During the service, the choir will sing a specially commissioned piece, “Like as the hart”, a setting of Psalm 42 by Master of the King’s Music, Judith Weir. Other music chosen for the state funeral included the hymn “The Lord’s my shepherd,” which was also sung at the wedding of then-Princess Elizabeth to Prince Philip in 1947, and the hymn “O Taste and see how gracious the Lord is,” which written for the Queen’s coronation in 1953 by Ralph Vaughan Williams.
The nation will observe two minutes’ silence towards the end of the hour-long service, after which the Master Piper of the Royal Regiment of Scotland will play the traditional lament, “Sleep, dearie, sleep”.

Full service ordering

Music before the service Matthew Jorysz, Assistant Organist, Westminster Abbey, plays: Fantasy in Four Parts, Orlando Gibbons (1583–1625) Romanza (Symphony no 5 in D), Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958) arranged by Robert Quinney (born 1976) Leave My House Peter Maxwell Davies (1934–2016) Meditation on “Brother James’s Air” Harold Darke (1888–1976) Prelude to ‘Ecce jam noctis’ Op 157 no 3 Healey Willan (1880–1968) Psalm Prelude Set 1 no 2, Herbert Howells (1892–1983) In Country Op 194 no 2, Charles Villiers Stanford (1852–1924) Fantasy on “O Paradise”, Malcolm Williamson (1931–2003) Elegy Op 58 Edward Elgar (1857–1934) arranged by Matthew Jorysz (born 1992) The Sub-Organist plays: Andante espressivo (Sonata in G Op 28), Edward Elgar Sospiri Op 70, Edward Elgar, arranged by Peter Holder (born 1990) The Choir of Westminster Abbey sings the Prayers as the coffin procession moves through the Abbey I AM the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he be dead, yet shall he live: and he that liveth and believeth in me shall never die. John 11: 25-26 I KNOW that my Redeemer lives, and that He will stand at the last day on earth. whom I alone shall see, and my eyes shall see, and no other. Job 19: 25–27 He brought nothing into this world and it is certain that we can do nothing. The Lord gave, and the Lord took away. blessed be the name of the Lord. 1 Timothy 6:7; Task 1: 21 William Croft (1678-1727) The Choir of Westminster Abbey and the Choir of the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, sing: You know, Lord, the secrets of our hearts YOU know, Lord, the secrets of our hearts. Do not close your merciful ears to our prayer. but save us, Lord most holy, God the mighty, holy and most merciful Saviour, worthy judge eternal, do not let us, at the last hour, for any pain of death, fall from you. Amen. Henry Purcell (1659-95) I HEARD a voice from heaven, saying to me: Write, from now on blessed are the dead who die in the Lord: so says the Spirit. for they rest from their labors. Amen. William Croft The Reverend Dr David Hoyle MBE, Dean of Westminster, gives the offering With sorrow and also with deep thanksgiving we come to this House of God, to a place of prayer, to a church where memory and hope are sacred tasks. Here, where Queen Elizabeth was married and crowned, we gather from all the nation, from the Commonwealth and from the nations of the world, to mourn our loss, to remember her long life of selfless service, and with sure assurance to commit her to mercy of God our creator and redeemer. We remember with gratitude her steadfast commitment to a high calling for so many years as Queen and Head of the Commonwealth. We remember with admiration her lifelong sense of duty and devotion to her people. With thanksgiving we glorify God for the steadfast example of Christian faith and devotion. We fondly remember her love for her family and her commitment to the causes she held dear. Now, in silence, let us remember in our hearts and minds the many reasons for our thanksgiving, let us pray for all the members of her family, and let us praise Queen Elizabeth in the care and preservation of almighty God. There is a brief silence. O Merciful God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who art the resurrection and the life. in whom he that believeth shall live, though he die. And whoever lives and believes in him will never die. who taught us, by his holy Apostle Saint Paul, not to grieve, as men without hope, for those who sleep in him: We humbly beseech you, Father, to raise us from the death of sin to the life of righteousness. ; that, when we depart from this life, we may rest in him, as our hope is that of our sister. And that, in the general Resurrection of the last day, we may find ourselves acceptable in your sight. and receive this blessing, which your beloved Son will then say to all those who love and fear you, saying: Come, blessed children of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. Grant this, we beseech you, O merciful Father, through Jesus Christ, our mediator and redeemer. Amen. Hymn: The day you gave, Lord is over The day you gave, Lord, is over darkness falls at your command, to you our morning hymns have risen, your praise shall sanctify our rest. We thank thee that thy Church sleeps not, while the earth rolls forward to the light, throughout the world that keeps its vigil, and rests not now day or night. As on every continent and isle, the dawn leads to another day, the voice of prayer is never silent, nor the strain of praise fades, The sun that calls us to rest wakes our brethren ‘neath the western sky, and hour by hour fresh lips make wondrous things sound on high. So be it, Lord. thy throne shall never pass away, like the proud empires of the earth; thy kingdom endureth and increaseth for ever, till all thy creatures shall have thy dominion. Music: St Clement The Right Honorable The Baroness of Scotland of Asthal KC, Commonwealth Secretary-General, reads the First Lesson. NOW Christ has risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of those who fell asleep. For since death came from man, from man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each in his turn: Christ the first fruits. then those who are Christ’s at his coming. Then comes the end, when he will have handed over the kingdom to God, the Father. when he shall have overthrown all power and all authority and power. For he must reign, until he has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. When therefore this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality, then shall be fulfilled the saying which is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin. and the power of sin is the law. But we thank God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Thank God. 1 Corinthians 15: 20-26, 53–end The choir sings the Psalm AS the heart longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, yea, even for the living God: when shall I come to appear before the presence of God? My tears have been my meat day and night: while daily they say to me: Where is your God now? Now, when I think of it, I pour out my heart alone; for I went with the multitude and brought them out to the house of God. With the voice of praise and thanksgiving: among them that keep the day of sanctification. Why art thou so full of gravity, my soul: and why art thou so troubled within me? Put your trust in God: for I will thank him yet for the help of his face. Words: Psalm 42: 1–7 Music: Judith Weir CBE, Master of the Queen’s Music (born 1954) constituted for this Service The Right Honorable Elizabeth Truss MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, reads the Second Lesson Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would tell you. I’m going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself. so that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know. Thomas says to him: Lord, we do not know where you are going. and how can we know the way? Jesus said to him: I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip says to him: Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us. Jesus says to him: Have I been with you so long and you have not known me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. Thank God. John 14: 1–9a Hymn: The Lord is my shepherd The Lord is my shepherd, I will not want. he makes me lie down in green pastures. it leads me to the still waters. He restores my soul again, and makes me walk in the paths of righteousness, for his name’s sake. Chorus only: Yea, though I walk through the dark valley of death, I will fear no sick man. for thou art with me, and thy rod and thy rod comfort me still. You have set my table in front of my enemies. you anoint my head with oil, and my cup overflows. Kindness and mercy throughout my life will surely follow me. and in the house of God shall be my dwelling for ever. Words: Psalm 23 in the Scots Psalter 1650 Tune: Crimond, attributed to Jessie Seymour Irvine…