The Queen Mother's coffin will be escorted to lie in state at the Palace of Westminster by a half-mile cortege of 1,600 service men and women.

Plans for the Queen Mother's funeral have been set out by Buckingham Palace.

Prince Charles yesterday made a television tribute to his "gloriously unstoppable grandmother".

"She understood the British character and her heart belonged to this ancient land," he said.

The Queen Mother will lie in state from Friday until her funeral next Tuesday which will "befit Queen Elizabeth's role as consort of the sovereign" but will fall short of being a full state occasion.

Prince Charles, with the Queen's backing, chose ITN rather than the BBC to make his emotional tribute in protest that the corporation has not been respectful enough in its coverage.

Buckingham Palace is said to be "disappointed and hurt" that BBC presenters failed to wear black ties.

Some MPs a have questioned Wednesday's recall of parliament, arguing that the debate will be a "repeat" of tributes which have already been made and will serve to highlight an absence of parliamentary discussion over the Middle East.