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A confirmed public holiday and funeral details: What's next after Queen Elizabeth II's death.

Aged 96, Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8 after the longest reign in British history. She died peacefully, surrounded by family at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. 

King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla have since begun their duties, meeting with the public outside of Buckingham Palace to pay thanks for the condolences issued to their family. 

And in a united stance, Prince William invited Prince Harry and Meghan to join him and Princess Kate as they walked outside the gates of Windsor Castle to view the flowers and tributes people had left for The Queen. King Charles also released an eight-minute address to speak of his sadness surrounding his mother's death, while also pledging to fulfill his public service duties.

The death of the monarch sets in motion Operation Unicorn, the plan that reportedly lists what will happen in the United Kingdom following the monarch's death. 

From all the funeral details, the lying in state customs and a public holiday in Australia, here's all that will happen in the next few weeks following Queen Elizabeth II's death.

But first take a look back at The Queen, including her iconic acting scene with Paddington Bear. Story continues below.


Video via The Telegraph.
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Prince Harry, Meghan, Princess Kate and Prince William all reunite.

The 'fab four' walked among crowds near Windsor Castle on Saturday following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

It's the first time the four have been seen together in public since 2019. The last time Prince William was joined in public by his brother at Windsor Castle was at the funeral of their grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh in April last year.

Thousands of people had gathered throughout the day outside the castle before they arrived, with Prince Harry, Meghan, Princess Kate and Prince William all speaking with the crowd, accepting flowers and words of sympathy. 

Harry and Meghan held hands as they walked from the car and read the tributes, with Harry affectionately putting his hand on Meghan's back at one stage.

On Thursday Prince William and Prince Harry had joined King Charles and other senior members of the Royal Family at Balmoral just before The Queen passed away.

"We all thought she was invincible," her grandson Prince William, now the heir to the throne, said. "It's been surreal."

Australia gets a public holiday.

Australia will have a one-off public holiday on September 22 as the nation holds a memorial service day for Queen Elizabeth II. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the holiday on Sunday.

"That's to allow people to pay their respects for the passing of Queen Elizabeth," he told ABC's Insiders program.

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"I spoke to all premiers and chief ministers yesterday and I'm writing to them formally this morning ... they will have received their letters by now. They have all agreed that it's appropriate that it be a one-off national public holiday."

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton supports the concept of a public holiday in honour of the Queen.

Australia typically recognises 11 nationwide public holidays, including one for the Queen's Birthday, most commonly held in June, which did not align with her actual April birth date.

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Australian Parliament still pauses.

Federal parliament has been cancelled for the coming week, following the Queen's death but Albanese said the lost time will be made up.

While Australians will not observe an official mourning period, politicians have been given a 15-day break from parliamentary duties, which extends beyond the 10 days given to their UK counterparts.

On ABC radio, Albanese said this was "out of respect" for the Queen.

In Australia, the national flag will continue to be flown at half-mast until the day after the funeral.

The lie in state custom of The Queen's coffin.

Elizabeth's oak coffin, covered with the royal standard of Scotland and with a wreath of flowers on top, has been lying in the ballroom of Balmoral Castle, her summer home in Scotland where she died peacefully.

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On Sunday, it will be driven by hearse through remote highland villages to Scotland's capital Edinburgh during a six-hour journey that will allow people to pay their respects. On that morning the King will meet the Commonwealth Secretary General at Buckingham Palace and then host a reception for Realm High Commissioners.

On Monday, King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will travel to Westminster Hall where both Houses of Parliament will meet to express their condolences at the death of the late Queen.

They will then fly to Scotland, before travelling to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The Queen's coffin will be taken from the Palace of Holyroodhouse in procession to St Giles' Cathedral.

The King and Camilla, with members of the royal family, will follow the procession on foot before attending a service of reflection for the life of the Queen in the cathedral. 

On Tuesday, they will fly to Belfast and travel to Hillsborough Castle to view an exhibition on the late Queen's long association with Northern Ireland. The King will meet with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and party leaders. King Charles and Camilla will then leave Belfast for London.

The coffin will then be flown to London on Tuesday where it will remain at Buckingham Palace before being taken to Westminster Hall to lie in state. After a short service the Queen's lying in state will begin, lasting for four days and ending on the morning of the state funeral.

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When is the Queen's funeral?

The state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II has been announced for 11am on Monday September 19, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. This equates to 8pm Tuesday, AEST. As for when and where it will be available to watch on TV, this is yet to be confirmed.

The UK has declared a period of mourning until the state funeral.

Albanese said the Queen was a much respected figure in Australia and he will head to London along with past prime ministers to attend the funeral. Leaders from around the world are also expected in London for the funeral, including US President Joe Biden, who said on Friday he would attend.

Charles' coronation as king will take place at a later date - and the timing for that is not yet clear. There was a 16-month gap between Elizabeth becoming queen and her coronation in 1953.

After the funeral service, the coffin will be taken in procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch. From Wellington Arch, the coffin will travel to Windsor.

Once there, the hearse will travel in procession to St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle via the Long Walk, after which a Committal Service will take place in St George's Chapel. This is where she will be buried next to late husband, Prince Phillip.

With AAP.

Feature Image: Getty.

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