“We are lucky to call ourselves Elizabethans.”

Sir Keir is set to open his party’s four-day conference in Liverpool on 25 September with a tribute to the long-reigning monarch.

Party delegates will also sing the national anthem at the start of the gathering, for the first time in recent history.

However, a Labour source dismissed reports that drinks receptions will be toned down at this year’s conference in a sign of respect to the late Queen.

The Liberal Democrats cancelled their conference because it fell within the period of national mourning, but the Conservatives are going ahead with theirs in Birmingham from 2 October.

After the majestical funeral pomp and military spectacle, unsurpassed in the nation’s living memory and watched across the world, the final farewell to Queen Elizabeth II would belong only to her family.

Night had fallen as she was laid to rest next to the Duke of Edinburgh in the George VI Memorial Chapel, Windsor, in private and away from cameras.

With only her family present, it was a wholly intimate ceremony, one for a mother, a grandmother, and a great-grandmother who also was a Queen.

The contrast with the earlier grandeur of Britain’s official goodbye, with its pipers, buglers, and muffled bells; its kings, queens, prime ministers and presidents in the gothic splendour of Westminster Abbey, could not have been more marked.

The Queen’s corgis, Sandy and Muick , were among the many in Windsor paying their respects as her coffin made its way to St George’s Chapel.

Veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby led the BBC’s coverage of the Queen’s committal at Windsor Castle, in an echo of his father, Richard Dimbleby , from 70 years ago.

It was a move that earned the BBC great praise on Twitter.

Read more here:

The Dean of Windsor, the right reverend David Connor , will lead the service before the burial of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh in the crypt of the King George VI Memorial Chapel.

He also led the committal service at St George’s Chapel on Monday afternoon.

The Queen’s coffin will be interred with the Grenadier Guards’ Queen’s company camp colour – a smaller version of the royal standard of the regiment – which the King placed on her coffin at the end of the committal service.

The Grenadier Guards are the most senior of the foot guards regiments and the Queen was their colonel-in-chief.

Only one royal standard of the regiment is presented during a monarch’s reign and it served as the Queen’s company colour throughout her time as Queen.

A small crowd has formed outside Windsor Castle’s Henry VIII Gate ahead of the private burial of the Queen attended by her family.

The town has largely emptied since the end of the procession down Long Walk, leaving a sleepy, solemn atmosphere.

Dozens of people are still taking photos by the castle as the sunset lights up the walls and glowing clouds beyond.

Some are trying to get a glimpse through the gates into the castle courtyard beyond while others are on the street having a drink, PA Media reports.

Sunset! pic.twitter.com/PzmPX15D49 — amelia gentleman (@ameliagentleman) September 19, 2022

Queen's burial service to begin shortly

A private burial service will begin shortly at St George’s Chapel where the Queen will be laid to rest.

Her coffin has been lying in the royal vault at the church, at Windsor Castle, since the committal service this afternoon.

Members of the Royal family will return to the chapel for the intimate event, where she will be buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel. It will begin at 7.30pm. The memorial chapel is a small annex at the church.

Elizabeth II is the 11th former monarch to be buried in the chapel in Windsor Castle. She will be buried alongside her father King George VI , the Queen Mother and her sister Margaret .

Her late husband, Prince Philip , will have his coffin moved to join her, after his death and burial last year.

The Queen commissioned the chapel in 1962, and it was completed in 1969. Her father’s remains were moved there from the royal vault in the March of the same year.

Despite the size of the crowd in Belfast , silence pervaded.

Some dressed in suits and black ties, others in T-shirts and jeans. Veterans wore polished medals while tourists perched on the edge of sturdy suitcases.

Some sat on blankets, others stood throughout. A young boy made room beside him on his fold-out chair for his Paddington Bear teddy.

The gathering on the lawns outside the city’s City Hall was diverse, but its purpose was unifying – to pay respects to the late Queen .

Wearing a platinum jubilee T-shirt, and sitting on a stool draped in a Union flag, Simon Freedman struggled to hold back tears as the big screen showed members of the royal family singing the Lord Is My Shepherd.

For the 51-year-old from Coleraine, the Queen’s funeral held added poignancy. He had travelled down to Belfast in part to pay tribute to the memory of his own mother, Olive Sarah Freedman, who was a big royal fan and died in 2020 from Covid-19 at the age of 79.

“The fact we couldn’t have a service because of the lockdown in 2020, today kind of did that as well for me,” he told PA Media.

“My mother’s favourite hymn was the Lord Is My Shepherd, so it was quite fitting.

“I knew when that hymn came on, I’d shed a tear.”

Nine-year-old Tom Murray, from east Belfast, was the young boy with the Paddington teddy.

“She was a great monarch and the longest reigning monarch,” he said.

“She helped a lot of charities as well, so she was a really, really good monarch.

“The funeral was very sad, the King looked like he was crying.”

One view from across the Irish channel, as one writer for the Irish Times says it was a “culture shock” watching Britain grieve .

“In Ireland we take our funerals much as we take our tea: brisk, chatty and with a minimum of fuss. So there is a degree of culture shock watching Britain grieve for its queen.

“That’s especially true of the coverage of the funeral, which, on BBC One and Sky News, unfolds with a solemnity so hushed that every so often you find yourself wondering if you’ve muted the sound by accident. But, no, it’s just the UK muting itself as it says farewell to Queen Elizabeth.”

Irish broadcaster RTÉ covered the funeral, but not the procession, tuning back in to daytime soaps.

Writer Ed Power adds: “The funeral of Britain’s longest-serving monarch is a historic event, but it’s not the kind of history to stir the blood or have us on the edge of our seats. This is meditative and austere — hypersober slow TV.

“After the coffin’s procession through London on the state gun carriage, the final leg of the queen’s journey to Windsor Castle is by hearse. As the pace picks up, so does the coverage. The BBC doesn’t quite let its hair down, but Kirsty Young is allowed to break the solemnity and strike up a note of vague chattiness.”

He ends by reflecting that “on days such as this the gulf between the countries feels wider and deeper than usual”.

There was no eye contact or acknowledgment between Prince William and Prince Harry as they walked behind the Queen’s coffin. Nor indeed, it appeared, as the two princes were joined by their wives, Kate and Meghan, in Westminster Abbey.

Harry, wearing a morning suit on to which his medals were pinned rather than military uniform, the traditional dress permitted of working members of the royal family at ceremonial events, kept his gaze focused ahead during the procession from Westminster Hall to the abbey and later at Windsor Castle.

Walking behind King Charles III , the Princess Royal , Prince Edward and the Duke of York , who had also stood out in a morning suit, the brothers were at least side by side, rather than being buffered by their cousin, Peter Phillips, as had been the case at the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh last April.

• Queen Elizabeth II
• King Charles III
• Justin Welby

More on this story

Sole rehearsal for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral was ‘comedy of errors’

Late queen worried dying at Balmoral would make things ‘difficult’, says Anne

Historians concerned after Queen Elizabeth II’s letters entrusted to aide

Charles and Camilla pay tribute on anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death

One of last photos of Queen Elizabeth II up for national award

Naming of buildings after Queen Elizabeth II to be ‘closely protected’

FBI files reveal plot to kill Queen Elizabeth during US trip in 1983

Man caught with crossbow at Windsor Castle said he was ‘here to kill the queen’

Health, humour, Harry: five points from Brandreth’s Queen biography

Queen Elizabeth died of ‘old age’, death certificate says

Most viewed.

Things to do in Moscow: how to visit Moscow | Unmissable, cool & unusual

• September 2, 2023

What are the best things to do in Moscow? What to do in Moscow? First, I will list the main places to visit by theme, passing by the must-sees, but also more unusual places in Moscow. Then, I will describe what to see in Moscow in one day and how to visit Moscow in 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 days. Let’s go!

Good to know. For more information, click on the places to open the dedicated blog posts.

Main places to visit in Moscow & best things to do in Moscow

I worked in Moscow and I loved this city for its dynamism and energy. We find there from time to time to see friends, remember good memories and enjoy this giant city! Then the time has come for us to share with you our practical guide.

TOP 5 must-see places in Moscow

• Moscow Red Square
• St. Basil’s Cathedral
• Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• Bolshoi Theatre

Places of cultural, historical and religious interest in Moscow

• Novodevichy Convent and cemetery
• Tretyakov Gallery
• Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
• Kremlin Izmaïlovo (pseudo-historic place, recently built in the image of the old, one of the best things to do in Moscow for your Instagram account 😉 )
• Park and ancient village of Kolomenskoye

Visit Moscow of the Soviet era

• Moscow State University and Sparrows Hill
• VDNKh and the Museum of Astronautics, one of the key landmarks of the Soviet era in Moscow
• GULAG Museum
• Metro stations
• The Stalinist skyscrapers, scattered all over the city

Less touristy places in Moscow

• Gorky Park and the GARAGE museum
• The old Krasny Oktyabr factory
• Zaryadye Park
• Center for Contemporary Art, WINZAVOD
• Business center, Moscow City

Main districts of Moscow to visit

• Patriarch Ponds
• Tchistye Prudy
• Kuznetsky most
• Arbat Street

However, regardless of the length of your stay, whether you are going to visit Moscow in 4 days or in 2, you need a visa. The article Obtaining a tourist visa for Russia could then be useful in any case.

What to do and see in Moscow in one day?

List of things to see and do in Moscow in one day:

• Go to Red Square
• Visit St. Basil’s Cathedral
• See Kremlin walls (but not to visit)
• Visit Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• Discover Kuznetsky most districts and see Bolshoi Theatre building
• And if you have time at the end of the day: go to the Sparrows Hill or to the Moscow City for a beautiful view

Things to do in Moscow in 2 days

If you want to visit Moscow in 2 days, there are 2 purposes: do not miss the essential places of Moscow and optimize travel.

• First day: Red Square , Saint Basil’s Cathedral , Zariadye Park, Bolshoi Theatre , Kremlin
• Day 2: Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the former Krasny Oktyabr factory on Balchug Island, Gorky Park, Moscow State University (one of the Seven Sisters buildings ) and Sparrow Hill

As 2 days os really short, be sure to choose an accommodation in the best districts where to stay in Moscow .

Walking on Red Square in Moscow: one of the unmissable things to do in Moscow

Iconic place and one of the must-see places in Moscow and even in Russia! Besides, if there was only one place to visit in Moscow in 2 days, this place would then be Red Square, without hesitation. Therefore, starting the city tour with Red Square is ideal . Several buildings are on the square, but not all of them have to be visited. Check out my blog post about Moscow’s Red Square in detail to learn more and not miss anything.

Visiting Saint-Basil’s Cathedral inside

Even more emblematic than Moscow’s Red Square! Built in the middle of the 16th century under the orders of Tsar Ivan Le Terrible, this cathedral is one of the most beautiful monuments of Orthodox art, and definitely one of the unmissable places in Moscow. Visiting Saint-Basil’s Cathedral inside is one of the most beautiful things to do in Moscow!

• Visit estimate time : 1h30
• Entry ticket : 700 RUB. Tickets can be purchased on the cathedral’s official website 45 days before the tour.
• Audio guide (recommended): 500 RUB
• Opening hours : June to August 10 am-6pm; from November to April: 11 am-5pm; May, September, October 11 am-5pm. Cathedral closed on Wednesdays. Entrance is closed 45 minutes before closing.
• Find out more in the dedicated article: Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow

Take a walk in Zariadye park: one of the coolest things to do in Moscow after visiting Red Square

Zaryadie Park is just a 10-minute walk from St. Basil’s Cathedral, so it’s easy to include in your itinerary if you’re going to visit Moscow in 2 days. From its heights, you can see the red walls of the Kremlin. But, the most impressive point of view is the platform which overlooks the Moskva river. A must see! And clearly one of the coolest things to do in Moscow!

• Open 24 hours a day
• Good to know! Park Zaryadye is also a place to visit in Moscow in winter. Find out more here: What to do in Moscow in winter?

See the Bolshoi Theatre and discover the Kuznetsky Most district

The Bolshoi Theatre is the most famous Russian theater in the world. The most economical way to see a presentation at the Bolshoi Theater is to take the tickets on the theater’s official website in advance, so here is our tutorial to help you: How to buy entrance tickets to the Bolshoi? In addition, several pedestrian or one-way streets

The Bolshoi Theater is the most famous Russian theater in the world. The most economical way to see a presentation at the Bolshoi Theater is to take the tickets on the theater’s official website in advance, so here is our tutorial to help you: How to buy tickets to the Bolshoi? In addition, several pedestrian or one-way streets are located north of the theater. It is therefore very pleasant to find them to leave the main axes of the megalopolis.

Visit the Moscow Kremlin

Visit Kremlin is on top of things to do in Moscow. A place of power for centuries, the Kremlin then shows us a whole different image when viewed from the inside. If you want to visit Moscow in 2 days, the Kremlin is certainly one of the must-see places in Moscow.

• Opening hours : Daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thursday.
• See our blog post about visiting the Moscow Kremlin

Visit the Cathedral of Christ the Savior

This impressive Moscow Cathedral is the seat of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is a must see if you visit Moscow in 2 days and clearly one of the things to do in Moscow. The Cathedral of Christ the Savior was first built in 1883 in memory of Russia’s victory over Napoleon’s Grand Army. Then in 1931 Stalin ordered its destruction. It was then rebuilt again (identically) only in 2000.

• Where? Ulitsa Volkhonka 15. At the foot of the Kropotkinskaya metro station.
• Opening hours . Daily: 10: 00-17: 00, except Monday: 13: 00-17: 00
• Free entry (some closing restrictions, for example a short)

Good to know! In orthodox religious places, one must avoid excessively uncovered clothing. Women should cover their heads. After visiting the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, you can explore Bolotny Island and Gorky Park. This is one of the routes our guide to Moscow.

The old Krasny Oktyabr factory: one of the coolest things to do in Moscow

If you cross the Moskva River by a pedestrian bridge which is located just in front of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, you will enjoy a beautiful view of the city and at the same time you can discover Balchug Island. Furthermore, if you want to visit Moscow in 2 days, you can include this island in your itinerary between the cathedral and Gorky park. Here is the old confectionery factory Krasny Oktyabr, which has gradually turned into a fashionable micro-district. There are then some elements of street art, cafes and restaurants and some Moscow bohemian side. At the end of the island you can see a gigantic 98-meter-high monument dedicated to the Russian reforming tsar Pierre The Great.

Good to know! You can find on this island are the trendiest nightclubs in Moscow. On weekends, there are taxi caps after midnight so there are so many people. On the other hand, if you go there in winter and during the day, the island is quite empty and less interesting to see.

Gorky Park is one of the TOP places to visit in Moscow, because it allows you to better understand the life of the locals and their rhythm. In fact, it’s a huge entertainment park. For example, in winter there is a giant ice rink and in summer – free dance or yoga lessons, sandy beaches for playing volleyball, an outdoor cinema. So, like the locals, have a Stakantchik (ice cream or cooked corn), and enjoy the atmosphere of the place: that’s one of the interesting things to do in Moscow to discover the city.

• Where? Krymsky Val 9. 20 minutes’ walk from Krasny Oktyabr, along the quays.

Sparrow Hill and Moscow State University

The Sparrow Hill, Vorobiovy Gori in Russian, is the highest point in Moscow. It is rather known to Russians, but less to travelers. A nice view on Moscow opens from the hill, and in particular on the Luzhniki Stadium. In addition, on the hill itself is the Moscow State University: an impressive skyscraper from the Soviet era.

• How to get there? By bus T7 (35 min) from Oktyaborskaya station, near Gorki Park. By metro (Vorobiovy Gorki station) + climb the hill on foot. On foot along the Moskva along the Gorky Park (1h30) + climb in funiculars.

Good to know! It is possible to cross the Moskva river by funicular. We actually tested it and it was pretty cool! That is one of our favorite things to do in Moscow!

What to do in Moscow in 3 days?

If you are going to visit Moscow in 3 days, it would be interesting to dive into the Soviet era which strongly marked the country and the city. After the Bolshevik Revolution, the capital was transferred from Saint Petersburg to Moscow, in order to mark the change of power. Moscow then became the world showcase for communist ideology. Here are the best things to do in Moscow for 3-day-trip!

VDNKh, visit Moscow of the Soviet era

VDNKh is a large exhibition center in the north of Moscow, where there are still several striking witnesses of the USSR. The most interesting are the Museum of Cosmonauts and the Statue of the Worker and the Kolkhozian , which will certainly impress you with its size!

GULAG History Museum

The explanations of the museum are very well done. We really have the feeling of going back in time. If you are going to visit Moscow in 3 days and you are interested in history and this subject in particular, I recommend this museum. Visit the GULAG History Museum is one of the most interesting things to do in Moscow.

Discover the Patriarche Pounds district

It’s a nice neighborhood in Moscow where you can come across rather affluent locals, but not necessarily very bling-bling. Take a walk in this area is really a cool thing to do in Moscow! In addition, the Ponds of Patriarch is one of the places of Bulgakov’s novel “Master and Margarita”. As this is an interesting area to see, we have included it in a walking tour of Moscow. The route ends at the Moscow Kremlin, which is very convenient, because you will be able to visit Moscow in 3 days by optimizing your trips.

What to visit in Moscow in 4 days: TOP things to do in Moscow in 4 days

If you want to visit Moscow in 3 days, you will already see a lot of things. On the other hand, if you stay one more day, you have plenty to do! The Novodevichy Convent, the Tchistie Proudy district and the Izmaylovo Kremlin are very good candidates for you, if you are going to visit Moscow in 4 days.

Visiting Novodevichy Convent in Moscow

The Novodevichy Convent is one of the most brilliant examples of Russian architecture, according to UNESCO. This beautiful complex was built in 1524 and today consists of the convent, but also of a cemetery whose status could be compared to that of Père-Lachaise in Paris. Visiting Novodevichy Convent is one of the great things to do in Moscow, if you want to go a little bit outside of the center!

Discovering Tchistye Proudy district

It’s one of the most popular areas of Moscow, with many cafes, restaurants and bars nearby. It is therefore a place to discover if you want to visit Moscow in 4 days. It is just as pleasant for a stroll as for the discovery of local life. For example, in winter the pond turns into an ice rink.

Visiting the Izmaylovo Kremlin, one of the coolest things to do in Moscow!

The Izmaylovo Kremlin is more of a tourist than a historic place. On the other hand, it is a pretty impressive place to discover, especially on weekends. Inside the Kremlin, there is a flea market where you can find a little bit of everything, but mostly good souvenirs to bring from Moscow. For example, chapka, traditional Russian scarves or matryoshka (Russian dolls). Add the Kremlin and the Izmaïlovo market to your itinerary if you are going to visit Moscow in 4 days, because it is a nice and very colorful place! Visiting the Izmailovo Kremlin is one of the things to do in Moscow, if you want to put colors in your Instagram account! 😉

In 4 days, we will have the opportunity to see several Moscow: Classic Moscow, Moscow of old Russia, Soviet Moscow and a little bit of the new Moscow. So what to visit in Moscow on the 5th day of travel?

What to visit in Moscow in 5 days?

Art lovers will be delighted to discover the Tretyakov Gallery and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, while others will prefer to stroll along Arbat Street, see the buildings of Moskva-City or visit Bunker 42.

Admiring Russian art at Tretyakov Gallery

Founded in 1856 by an industrialist and great lover of art, the gallery has grown over the decades, and then bequeathed to the state. Today the collection includes more than 140,000 pieces, 15,000 of which are paintings. Visiting the Tretyakov Gallery is one of the things to do in Moscow if you want to discover Russian art!

• Where? Pereoulok Lavrouchinski 10. A 5-minute walk from Tretiakovskaya station
• Opening hours. Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Closed on Mondays.
• Entry tickets. 500 RUB.

Visiting the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts

The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts presents the treasures of ancient Egypt, the paintings of Rembrandt and Cézanne, a fine collection of Impressionism.

• Where? Ulitsa Volkhonka 12
• Opening hours. Daily: 10: 00-20: 00, except Thursday: 11: 00-21: 00. Closed on Mondays. The boxes close an hour before closing.
• Entry tickets. The prices vary according to the collections from 300 to 750 RUB.

Walking on Arbat Street

All Russians know Rue Arbat. So, walking on Arbat street is one of the things to do in Moscow. However, after the years, little by little it became very touristy. This is a pedestrian street only. There are souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes there, but it is no longer the most authentic neighborhood in the city.

Seeing the buildings of Moskva-City (Moscow City)

Moskva-City is Moscow’s business center, much like Paris’s Defense district. The skyscrapers of Moskva-City are among the tallest in Europe: 373 meters high! Very nice place to see at dusk.

Good to know! You can admire a nice view of Moscow City from the docks of Tarasa Shevchenko. It’s especially beautiful in the evening with all the lights on.

Bunker 42, one of the most unusual things to do in Moscow

Bunker 42 is a secret military complex which was to be used by the Soviets in the event of a nuclear attack: a space of 7000 m² 65 meters underground!

• Where? 5 Kotelnitcheski Lane, 11.
• Prices. 2200 RUB per person
• Opening hours. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Restaurant inside. Original, but rather a tourist trap.

What to visit in Moscow in 6 days or more?

There are still so many places to see, because Moscow is a big megalopolis and there is always something exciting to do there. For example: the ancient Kolomenskoye village or the WINZAVOD contemporary art center .

If you are interested in history and want to see Russian cities on a rather “human scale”, it would certainly be interesting for you to discover the cities of the Golden Ring . For example, it is very easy to get to Sergey Posad from Moscow (less than 2 hours in train). Visiting the Golden Ring is one of the best things to do in Moscow if you are staying more than a 5-6 days.

There are still plenty of places to see in Moscow, however I did my best to list here the best things to do in Moscow, what to see in Moscow in one day, but also in 2, 3, 4 or 5 days in Moscow!

Moscow travel tips:

• Airport transfer: how to go to Moscow?
• Where to stay in Moscow (hotels, districts)?
• Tourist voucher for Russian visa
• Christmas and New Year in Moscow
• What is the best time to visit Moscow?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Novodevichy Convent and cemetery in Moscow: tickets, cemetery map

Hermitage museum in saint petersburg: tickets, best time to visit, you may also like.

Moscow in winter | What to do in Moscow in winter? How to dress?

• October 1, 2023

Free Moscow map in English: Moscow metro map and city centre map

• December 12, 2023

• August 26, 2023

Moscow transport: metro, bus & taxi in Moscow | How does it work?

• August 15, 2023

Weekend in Moscow | What to do in Moscow for a long weekend?

• June 22, 2023

Christmas and New Year in Moscow: best markets and decorations to see

• September 18, 2023

Planning a trip to Moscow? Our travel guide contains up-to-date, personal information on everything from what to see , to when to visit , where to stay , and what to eat !

• General Information
• What to see
• How to get to Moscow
• Where to stay
• Where to eat

Why visit Moscow?

Majestic churches, impressive historic fortresses, and palatial buildings: Moscow is a fascinating city whose emblematic architecture reflects the turbulent history that has defined Russia throughout the centuries.

The traces of the USSR can be found around every corner of the city , side by side with the iconic relics of Imperial Russia , like the mythical Red Square , the imposing Kremlin , and the beautiful  St Basil's Cathedral . 

Discover a fascinating world of Cold War bunkers, golden-domed basilicas, world-class art museums, and the legendary "palace of the people,"  as the Moscow Metro has been nicknamed. Whether you fancy watching a classical Russian ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre , perusing the fine arts at the Pushkin Museum , or marveling at the sheer size of the monuments to the Soviet state's achievements at the  All-Russia Exhibition Centre , this travel guide will help you on your way!

Where to start?

If you're going to travel to Moscow and you don't know much about the city yet, the first thing to do is to dive into its legendary history - understanding the past will help you understand the present. Next, check out our practical hints and tips on traveling to the city before discovering which of its most important museums , monuments , and attractions pique your interest.

Looking for a place to stay?

Booking your accommodation in advance is the best way to get great discounts. Our detailed guide on where to stay in Moscow  will help you decide which neighborhood you'd like to look for hotels or apartments in, and our hotel search engine will find you the best deals!

Why is our Moscow travel guide the best?

Introducing Moscow is a  city guide written by travelers for travelers  and contains personalized advice to help you make the most of your trip to the city.

All the information in this guide is valid as of December 2022. If you find any errors or have any comments, please feel free to contact us .

Our travel guides

• top attractions
• where to stay
• and much more

• San Francisco
• Switzerland
• US Virgin Islands
• Puerto Rico
• Roatan, Honduras
• Become a Flight Attendant
• Traveling Sick
• Packing Lists

25 Places to Visit in Moscow you Can’t Miss

25 Places to Visit in Moscow

Do you know what the most populous city in Europe is? Most people wouldn’t guess that it is actually Moscow. There are approximately 13 million people in the Moscow metro area, which amounts to approximately 1/10th of all Russians.

This former capitol of the Soviet Union is still the political and financial center of Russia. Just because it is a current business and government city, in no way means that it is boring and not worth a visit. Assuming the political tensions get solved, Moscow is a fascinating city you need to visit.

While lots of people can’t explain the nuances of Russian architecture, most can spot and appreciate it immediately. One of the best ways to see the historic sites is by taking a boat tour down the Moskva River that meanders through the city.

Overall, navigating the city isn’t difficult as there is phenomenal and cheap public transportation (roughly 30 rubles/35 cents per ride). You can also use a cheap Uber on the three ring roads that circle the city at various distances from the center.

Still wondering why you should visit this historic masterpiece of a city? Read on to see the top 25 things you need to see in Moscow.

The House with Animals

This former church is famous for the terracotta reliefs of animals that adorn the front of the building. It is a favorite of locals, and famous around the world. It was built in approximately 1900.

Resurrection Gate or Iberian Gate and Chapel

The Resurrection Gate is now one of the most common ways to enter Red Square. This gate is also the only standing part of the wall that was the entrance to to Kitai-Gorod, or Moscow’s historic central business district.

Book your tour: Moscow Kremlin Armory Chamber Entrance Ticket

St. Basils Cathedral

Probably the most famous of the Red Square attractions is St. Basil’s Cathedral. I don’t know if the legend is true or not, but supposedly Tsar Ivan IV poked the eyes of the architect out after completing it so nothing as pretty could be made again. What an awful boss!

Book your tour: Moscow: Saint Basil’s Cathedral and Red Square Private Tour

Book your tour: St.Basil’s Cathedral and Red Square: Private Tour and Ticket

The State Historical Museum

If you are like me then you can’t help but find all the twists and turns of Russian history fascinating. The State Historical Museum at Red Square is a fantastic place to learn and study the Russian Relics.

Book your tour: Kremlin, Red Square, and Metro Tour with Pick-Up

Moscow River Cruise

The Moskva River cuts directly through the heart of Moscow. Want to see it all but rest your feet? One of the best things to do in Moscow at night is float along on a dinner cruise . The lights of the city are so beautiful. Of course, dinner in included.

Book your tour: Night lights Moscow Cruise (with Dinner option)

Museum of Soviet Arcade Games

This is one of the most unique things to do in Moscow. If you know that many American video games paint the Russians as the bad guys, then it’s probably not surprising to learn that you can find an entirely different variety of video games in Russia. This isn’t a recent phenomenon; even historically the video games were different. If you are a video game buff then this stop is for you!

Main Church of the Armed Forces in Park Patriot near Kubinka

This church attempts to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ as well as Russian military leader. Yes, it’s an awkward amalgamation. It caused quite a controversy when there were plans to create murals of Vladimir Putin and Joseph Stalin to go along with the ones of Jesus Christ (those plans were scrapped).

Bunker 42 (Cold War Museum)

Tunnel at Bunker-42, anti-nuclear underground facility built in 1956 as command post of strategic nuclear forces of Soviet Union.

Americans weren’t the only ones afraid during the Cold War! You can now discover the most secret and secure Bunker of the USSR, Bunker 42. Also known as the Cold War Museum . This former military communication center is now a museum. I recommend this tour that will take you on a private two hour visit of Bunker 42.

If you aren’t interested in a guided tour you can book your tickets in advance here.

Get your tickets: Bunker 42 Admission Ticket and Cold War Tour

Tank Excursion and Bazooka Shooting in Moscow

For real – you can book this tour and actually ride in a tank and shoot off military grade weapons. While that’s not my cup of tea, I know tons of guys would absolutely love to shoot a bazooka!

Book your tour here .

Dormition Cathedral

This is another Russian Orthodox cathedral that is located inside the Moscow Kremlin. It is another famous landmark of Moscow. The inside is decorated with ancient frescoes.

The Cathedral of the icon of the Mother of God “Sign”

This cathedral is located in Zaryadye Park (adjacent to Red Square). It is also on the Moskva River. The Cathedral of the icon of the Mother of God “Sign” previously was a monastery.

Komsomolskaya Metro station 

So many of the metro stations are breathtaking works of art. The idea was to create something beautiful that all the regular people could enjoy, or if you are more cynical you could say it was to attempt to show off how well they were doing.

Book your tour: Moscow: Small Group Metro Tour

The Round houses at Dovzhenko Stree t

The Round houses at Dovzhenko Street look super cool and futuristic, except like many communist projects didn’t actually work that well. They were supposed to be something new and different from the standard “Soviet Blocks.”

There are a number of problems with this design. Supposedly the acoustics are awful making the apartments perpetually noisy. The inner circle becomes a wind chamber even when it’s not that windy. My favorite weakness is that the trapezoid shape of apartments is hard to decorate and even harder to do maintenance on.

Izmailovo District and Izmailovo Kremlin

This area has to be one of the coolest places to visit in Moscow. It features a park in the middle of Moscow that is over 3x the size of New York City’s Central Park. The Kremlin in Izmailovo is a complex located in the Eastern Administrative District of Moscow that is known as the center of culture and entertainment. The wooden buildings are in Russian architecture of the XVI-XVII centuries (not original).

Izmailovo Kremlin on Google Maps .

Tretyakov Gallery

For those that appreciate fine art this is where you have to go. The State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow Russia is the best collection of Russian fine art in the world. The museum previously hosted worldwide chess tournaments (I can’t help be think of the Queen’s Gambit).

Book your tickets in advance here. Tickets cost about $13 per person.

Kolomenskoe Estate

This reconstruction of a former royal estate is just a few miles southeast of the Moscow city center. Supposedly really detailed historical plans survived, so the reconstruction and current museum is incredibly authentic. It was completed in 2010.

Old buildings of Arbat

Arbat is an old street, and was previously the “nicest place to live in Moscow. Even though it fell into disrepair, it’s location, it’s historical buildings, and the fact that it is a pedestrian street are quickly making it a top place to live again.

The Melnikov House

Located on Arbat street, the Famous house of architect Melnikov designed this house (and Lenin’s sarcophagus). Melnikov designed it at a time when private ownership was outlawed, but got around this restriction by saying it was an experimental design to maximize space. Even though others weren’t built, he was able to keep it.

The New Maiden Convent

The New Maiden Convent, built was built to resemble a mini-Kremlin. It stands out to me because this “convent” was the place where women who were no longer welcome in the royal court were banished to.

Monument to the Conquerors of Space at the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics in the Cosmopark

The Americans may have made it to the moon first, but the Russian cosmonauts were first in a number of other achievements. This gigantic obelisk pays homage to their accomplishments.

Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve

This royal estate was founded by Catherine the Great. She was Russia’s longest serving female leader. It is now a gorgeous museum!

Stalinist Skyscraper tour

This group of seven skyscrapers are called the Seven Sisters. They were all made in the Stalinist style, and one was previously the tallest building in Europe. If you want to tour them all while learning about their history book here .

Cathedral of Christ the Savior

It’s ironic that a country that was so anti-religion for so long has so many great churches. The Cathedral for Christ the Savior was made to thank Jesus for saving Russia. If you are interested in visiting this and so many other cathedrals in Moscow I recommend this tour that will take you to The Cathedral of Christ the Savior many other popular churches in Moscow.

Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

This church on Red Square is reconstruction of what was previously there but ordered to be destroy by Joseph Stalin. It is a travesty thinking of all the beautiful things that Stalin destroyed to attempt to implement his vision.

Zaryade Park

Zaryadye Park is one of the main tourist attractions in Moscow. It is located directly next to the Kremlin, and offers truly amazing views. It is also famous for its “floating bridge” and the fact that there are so many unique features underneath it.

Church of Sign of Blessed Virgin in Dubrovitsy Znamenskaya

The Church of the Theotokos of the Sign (Dubrovitsy), or The Church of the Holy Sign of the Mother of God is located in a village amed Dubrovitsy about 20 miles south of Moscow. It is another Russian Orthodox church, but what makes this one unique is that we aren’t 100% sure who made it, or why is has a style that is completely different than other churches of the time.

The Church of Nicholas The Wonderworker

I love the unique style of the Russian Orthodox churches in Moscow. The golden onion domes stand out across the globe. This church dates back to 1657, though it has been partially destroyed a few times since then.

Moscow University

Moscow University is one of the Seven Sisters that are the “Stalin Skyscrapers.” Previously it was the tallest building in Europe. Though it has lost that title, it is still the tallest “educational building” in the world.

So what do you think? Next trip to Moscow?

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Join our community
• How To Start A Successful Blog
• Privacy Policy

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Credit card rates
• Balance transfer credit cards
• Business credit cards
• Cash back credit cards
• Rewards credit cards
• Travel credit cards
• Checking accounts
• Online checking accounts
• High-yield savings accounts
• Money market accounts
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Car insurance
• Home buying
• Options pit
• Investment ideas
• Research reports
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

King Charles’ Funeral Plans Dusted Off, as His Health Remains a Mystery

• Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later. More content below

It’s the question everyone in British society and in the corridors of power is thinking, but nobody will publicly ask, let alone answer: Just how sick is King Charles III ? The chatter that King Charles is significantly more unwell than his aides are letting on is proliferating in British society.

Speaking to friends of the king in recent weeks about his health, the most common response is a lowering of the voice by half an octave or so, followed by the sombre, drawn-out pronouncement: “It’s not good.”

His officials didn’t respond to formal requests for comment on the matter from The Daily Beast. To be clear, his team have made it very clear, since the king disclosed his cancer diagnosis earlier this year—in an unprecedented act of royal transparency—that they wouldn’t be providing a “running commentary” on his health.

‘Gaunt’-Looking King Charles, Stricken by Cancer, Shares His Sadness

The king has never said what specific type of cancer he has been diagnosed with, apart from to say it was not prostate cancer. He is understood to be making regular visits to London for radiotherapy treatment, which can be used to treat many different types of cancer.

Of course, were Charles a private individual, his health would be nobody’s business but his own. But he is the leader of a hereditary monarchy, a head of state who can only be removed by death (or abdication, but that doesn’t seem likely to happen given the late Queen Elizabeth ’s precedent). Much as his office may not wish to acknowledge it, his prognosis is very much a matter of public interest. It is certainly preoccupying some individuals in certain branches of government.

The Daily Beast has been told, for example, that not only are Charles’ funeral plans being regularly updated but that a document reviewing what went well after the queen’s funeral, and what could be done better next time a monarch dies—a kind of “lessons learned” crossed with a scorecard, the most esoteric of business reviews—is circulating in Whitehall.

The government department responsible for state funerals, the Cabinet Office, declined to comment on claims that the Operation Menai Bridge (as Charles’ funeral plan is codenamed) document is being regularly updated, but again emphasized that making no comment on such plans was routine.

Britain's King Charles leaves after attending the Easter Matins Service at St. George's Chapel.

Friends of the family and insiders are genuinely distraught at the prospect that the U.K. could lose its king far sooner than any had imagined, but they are trying to stay positive.

One old friend of the family, for example, told The Daily Beast, “Of course he is determined to beat it and they are throwing everything at it. Everyone is staying optimistic, but he is really very unwell. More than they are letting on.”

The same source told The Royalist that the late Queen Elizabeth was dying of bone marrow cancer in the months before she died, which was subsequently confirmed by royal friend and biographer Gyles Brandreth.

Compounding the sense of gloom, multiple sources have told The Daily Beast that officials are now regularly reviewing copies of the several-hundred-page “Menai Bridge” document.

All royal family members have bridge-based codewords to be used at their death—Queen Elizabeth’s death plan was famously “Operation London Bridge.” Menai Bridge is a dramatic suspension bridge that connects the island of Anglesey with the Welsh mainland.

While the sources all emphasized that the notes are routinely reviewed by the palace and the military, one source, a former staffer who retains active links with serving courtiers, said: “The plans have been dusted off and are actively being kept up to date. It’s no more than what you would expect given the king has been diagnosed with cancer. But the circulation of them has certainly focused minds.”

Another source, who knows a senior official involved in the planning of royal funerals, said: “Of course they are looking at every aspect of Menai Bridge. The queen’s funeral went like clockwork and set a high bar. It’s not an emotional thing, it’s a job, one taken very seriously, and understandably no-one plans to get caught out.”

A military source said that the plans were kept under constant review but that it would be “absurd to read anything into” that fact.

“Planning for the worst is what the military do,” they said, adding: “You’ve got to remember the scale of this thing. The Household Division, under Major General James Bowder, take the lead—that is seven regiments of Guards. Then you have the entire London District, the Territorial Army regiments and the Royal Horse Artillery. That’s before you get to the Navy or Air Force. Charles was closely associated with the Parachute Regiment for years, so they will be involved.

“That’s just the ceremonial end. Then you need a giant security operation because every VVIP on the planet is there. We’re talking everything from missile defense to guarding against a lone wolf attack. The whole thing goes from flash to bang in under two weeks which means every aspect of it needs to be meticulously planned in advance. Serious planning for Charles’ funeral began the day after they buried the queen.”

The overall co-ordinator is the so-called Earl Marshall, Edward Fitzalan Howard, the Duke of Norfolk. The honor of Earl Marshall is—bizarrely some might say—hereditary, and always held by the Duke of Norfolk, the most senior dukedom in the land.

“Eddie did a bloody good job with the queen’s funeral and the coronation. He is only 67 so he will still be in the job for Charles whenever it happens,” said a friend of the duke’s.

The possibility that Charles could die in a shorter period of time than widely imagined has not been openly mentioned by the U.K. press, but has been hinted at in broad terms. One of the most notable of these hints came on Feb. 22, in the Daily Mail’s Ephraim Hardcastle column . Ephraim Hardcastle is a fictional avatar, and the column is written and edited by a revolving cast of Daily Mail journalists, largely based on newsroom gossip.

In the column in question, “Hardcastle” wrote one item about Prince William ’s plans to make changes to the accession process, and said the prince had initially been advised “to wait until after a general election before putting them on a formal footing with, potentially, a new Prime Minister.” The writer then added, “Change is in the air, but the pace won’t be as leisurely as anticipated a few weeks ago.”

In the next item, Hardcastle noted that Prince William once described (to Tony Blair) his destiny as “prison walls”; Hardcastle then said they were “closing in as his hour approaches.”

Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla leave Clarence House, the day after it was announced King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer.

Overall, however, the British press have observed what seems like a remarkable silence on the matter of Charles’ health and funeral planning.

This is not, as one journalist told The Daily Beast, just out of respect for or collusion with the palace, but rather due to very strict rules and laws in the U.K. governing medical privacy and the publishing of personal information. “Even if you had it copper-bottomed that he had bladder cancer, you couldn’t run it,” the journalist said.

Some foreign media have also dropped heavy hints. For example, Tina Brown, the founding editor of The Daily Beast known for her impeccable royal contacts, wrote in the New York Times : “The almost simultaneous news of Charles’ cancer has put William and Catherine in frightening proximity to ascending the throne just when they had hoped for a span of years to parent their children out of the public eye. The prospect of it, I am told, is causing them intense anxiety.”

The type of cancer that the king is fighting has not been revealed by the palace, but the regular trips to London for treatment suggest that Charles is receiving radiotherapy, one cancer expert who asked to remain anonymous said. Radiotherapy is conducted using enormous machines as opposed to chemotherapy, which can more or less be done with equipment available at any cottage hospital, although the two therapies can often be used together.

As to how Charles is really doing, there has been little in the way of official updates from the palace, but plenty of straws in the wind, most notably the fact that after making a titanic and encouraging effort to greet the public at Easter, shaking hands 56 times and joking and laughing with the crowd outside St George’s Chapel in Windsor, Charles has largely vanished from public view for the three weeks since.

He has looked gaunt when seen since, when being driven to treatment in London in the ceremonial-style vehicle with large windows he has been using to make sure he is seen. More promisingly, he drove to and attended church in Scotland on Sunday.

However, it is the big diary dates that will give the most important clues on how his fight against the disease is progressing. One is his official birthday parade, known as Trooping the Color, on June 15, which the Ministry of Defence has advertised that he will be present at.

Then there have been rumors that he will attend the Royal Ascot horse racing festival later in June. A state visit to Australia, followed by a trip to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, due to take place in mid-October, has not yet been cancelled. The palace has said planning for this trip continues.

Christopher Andersen , the New York Times best-selling royal writer, told The Daily Beast: “It’s not just the king who has to review his own funeral plans. Every senior royal does. William and Harry were only teenagers when they were asked to plan their own funerals. They’re asked to pick their own music, flowers, the prayers and who will read them. Royals are constantly reminded that when they die, their send-off will be a major, headline-grabbing event. They can’t escape this macabre fixation on death.

“King Charles’ reign will by definition be short, but it’s anyone’s guess at this time just how short. In the meantime, the tried-and-true practice of revising funeral plans should not be used to make that determination. What would be enormously helpful is for the palace to be transparent about the king’s condition and his prognosis. Until that happens, gossip and speculation will continue to swirl, and conspiracy theories will abound.”

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.

Recommended Stories

Tennis legend billie jean king says she’s using weight loss medication to help treat her binge eating disorder. experts explain how it works..

The 80-year-old revealed in a recent podcast that she received her first few doses of the medication.

Apple is launching new iPads May 7: Here's what to expect from the 'Let Loose' event

Apple has scheduled an event for May 7 that'll more than likely focus on new iPads. Here's what we expect the company to show off.

Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan are pop stars in the making. How opening tour gigs, TikTok and Coachella are keys to their success.

Some say pop stars are made, not born. Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan are breaking the mold.

This 2-in-1 air filter and aromatherapy diffuser is my secret weapon against pet odors, and it's down to $30

Over 5,500 Amazon shoppers agree: This purifying gadget can turn the tide on wet dog smell — and it's 50% off.

Why Meta is looking to the fediverse as the future for social media

Meta's move into the open social web, also known as the fediverse, is puzzling. Will it bring its advertising empire to the fediverse, where today clients like Mastodon and others remain ad-free? One possible answer can be teased out of a conversation between two Meta employees working on Threads and Flipboard CEO Mike McCue, whose company joined the fediverse with its support of ActivityPub, the protocol that powers Mastodon and others.

Key takeaways from Supreme Court hearing on whether Trump has presidential immunity that shields him from criminal trials

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday in a landmark case regarding former President Donald Trump's bid for criminal immunity. Here are the key takeaways.

Pro-Palestinian protests spread as hundreds arrested at Emory University, Emerson College and elsewhere across the U.S. Here's what's happening.

Pro-Palestinian protests and encampments are springing up at numerous colleges, leading to arrests and heightened security concerns. Here’s what's happening.

Snap says total watch time on its TikTok competitor increased more than 125%

As part of its Q1 2024 earning release, Snap revealed that total watch time on its TikTok competitor, Spotlight, increased more than 125% year-over-year. Snapchat launched the TikTok-like feed in late 2020 as a way to compete with the rising popularity of TikTok. The company is touting the success of its short-from video feed a day after President Biden signed a bill that would ban TikTok if its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, fails to sell it within a year.

It's a sunny day for Google Cloud

Google Cloud, Google's cloud computing division, had a blockbuster fiscal quarter, blowing past analysts' expectations and sending Google parent company Alphabet's stock soaring 13%+ in after-hours trading. Google Cloud revenue jumped 28% to $9.57 billion in Q1 2024, bolstered by the demand for generative AI tools that rely on cloud infrastructure, services and apps. Google Cloud's operating income grew nearly 5x to $900 billion, up from $191 million.

American workers are slowly regaining power

New worker protections, expanding labor unions and a strong job market are finally helping the typical worker get ahead. Americans aren't feeling it.

Is TikTok getting banned? Not yet, but you should explore alternatives

As a TikTok ban gets closer to becoming a reality in the United States, it might be time to start thinking about other platforms to adopt early in case you need to fill the void left by the popular app at some point in the future. On Wednesday, President Biden signed a bill that would ban TikTok if its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, fails to sell the app within a year, bringing the possibility of TikTok ban closer than ever before.

Chipotle CFO says diners will keep burritos in their budget as US GDP growth slows

Chipotle is seeing all income cohorts spend more and visit more frequently.

Delta’s Boeing 747 Amex credit card design returns: What to know about the limited release

It’s a card designed for frequent Delta flyers and aviation history buffs alike. Here’s how to decide if the Boeing 747 Delta Reserve credit card is right for you.

Charlie Woods, Tiger Woods’ 15-year-old son, fails to advance in U.S. Open qualifier

Charlie Woods shot a 9-over 81 in the first stage of U.S. Open qualifying on Thursday in Florida.

Shoppers say this flattering maxi dress feels like pajamas — grab it on sale for $31

One fan compares the versatile frock to 'soft, stretchy bedsheets.' Say what? We'll take 5.

Heat shock Celtics, Ingram's future in NO & the Knicks-Villanova connection | No Cap Room

Jake Fischer and Dan Devine recap the NBA playoff games from Wednesday night and preview Thursday night’s action.

These are the fastest-selling new cars of 2024

iSeeCars found that a handful of brands sell new cars much faster than others and noted that EVs are taking longer to sell than hybrids.

The Buzz: Fantasy baseball's polarizing hitters — is Mike Trout really back?

Fantasy baseball analyst Scott Pianowski breaks down some of the trickiest batters to gauge so far this season in the latest edition of The Buzz.

Man who killed Saints' Will Smith sentenced to 25 years in prison

The conviction was the second for Cardell Hayes in the 2016 shooting death of Smith. The first was overturned after a Supreme Court decision rendered it unconstitutional.

Gen Z is losing its political voice on social media

President Joe Biden signed the bill this week that could ban TikTok from the U.S. if its parent company ByteDance doesn’t sell the platform. According to young political content creators, the ban could decimate Gen Z’s access to political news and information. “An unfortunately large amount of 18- to 24-year-olds find out information about local elections from TikTok, so my heart is breaking,” Emma Mont, a political content creator, told TechCrunch.

Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Read our research on:

Full Topic List

Regions & Countries

• Publications
• Our Methods
• Short Reads
• Tools & Resources

Read Our Research On:

5 facts about presidential travel abroad

American presidents and other world leaders frequently travel internationally, most commonly for conferences and bilateral meetings. This face-to-face diplomacy can offer insights into political priorities, partnerships and tensions, as well as key international issues.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted international travel in 2020 and 2021, but diplomatic travel picked up significantly in 2022. Here are five facts about presidential travel abroad:

Pew Research Center conducted this analysis to examine the international travel history of recent U.S. presidents and other heads of government through Jan. 20, 2023.

Dates and destinations of U.S. presidential travel prior to 2021 are from the U.S. Department of State’s Office of the Historian, which has recorded international presidential travel since 1901. Travel data for 2021 and 2022 was compiled from White House press briefings. Information on visits to Ukraine by other world leaders were independently verified through official government websites.

Only trips where the head of government met face-to-face with another head of government are included. For example, Biden’s trip to the UK for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral is excluded as Biden did not hold any diplomatic meetings with the British prime minister or other world leaders. Visiting leaders were only counted if they were the head of government at the time of their visit. Depending on the country’s political system, “head of government” could mean president or prime minister, but not both. Heads of state, monarchs and interim leaders are excluded from the visiting leaders count.

U.S. President Joe Biden has traveled internationally less frequently than his last two predecessors did. Biden traveled to 17 places outside the United States in his first two years in office, visiting some more than once. He made six international trips in 2021, all of them to Europe. In 2022, he made 12 trips, including to Europe, the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East. And in early 2023, Biden traveled to Mexico for the North American Leaders’ Summit.

All told, Biden’s international visit count trails those of former Presidents Donald Trump, who made 23 international trips to 20 places during his first two years in office, and Barack Obama, who made 32 trips to 24 places in the first two years of his presidency.

Biden’s first presidential trip abroad was to the United Kingdom, while Trump’s was to Saudi Arabia and Obama’s was to Canada. A president’s first trip is often used to signal the importance of a strategic alliance. On his trip to the UK in June 2021, Biden reaffirmed the U.S.-UK partnership and committed to close cooperation throughout his presidency. Typically, U.S. presidents visit a close ally on their inaugural trip: Canada was the first international destination for both Obama and Bill Clinton, while Mexico was the first destination for George W. Bush.

U.S. presidents have visited the UK the most in the past decade – a total of eight times. American presidents have worked closely with their British counterparts over the past decade, cooperating on issues from defense and counterterrorism to climate policy . Travel to the UK has largely centered around conferences and summits, but in 2019, Trump made a ceremonial state visit to the UK .  

In the past decade of presidential travel, Belgium (home to NATO headquarters ), France, Germany and Japan are the second-most visited destinations, at six times each.

So far, Biden has made the most trips to the UK and Belgium – two each. (Biden’s additional visit to the UK to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II is not included in this count, since he did not hold any diplomatic appointments.) Just as these two European allies stand out in Biden’s presidential travel thus far, France stands out in Trump’s administration and Germany stands out in Obama’s – they visited those respective countries four times while in office.

Biden is among 38 heads of government who have visited Ukraine since the beginning of the war there. Biden traveled to Kyiv as part of a surprise trip in February, days before the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion .

While many heads of government visiting Ukraine have come from neighboring countries or countries in Europe (such as Poland’s prime minister, who has visited five times since the beginning of the war) that is not always the case. For example, Guatemala’s President Alejandro Giammattei and Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embaló traveled to Ukraine in July 2022 and October 2022, respectively.

Biden hosted 28 heads of government at the White House as of the end of 2022. Foreign leaders come to the U.S. for events including conferences, summits and bilateral meetings. Among those to visit the White House in 2021 and 2022 were then-Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson of Sweden, who met with Biden to submit her country’s application for NATO membership ; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who traveled to the White House on his first known wartime trip abroad ; and French President Emmanuel Macron, whose trip marked the first state visit of Biden’s presidency . In fact, the president of France has been the first leader to make a state visit to the U.S. for the past three presidential terms, with Macron visiting Trump in April 2018 and his predecessor, François Hollande, visiting Obama in February 2014. In April 2023, Biden hosted the second state visit of his administration , meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

• International Affairs

Sarah Austin is a research assistant focusing on global attitudes research at Pew Research Center

A growing share of Americans have little or no confidence in Netanyahu

Fewer americans view the united nations favorably than in 2023, what are americans’ top foreign policy priorities, rising numbers of americans say jews and muslims face a lot of discrimination, younger americans stand out in their views of the israel-hamas war, most popular.

1615 L St. NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20036 USA (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax (+1) 202-419-4372 |  Media Inquiries

Research Topics

• Age & Generations
• Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Economy & Work
• Family & Relationships
• Gender & LGBTQ
• Immigration & Migration
• Internet & Technology
• Methodological Research
• News Habits & Media
• Non-U.S. Governments
• Other Topics
• Politics & Policy
• Race & Ethnicity
• Email Newsletters

ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER  Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of  The Pew Charitable Trusts .

Copyright 2024 Pew Research Center

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

Cookie Settings

Reprints, Permissions & Use Policy

• KRDO 13 Home
• Live Newscasts
• 13 Investigates
• Absolutely Colorado
• On the Lookout
• School Buzz
• Colorado Springs News
• Pueblo News
• Illicit Spas: Hiding In Plain Sight
• Funeral Home Investigation
• Closures & Delays
• Weather Maps and Forecasts
• Live HD Doppler
• Neighborhood Weather Network
• Viaero Wireless Network Cameras
• Weather Video
• Weather Photo Galleries
• Friday Night Blitz
• Livestream Special Coverage
• Body of Lies
• Identity Crisis: Olympic City USA
• Club Q: One Year Later
• Immigration in Colorado
• Black Forest Fire: 10 Years Later
• Colorado Springs Sesquicentennial
• Waldo’s Inferno: 10 Years Later
• KRDO NewsRadio Traffic
• Listen Live
• Pikes Peak Hill Climb ’23
• Radio Program Guide
• Radio Contests
• Pet of the Week
• Traffic Tracker
• Road Warrior
• Breast Cancer Awareness
• Healthy Colorado
• Telemundo Programacion
• Cooking Tips
• Next Chapter
• The Military Family
• Your House & Home
• Southern Colorado Jobs
• Wear Red Friday’s
• 2024 March Primary Election Results
• Broadcast Contests
• Entertainment
• Advertise with Us
• Contact KRDO
• Meet the Team
• Closed Captioning
• Download our Apps
• EEO Public Filing
• FCC Public File
• Newsletters/Alerts
• TV Listings

Texas Country Star Josh Abbott Teams Up with Dairy Queen for a Flavorful Trip Down Memory Lane

By Jo-Carolyn Goode

Click here for updates on this story

    April 24, 2024 ( Houston Style Magazine ) — Fans of hearty Texas cuisine and country music are in for a treat as Josh Abbott, the iconic Texas country artist, partners once again with Dairy Queen® (DQ®) restaurants across Texas. This collaboration introduces the “Josh Abbott Meal,” available from April 29 through May 26 at participating Texas DQ locations.

Born and raised in the small town of Idalou, near Lubbock, Josh Abbott has long cherished his moments at DQ. “Dairy Queen was my go-to spot after games or spending time with my grandpa. It’s where I’ve made many great memories,” Abbott reminisced. The meal that bears his name includes a 4-piece Steak Finger Country Basket, a mini M&M’s® Milk Chocolate Blizzard® Treat, a refreshing Iced Tea, and a special limited-edition Josh Abbott collectible cup. Reflecting on his childhood favorite, Abbott mentioned, “The steak finger basket always stood out to me. While you can get burgers or chicken just about anywhere, DQ’s variety, especially those steak fingers, were my favorite.”

Lou Romanus, CEO of Texas Dairy Queen Operators’ Council, highlighted the synergy between the Texas-spirited DQ and Abbott, “Working with Josh, who brings such genuine nostalgia and enthusiasm for Dairy Queen, has been a delight. He perfectly embodies the hard-working, fun-loving Texas spirit that DQ celebrates.” The partnership also revisited the beloved DQ jingle “That’s What I Like About Texas,” which Abbott refreshed with his unique country flair in 2022, further deepening the brand’s musical and cultural connection to the Lone Star State.

Today, Abbott is not just reliving his DQ memories but creating new ones with his family. On a recent visit, he introduced his children to the iconic Blizzard Treat, capturing their joyous first tastes. “Watching their faces light up was unforgettable, and luckily, we got it on camera,” Abbott shared, reflecting the joy DQ aims to offer.

For over 75 years, DQ restaurants in Texas have been more than just places to eat; they’re community gathering spots where memories are made. To keep up with the latest DQ treats like the Blizzard of the Month and other updates from the Texas Dairy Queen Operators’ Council, follow them on social media or visit dqtexas.com .

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Jump to comments ↓

CNN Newssource

KRDO NewsChannel 13 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here .