This morning MPs and peer gathered for an historic occasion in the gothic grandeur of Westminster Hall. It will be here that the Queen’s lying in state will commence on Wednesday and from here that she will make the journey to Westminster Abbey for Monday’s funeral.

After some beautiful music from the Band of the Household Cavalry – fittingly, with tunes from all parts of the United Kingdom – what is known as ‘the Presentation of Addresses’ began. We heard from the Speaker of the House of Lords, Lord McFall, and the Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, addressing the new King, Charles III, and his Queen Consort, Camilla.

Both Speakers paid tribute to the late Queen, remembering times when she had spoken in the Great Hall, most recently on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee, which was also marked by the installation of a new stained glass window above the North Door. We were then addressed by the King, before he took leave of us to fly to Edinburgh to accompany his mother’s casket as she makes her final journey.