As Queen Elizabeth’s coffin embarks on its final journey, some thousands of mourners have thronged the route for the final journey of Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday as her coffin had arrived in Edinburgh from the Scottish retreat where she had died.
Some huge crowds had also noticeably gathered along the streets of Scotland’s capital as the hearse which had been bearing Britain’s longest-serving monarch had also completed the first leg of a sombre odyssey that will culminate with her state funeral in London on September 19.
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Some of the well-wishers along the way had also thrown flowers or applauded, while some of the others were in tears as the convoy including the queen’s only daughter Princess Anne went by.
“It is history, history in the making. We lived so long with the queen — 70 years,” said former soldier Stuart Mackay.
“It’s the only Monarch we’ve known and I think it’s my duty to be here to wave her goodbye.”
The queen’s coffin will rest in Holyroodhouse Palace, the monarch’s official residence in Scotland, for a day before being moved to St Giles’ cathedral for the public to pay their respects.
Her son Charles III — formally proclaimed monarch on Saturday — will travel to Edinburgh on Monday for a prayer service and mount a vigil by her coffin along with other members of the royal family. The body of the queen will be flown to London the day after to lie in state for four days, which is expected to draw at least a million people, ahead of a funeral set to be watched worldwide and attended by numerous heads of state.
While Charles’ accession has pushed Britain into what newspapers have called the new “Carolean” era, Britain and the royal family are still coming to terms with the end of the Elizabethan age.
Prince William broke his silence with an emotional tribute to his beloved “Grannie” on Saturday.
“She was by my side at my happiest moments. And she was by my side during the saddest days of my life,” said William, who has now become the Prince of Wales.
But the queen’s death also brought a surprise show of unity from William, 40, and his younger brother Harry, 37, when they emerged with their wives to speak to well-wishers outside Windsor Castle.