The funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales

At the request of the families, the coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales is lying privately in the Chapel Royal, within St James's Palace, until the evening before the funeral. It will then be moved to the Princess's apartment at Kensington Palace, where it will remain overnight.

On the morning of the funeral her coffin, borne on a gun carriage, will be carried in Procession from Kensington Palace to Westminster Abbey.

Following the service at Westminster Abbey, the Princess's coffin will be taken by road to the Spencer family home at Althorp for private burial. The Princess will be buried on an island surrounded by an ornamental lake, known as The Oval. The Oval was designed by Samuel Lapidge, the head man of Capability Brown. It is hoped that the place of burial will be open to the public each year for a number of weeks.

Family Mourning is being observed by members of the Royal family and by their Households up to and including the day of the funeral. (Those in uniform are wearing mourning bands; those in civilian clothing are wearing black ties and dark colours.)

Flags are being flown at half-mast up to and including the day of the funeral.

A Book of Condolence is open for signing until 6.00 p.m. on Friday, 5 September in the Lower Corridor of St James's Palace. It will then be moved to the State Rooms at Kensington Palace, where it reopens at 2.00 p.m. on Saturday, 6 September. The Palace will be open 24 hours a day until Monday, 15 September.

The service, which will be televised, will also be broadcast on two giant screens in Hyde Park.