Art, Endurance, and Memory: Our Royal Expert Revisits the Lying-in-State of Queen Elizabeth II
The Palace of Westminster is offering a deeply moving look back at those historic days through a special exhibition: A Historic Farewell: Art as Witness to the Lying-in-State of Queen Elizabeth II.
Following a historic reign of 70 years and 214 days, the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022, ushered in an unprecedented period of national mourning. While meticulous plans immediately swung into action behind the scenes, the ultimate focal point of public grief unfolded inside Westminster Hall, where the Queen lay in state from September 14 to September 19.
Now, the Palace of Westminster is offering a deeply moving look back at those historic days through a special exhibition: A Historic Farewell: Art as Witness to the Lying-in-State of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Phenomenon of "The Queue"
For millions across the globe, the broadcasts from Westminster Hall were unforgettable, but the emotional heartbeat of the nation was felt out on the streets. "The Queue" quickly evolved from a logistical feat into a powerful cultural symbol of the public's enduring relationship with their monarch.
The queue opened at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, September 14, and ran continuously until 6:20 am on Monday, September 19, stretching upwards of 10 miles at its peak to wind from Westminster all the way to Southwark. An estimated 250,000 people joined the line, with individual journeys and vigils lasting upwards of 24 hours. Over 800 volunteers stewarded the route while mourners braved unpredictable British autumn weather—ranging from heavy downpours to sudden sunny spells—completely undeterred. Local train stations kept their doors open through the night to shelter travelers, creating an atmosphere defined by profound camaraderie, shared duty, and collective reflection.
Inside Westminster Hall: History and Tradition
The setting itself carries centuries of British history. Westminster Hall is the oldest part of the Houses of Parliament, originally built in 1097 with its iconic hammerbeam roof dating back to 1393. Over the centuries, the hall has hosted monumental events, from royal trials and banquets to historic addresses by leaders like Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, and Queen Elizabeth II herself.
The tradition of a Lying-in-State in Westminster Hall for esteemed figures dates back to 1898 with Prime Minister William Gladstone. In 1910, Edward VII became the first royal to receive a Lying-in-State in the hall, a tradition later shared by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 2002.
When Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin arrived on the evening of September 14, 2022, it rested upon a raised platform called a catafalque, draped in the Royal Standard and crowned with the Imperial State Crown, Orb, and Sceptre. Day and night, members of the Sovereign’s Bodyguard and officers from the Household Division kept a silent, unwavering vigil at each corner.
Capturing the Unseen: The Parliamentary Art Commissions
While the world watched via live-streamed coverage, a vast network of around-the-clock activity — from security and catering to maintenance teams — kept the operation running behind the scenes. To preserve these fleeting moments, Parliament invited six prominent UK artists to observe and record the historic proceedings from privileged vantage points: Tina Crawford, Eleanor Crook, Dryden Goodwin, Lachlan Goudie, Julia Midgley, and Caroline Walker.
Their works, now preserved within the permanent Parliamentary Art Collection, offer an intimate counterpoint to the official broadcast. Lachlan Goudie’s acrylic paintings and sketches captured the dramatic transition from noise to stillness, noting how individuals inside the hall were overwhelmed by a meditative, sombre power, and his work incorporates individual portraits of people he encountered during his residency. Meanwhile, utilizing drawing, sculpture, and the ancient lost-wax method, Eleanor Crook’s work drew inspiration from the architecture, ceremony, and the physical environment of the hall, and she was notably granted permission to use actual beeswax drippings harvested from the four large candles that burned continuously around the catafalque.
Set beneath Westminster Hall's iconic 1393 hammerbeam roof — a historic space that has hosted centuries of royal tradition and monumental state events—the exhibition "A Historic Farewell: Art as Witness to the Lying-in-State of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II" offers a poignant final chapter to a period of unprecedented national mourning. While the world watched the solemn events unfold inside the hall, the true heartbeat of the country lived on the streets. Millions worldwide remain transfixed by the memory of "The Queue," which stretched upwards of 10 miles from Westminster to Southwark, transforming a massive logistical undertaking into an enduring cultural symbol of collective grief, shared duty, and unbreakable camaraderie.
Now, this powerful chapter of British history is immortalized through the eyes of six acclaimed British artists, including Caroline Walker, Tina Crawford, and Dryden Goodwin, who observed the historic 2022 ceremony firsthand. Their multidisciplinary works—spanning delicate embroidery incorporating actual fabric from the catafalque to massive installations capturing the faces of the public—uncover both the raw emotion of the mourners and the hidden, behind-the-scenes efforts of parliamentary staff. Open through October 2, 2026, admission to this unique exhibition is entirely free. Visitors simply need to secure their tickets in advance on the official UK Parliament Website to experience this profound, lasting testament to Her Late Majesty’s final farewell.
As visitors walk through the exhibition today—passing the brass floor plaque that permanently marks where the late Queen's coffin rested—A Historic Farewell serves as a poignant reminder that while the event was monumental on a global scale, it was deeply personal to every individual who queued, watched, and remembered.