The Earl and Countess of Wessex have visited Manchester to thank the public for their support following the death of the Queen.
Prince Edward and Sophie were in the city centre on Thursday lunchtime to view the floral tributes in St Ann’s Square and the books of condolence at Manchester Central Library.
They also stopped off at Manchester Cathedral to light a candle in memory of the late monarch. The cathedral has been opening its doors at 8am daily for the public to do the same and will be screening TV coverage of Elizabeth II’s funeral on Monday (19 September).
Meanwhile further details of the Queen’s funeral arrangements have been published.
The King, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex will mount a 15-minute vigil around the Queen’s coffin as it lies in state at 7.30pm on Friday
On Monday, the Queen will be interred with the Duke of Edinburgh in King George VI’s Memorial Chapel in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in a private service at 7.30pm.
But the burial service conducted by the Dean of Windsor and attended by the King and royals will remain entirely private, as a “deeply personal family occasion”.