What is a state funeral and what role is the military set to have?

When Queen Elizabeth II's funeral takes place it will differ from that of her late husband Prince Philip's, Princess Diana's and the Queen Mother's.

Theirs were ceremonial whereas the Queen's will be a state funeral.

Forces News has taken a look at what exactly this funeral is and what it means.

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The Queen's funeral will take place on Monday 19 September and it will be the first state funeral since war-time Prime Minister Winston Churchill's in 1965.

State funerals are grand public ceremonies that follow strict rules and are held to honour people of national significance.

They also aim to involve the public in a day of national mourning.

Generally, they are used for monarchs. Before Churchill's funeral, the last state one was the funeral of the Queen's father, King George VI, in 1952. 

Watch: Queen Elizabeth II: The Armed Forces' Commander-in-Chief remembered.

What will happen

Following the lying in state, the body of the Queen will be taken from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey for the state funeral service.

This breaks centuries of tradition with funerals for monarchs, which historically took place at St George's Chapel in Windsor, but the change of location is to allow more people to attend.

The Queen's coffin will be carried on a gun carriage drawn by Royal Navy sailors using ropes.

If this was a ceremonial funeral, the gun carriage would be pulled by horses.

Military personnel will also line the route the coffin travels.

Following the funeral service in Westminster Abbey – which is where the Queen also had her coronation and wedding – her body will then be taken to Windsor for a private burial at St George's Chapel.

The protocol that is followed for state funerals was laid down by Queen Victoria.

She left strict instructions regarding the service and ceremonies for her funeral in 1901 and that set a precedent for all state funerals held since.

Queen Victoria requested the use of a gun carriage and military processions.