Richard III: Farewell to the king

The cathedral service is heading towards its conclusion with incense being burned over the coffin.

Although closed to the public for the rest of the day, the cathedral will open for people to view the coffin in repose at 9am tomorrow.

It will be available to view until Wednesday afternoon when the building closes again in preparation for the reinterment on Thursday.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, Britain's most senior Catholic cleric begun the sermon at Leicester Cathedral.

His presence in an Anglican cathedral is a reflection of the fact Richard was a devout Roman Catholic and died before the Church of England was set up.

The BBC's Inside Out team was given access to the secure room where Richard III's bones were kept for two years - watch this clip.

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The coffin has been dressed with a specially designed pall, a crown designed by historian John Ashdown-Hill and a bible printed in Richard's lifetime.

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Officials from the university are formally handing over custody of the coffin to the cathedral.

Guests, including the current Duke of Gloucester, are awaiting its arrival inside.

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The cortege has arrived at St Martin's Place outside the cathedral, passing a statue of Richard.

The bell is tolling and the two knights have taken up position either side of the building's entrance.

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Watch this Vine by East Midlands Today of Richard III's cortège passing Leicester's clock tower.

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Here you can see the detail on the king's coffin, which is strewn with white roses thrown by onlookers. Best to ignore the horse poo.

Some amazing shots now coming through of the cortege weaving its way through the crowds in Leicester.

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People have variously described the atmosphere as "respectful" and "thoughtful".

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This couple, however, are having a great time making a royal progress through the city.

The county council have said they estimate more than 35,000 people have lined 22-mile route along the streets of Leicester and Leicestershire.

Council leader Nick Rushton said: "I felt enormous pride to join thousands of people from across Leicestershire in marking this historic occasion and giving the King a dignified return to the battlefield."

Many people are showing their respect for Richard by throwing white roses.

Very sweet but it appears to be upsetting the police horses.

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The coffin is making its way to the cathedral for a service of Compline.

In case you were wondering, Compline "derives its name from a Latin word meaning 'completion' (completorium). It is above all a service of quietness and reflection before rest at the end of the day."

BBC Leicester tweets: RT @jlampon: #richardreburied travels down #Leicester High Street

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The coffin has left St Nicholas church in a horse-drawn carriage and, accompanied by police, has started a tour of the city.

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Here you can see Richard's coffin entering the church.

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A ceremony was held after the coffin arrived at St Nicholas Church in Leicester - the oldest in the city.

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Prayers were said for "forgiveness and humility in the face of our own mortality".

BBC Leicester tweets: Crowds of thousands waiting for the arrival of King Richard at Leicester Cathedral #RichardReburied

The Leicester Mercury has been compiling a list of the best Richard-related tweets of the day so far. See them here.

The cortege is going towards St Nicholas Church - the oldest left in Leicester.

Here the coffin will be taken off the hearse for a short service and then transferred to a horse drawn carriage.

BBC Leicester tweets: The mayor, lord mayor and guild of freemen are welcoming the remains at the medieval city boundary.

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The BBC's Namrata Varia snapped this pic of the king's hearse on Bow Bridge.

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Tom Brown tweets: He's here! #RichardReburied

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The cortege carrying the coffin of Richard III is moments away from Bow Bridge.

It plays a large part in the story of his death as Richard marched out to battle across it but was carried back as a corpse the same way.

The original bridge was removed in 1861 but the Victorian replacement is decorated with Yorkist white roses.

Large crowds at Desford, which is only 10 minutes from Bow Bridge, the traditional edge of Leicester.

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BBC Leicester tweets: Families waiting in #Desford for the former King to arrive. White roses line the route. #RichardReburied

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The cortege has passed through the village of Newbold Verdon, with residents turning out in force.

While there are no recorded links with Richard III, it is likely one or more of the armies from Bosworth passed through this area

Many people have travelled to Leicester for the occasion - from places like Germany, Australia and America.

Catherine Ollerhead-De-Santis, who is vice-chairman of the Richard the Third Society of Canada said: "It's not so much the man - it's that period in history when everything starts to shift and change and it is like balancing on the head of a pin.

"After 1485 things start to shift quite rapidly and you almost get a genesis of the modern period."

Bosworth Battlefield tweets: The procession has started in Market Bosworth

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BBC East Midlands Today reporter Tom Brown has posted this Vine of school children arriving with their banners, ready to accompany the cortege.

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Using the remains of the king found in a Leicester car park, experts reconstructed what Richard III's face might have looked like.

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A portrait in the Society of Antiquaries in London is one of the earliest and believed to be the best likeness but fresh investigations of his DNA revealed he may have been blond and blue eyed.

The Hinckley Times tweets: Richard III procession is heading towards Market Bosworth

For anyone wanting to enjoy the spectacle of Richard III's cortege when it arrives in Leicester, the best vantage points are said to be on the High Street, Gallowtree Gate or outside the Curve Theatre.

Leicester City Council has also erected big screens by the Clock Tower and Jubilee Square.

BBC Leicester's Jim Davis tweets: The Battlefield Flame is lit #richardreburied @BBCLeicester #BosworthBattlefield

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Following a minute's silence, re-enactors gave a 21-gun salute with replica cannon.

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This helicopter shot shows the crowds at Bosworth shortly before the arrival of the king's coffin.

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Re-enactors with flaming torches and standards earlier formed an honour guard at Bosworth as the cortege arrived

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The Rt Rev Tim Stevens, Bishop of Leicester, is leading a service at Bosworth battlefield.

He said: "Richard was carried from this field to Leicester as a defeated man.

"Today 530 years later we have an opportunity to allow Richard to take that journey again but this time with the dignity which befits a king."

Army cadets are pulling Richard's coffin on a small carriage towards Ambion Hill where the Bosworth visitor centre is sited.

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Cortege is approaching Bosworth, where the former king will be honoured with a 21-cannon salute

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All 2,500 tickets for the ceremony at Bosworth Battlefield Centre sold out with days.

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Now the crowds, along with re enactors are waiting for the cortege to arrive.

Sutton Cheney, where Richard may have had his last mass, was the latest stop in the procession.

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Revd Julia Hargreaves led crowds in a service of remembrance and respect.

The cortege is now on its way to Sutton Cheney, but this photo gives you an idea of the reception in Dadlington earlier.

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Nisha Chopra tweets: #richardreburied cortege has now left #Dadlington after service

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The reburial of Richard III hasn't been without its controversy. Some believe York is a more appropriate location, as he spent his childhood and much of his adult life in the north.

Tim Parker tweets: Shaun Dixon from Kirkstall, Leeds makes his feelings known about today #RichardReburied

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Crowds, choir and applause as Richard's cortege leaves Dadlington.

BBC reporters at the scene say up to 5,000 turned out to see the coffin.

Nikki NB Miner Bill tweets some great photos of the cortege with some heavyweight friends

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BBC Leicester tweets: The cortege has arrived in Dadlington, and has been greeted by the clergy. #RichardReburied

Soil from three places: Fotheringhay, where Richard was born, Middleham, where he spent much of his childhood and Fenn Lane Farm, where he probably died, is being placed in a specially designed casket.

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The earth will be scattered into the tomb during the reinterment ceremony.

Softly spoken and bespectacled, Michael Ibsen is a far cry from the last king of England to die in battle.

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But the Canadian-born cabinet-maker from Paddington held the key to unlocking the mystery of where Richard III was buried after the Battle of Bosworth.

BBC Leicester tweets: The cortege has left for Dadlington - it's believed those that died during battle are buried here. #RichardReburied

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Bosworth Battlefield tweets: The service at Fenn Lane Farm where guests are paying their respects to KRIII #RichardReburied

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......Just in case you ever find another one, here is a guide.

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Bosworth Battlefield tweets: The private service will shortly be starting at Fenn Lane Farm #RichardReburied

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BBC Leicester tweets: Bosworth Battlefield awaits the return of Richard III #RichardReburied

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The Hinckley Times tweets: We have a reporter on the scene at Fenn Lane Farm.

Items which possibly belonged to Richard's bodyguard, perhaps lost when the king made his last stand, were found at Fenn Lane farm - the official starting point for the funeral cortege.

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Owner of the land, farmer Alf Oliver, said; "It has always been part of the family story that Richard died here and when the body was found it was an amazing link".

Insp Ben Gillard tweets: Security past and present! Sgt Cross feeling medieval at Bosworth Battlefield Centre #richardreburied

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Spoof website Richard III tweets: Early cortège observations : There's a lot of fried chicken shops in Leicester aren't there #dickysdodgytour

See the moment descendants of Richard III's family placed white roses on his coffin.

They included Michael Ibsen, who has a direct maternal line to the king, and whose DNA helped scientists confirm the identity of the remains.

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Mr Ibsen, a carpenter, also made the coffin - from English oak.

Since skeletal remains found under a Leicester car park were confirmed as King Richard III, the Leicester Mercury has published about 200 articles.

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It has now produced a nifty online interactive timeline of its stories providing a handy guide to the unfolding story.

Ian Vears, Highways Manager for Leicestershire County Council, said: "We have handed out 27,000 leaflets, there have been signs up for weeks and we have had lots of discussions with parish councils.

"If you are not coming to one of the events, then I would avoid the Market Bosworth, Sutton Cheney, Dadlington areas and in particular the A47 into the city until at least 5 or 6 in the evening."

University of Leicester Alumni tweets: King #RichardIII leaves the @uniofleicester #richardreburied

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BBC Leicester tweets: The coffin has been placed onto the hearse, ahead of the final journey. Will you be on the route? #RichardReburied

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Archaeologists, academics, researchers and descendants of Richard III's family have placed white roses on the coffin.

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Here three relatives of his family, included Michael Ibsen who built the coffin, place their flowers

Have a look at East Midlands Today's Vine of Richard III's coffin emerging from Leicester Uni #RichardReburied

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If you're heading out and about today but want to stay up to date with Richard III's cortege why not sign up to our WhatsApp service?

To get text, photo and video updates direct to your phone add 'BBC Richard III' to your phone contacts - 07935 237 178 and send 'King' via WhatsApp to that number. That's it.

The Leicester Mercury tweets: #RichardIII reinterment - 'an important moment in #Leicester's history' or too expensive?

The coffin of Richard III has been brought out of the University of Leicester.

There will be a short service before the hearse heads out to Bosworth.

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BBC's Marie Ashby tweets: These are two of the men who will be carrying the #RichIII @uniofleicester @bbcemt #richardreburied

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County Heritage Officer Richard McKinder says: "We certainly have had interest from across the world, it's an international event.

"For someone who died 530 years ago and wasn't on the throne for that long, he has a world following."

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Richard III's cortege will pass several key points on its journey today. Here's a handy interactive guide on how some of these places relate to his story.

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The BBC's Victoria Hicks tweets: The hearse and the public arriving to see Richard III's coffin as it emerges from @Uni ofleicester #RichardReburied.

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This is the doorway at the University of Leicester from which the coffin will be seen in public for the first time at about 10:50 GMT.

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After a short ceremony it will then be taken to Bosworth battlefield where the procession will officially begin.

Leicester cathedral has held its morning service marking the beginning of a historic week for the city.

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The service was led by the Dean of Leicester, The Very Rev David Monteith, who said: "[Richard's] story speaks to us from the past but also, with conflict still present across the world, draws in the present."

Scrubbed clean and currently very quiet. Leicester prepares for its big day...

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"We are expecting a dry day with patchy cloud and light wind. A high of 9C, that's 48F" More details here.

If you're hoping to head into Leicester to watch the cortege yourself, keep an eye on road closures.

The city council is imposing rolling closures, parking restrictions and some diversions along the route of the cortege. For up-to-the-minute information visit BBC Travel.

At daybreak re-enactment group Conflict 1485: Bosworth held a vigil at Bosworth battlefield to mark the beginning of a unique day.

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Good morning and welcome to the live page bringing you coverage from Richard III's last journey from the University of Leicester to the city's cathedral where he will be reburied.

We will have all the news, analysis, pictures and video as his cortege makes its way through Leicester, past key sites from his final days as the last Plantagenet king.