Prince George and Princess Charlotte, the two oldest children of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, will walk behind Queen Elizabeth’s coffin during her state funeral at Westminster Abbey today.

The palace has confirmed that the future king, aged nine, and his seven-year-old sister will join the 2,000-strong congregation for the 11am service and attend the committal service at Windsor Castle in the late afternoon.

The decision to let the children attend the ceremony was made after long discussions with aides, as the future of the monarchy, George, affectionately called the Queen gone-gone, should attend with his sister with whom he is especially close to.

As parents, William and Catherine have thought long and hard about whether their children should accompany them, a source said.

Of course, four-year-old Prince Louis is too young, but they think George and Charlotte are up to it.

Last night, Buckingham Palace said that the service would honour the Queen's remarkable reign and lifetime of service as monarch and leader of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

The two young royals will walk through the Gothic Church in London with the royal family, in procession behind the Queen's coffin as it is carried by the military bearer party.

George and Charlotte will walk together, behind their parents, walking side by side in formation, followed by their uncle and aunt, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and other family members.

The King with the Queen consort will be immediately behind the coffin, followed by the Princess Royal and Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Lawrence, then the Duke of York, followed by the Earl and Countess of Wessex, and then the Prince and Princess of Wales.

The scene is likely to revive memories of Princes William and Harry walking behind their mother Diana's coffin aged just 15 and 12, after her tragic death in a Paris tunnel in August 1997.

William last week told mourners how walking behind the Queen's coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall for the start of Her Majesty's lying instate last Wednesday had been very difficult and that it brought back haunted memories of his mother's funeral.

However, it has not yet been decided whether young George and Charlotte would take part in a similar procession at Windsor Castle for the separate committal service, before the Queen is laid rest at a private burial service at 7.30pm.

A Palace source said, this was definitely a collective family decision.

The order of service for the Queen's state funeral was published for the first time, showcasing a stirring selection of Her Majesty's favourite hymns, songs, prayers and recitals, all of which were chosen by the late monarch.

Before the service, the tenor bell will ring every minute for 96 minutes, representing the Queen's life years.

The Dean of Westminster, the very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, will say in the bidding, Here, where Queen Elizabeth was married and crowned, we gather from across the nation, from the Commonwealth, and from the nations of the world, to mourn our loss, to remember her long life of selfless service.

He will speak of the Queen's unswerving commitment to a high calling over so many years as Queen and Head of the Commonwealth.

With affection, we recall her love for her family and her commitment to the causes she held dear, the Dean will say.

According to sources, the Queen was keen on showing Britain's rich tapestry of faiths and cultures, at her funeral, inviting representatives from multiple denominations and cultures to represent the Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and Buddhist communities among others.

The Prince and Princess of Wales have faced the difficult decision of whether to let their two oldest children attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth.

William and Catherine have thought long and hard about taking their children to the ceremony and discussed it with both of them together before a decision was collectively made.

While Prince Louis will stay at home, Prince George and Princess Charlotte will attend the 11am service at Westminster Abbey and the committal service at Windsor Castle in the late afternoon.

The decision to let the children attend the ceremony was made after long discussions with aides, as the future of the monarchy, George, affectionately called the Queen gone-gone, should attend with his sister with whom he is especially close to.