Kate and Sophie Wessex to Follow Queen’s Funeral Procession by Car as Meghan is Banned by Charles

The nation is preparing to say a final goodbye to the late Queen, and Buckingham Palace has released further details for her state funeral next Monday.

Plans for the historic occasion have been revealed, including the news that Kate and Sophie Wessex are expected to follow the Queen's funeral procession by car.

However, it has been reported that Meghan has been banned by King Charles from participating in the event, causing anger and frustration for the Duchess.

Charles will lead members of the royal family in walking behind the late monarch's coffin when it is moved from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey on Monday for the state funeral.

Kate, William, and the Countess of Wessex are also expected to be among the royals travelling by car.

Sophie is said to have been like a second daughter to the late Queen, and she previously shared a vehicle with Kate when Her Majesty left Buckingham Palace for the last time on Wednesday for Westminster Hall where she is lying in state ahead of the funeral.

Behind Charles will be Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward, followed by brothers Prince William and Prince Harry, who have united in their grief for their grandmother, along with Peter Phillips, who is another one of the Queen's grandsons.

They will be followed by the Princess Royal's husband, Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Lawrence, the late monarch's cousin, the Duke of Gloucester, and her nephew, the Earl of Snowdon.

Other royals, including Kate and Sophie, are expected to complete the solemn journey by car.

The coffin will be carried during the procession on a 123-year-old gun carriage, pulled by 98 Royal Navy sailors using ropes in a tradition dating back to the funeral of Queen Victoria.

The procession will be led by amassed pipes and drums of Scottish and Irish regiments, the Brigade of Kirkers, and the Royal Air Force, numbering 200 musicians.

The congregation will begin to file into Westminster Abbey from 8am before the service, conducted by the Dean of Westminster, starts at 11am.

Two thousand people, including world leaders and foreign royals, will take their seats inside the church in central London to say goodbye to the beloved late Queen, who was consulted on plans for the state funeral.

US President Joe Biden and French leader Emmanuel Macron will be among the world leaders attending the ceremonial event.

Moving elements of the funeral will include the sounding of the last post at 11.55am as the service nears its end.

There will then be a two-minute national silence which will be observed by the congregation and millions across the UK.

Thousands of mourners have already filed past the Queen as she lies in state at Westminster Hall.

Queue times are currently estimated to be nine hours, with the line stretching 4.9 miles as Brits flock to pay their respects.

However, the public has been warned that queue times could last 30 hours or more depending on the time and day.

There is a live stream where viewers are able to watch the queue's progress.

The line is said to be moving at around 0.5 miles per hour, but even those near the front of the queue are facing long waits.

The total distance the queue can extend is 6.9 miles, but there has been an additional three miles of queue infrastructure installed at the beginning and end.

This means the total distance of the queue is almost 10 miles.

Brits are being urged to wear appropriate clothing and pack essentials like food and water, though these must be discarded before entering Westminster Hall.

There are roughly 500 portable loos and water stations available to members of the public who are queuing.

Clear water bottles are permitted in Westminster Hall, but the contents must be emptied before entering the security search point.