Queen’s coffin arrives at Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh
Edinburgh: The oak casket carrying the late Queen has arrived at Palace of Holyroodhouse after a more than six-hour journey from Balmoral filled with emotional tributes from locals throughout the Scottish countryside.
Thousands of mourners lined streets in Scottish towns and cities, as the cortege made the 281km trip from the Queen’s favourite Highland retreat to the capital. Her daughter, Princess Anne, dropped a curtsy as her coffin was carried into the palace in Edinburgh where her mother had stayed only weeks before.
The cortege carrying the coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II passes St Giles’ Cathedral on its way to Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.Credit:Getty
The crown of Scotland will be placed on the coffin and for 24 hours from Monday afternoon Australian time people will be able to pay their respects —the first time members of the public will file past the coffin — while a vigil is maintained at St Giles’s Cathedral by the Royal Company of Archers.
From Aberdeen to Dundee and along the motorway verges around the River Forth, veterans, army cadets, school children and families stood quietly or applauded, clutching flowers and Union flags.
A group of Aberdeenshire farmers formed a guard of honour for the seven-car cortege carrying the oak casket, draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland, with their tractors and combine harvesters.
The farmers lined up on either side of the A93 as the procession made its way through the stunning countryside near Crathes at the start of the long journey.
Britain’s Princess Anne, Princess Royal watches as the hearse carrying the coffin of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II arrives at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.Credit:Getty
Down the road in Aboyne, pipes played as a hush fell over the village and the procession passed by, with mourners saying “You’re on your way now, Ma’am”. A respectful silence fell as people waited for the procession to pass by before they burst into polite applause and cheers.
Crowds had gathered earlier to hear Charles proclaimed the new king across the United Kingdom. He will travel to Scotland on Monday and will be joined by members of the Royal family as he accompanies his mother’s coffin to the cathedral in the Scottish city.
Proceedings in Edinburgh started at noon, with the reading of the proclamation declaring the new King, the same that was heard twice in London on Saturday. It was also read in Cardiff and at Hillsborough Castle near Belfast.
Near Edinburgh’s cathedral tempers started to fray a little as people jostled for position and climbed onto barriers and squeezed onto steps of shops to get a better view.
Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Britain’s Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Britain’s Prince Andrew, Duke of York look on as Britain’s Princess Anne, Princess Royal curtseys the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, as it arrives at Holyroodhouse.Credit:Getty
Police confirmed a woman was arrested in connection for breaching the peace moments before the proclamation after she held up a sign saying “f— imperialism, abolish monarchy”.
Officers appeared behind her and took her away, prompting the crowd to applaud. One man shouted: “Let her go, it’s free speech,” while others yelled: “Have some respect.”
The streets were packed a few hours later with mourners who entered into polite and subdued applause as the hearse, followed by her daughter, the Princess Royal and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, drove down the Royal Mile and filed through the city’s narrow streets about 4.30pm.
People threw single red roses, despite a plea from local authorities not to because of safety and security. The cortege received a guard of honour by the King’s Bodyguard for Scotland, the Royal Company of Archers, as it entered the palace. The coffin was received by Prince Andrew, and the Duke and Duchess of Wessex.
The King, who will begin a tour of the United Kingdon from Monday, attended a reception in London on Sunday with the high commissioners of the 14 Commonwealth realms, where he has become the head of state.
Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and the United Kingdom assembled in the Bow Room at Buckingham Palace.
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