Edinburgh, Scotland, Sept 11 (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of mourners mourned, many in gloomy silence, as Queen Elizabeth’s coffin was transported to Edinburgh from her summer home in the Scottish Highlands on Sunday. , some people applaud, others cry
Shortly after 10am (0900GMT), a hearse carrying the oak coffin of Elizabeth, who died on Thursday at the age of 96, emerged from the gates of Balmoral Castle, embarking on a six-day journey to the Scottish capital. Hours of slow drive.
The coffin is hung with the Royal Standard of Scotland and features a wreath of flowers from Balmoral estate, including one of Elizabeth’s favourite sweet peas.
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Paying tribute to his mother on Friday, the new King Charles said she had embarked on a “last great journey” to join Prince Philip, who died last year at 73.
The entourage from Balmoral was the first in a series of events ahead of the state funeral at Westminster Abbey in London on September 9. 19.
Her death sparked tears, sadness and fervent mourning, not only from the Queen’s own close relatives and many in the UK, but from around the world – reflecting her seven-year presence on the world stage.
Hundreds of people stood silently on the side of the road in the bright morning sun as the hearse reached the small village of Ballater near Balmoral, some throwing flowers on the side of the road as the hearse passed.
Elizabeth Alexander, 69, who was born on the day the Queen was crowned in 1953, said: “It’s very, very sad. I’m very happy to be here to say goodbye.” Read more
Accompanied by the Queen’s daughter Princess Anne, the convoy traveled from a remote castle through picturesque countryside, villages and towns, passing an honor guard of dozens of tractors on the way.
It was due to arrive in Edinburgh around 4pm (1500GMT), where the coffin will be taken to the Throne Room at Holyrood Palace.
Eilidh Mackintosh, 62, said: “I couldn’t have missed this one. I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.” She left home at 6am to ensure a view of Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile, There are many people there. is partying.
“She has never let us down, and I don’t want to let her down. Now that she’s gone, there’s a big hole in the heart of this country.”
Thousands of people had gathered at the palace in the days after Elizabeth’s death, and as people came to pay their respects, huge piles of flowers had gathered.
“I know you, the whole country – I think I can say the whole world – sympathizes with the irreparable loss we have all suffered,” Charles said at Saturday’s ceremony.
Charles became king immediately after his mother’s death and was officially proclaimed the new monarch in a ceremony filled with pomp and centuries of tradition.read more
A hearse carrying Queen Elizabeth’s coffin leaves Balmoral Castle in Balmoral, Scotland, England, on September 11, 2022.Reuters/Phil Noble
Similar announcements were made in the UK and 14 other countries where Charles is now head of state, including Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.read more
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Parliament will be recalled on Thursday to allow lawmakers to pay their respects.read more
The queen came to the throne following the death of her father, King George VI, in February. On June 6, 1952, she was only 25 years old. Her coronation took place a year later.
Elizabeth’s death wasn’t entirely unexpected given her age and deteriorating health, but the news was still a shock.
“We all thought she was invincible,” her grandson Prince William, now heir to the throne, told a well-wisher as he met the crowd at Windsor Castle on Saturday.read more
funeral
Officials have announced that Elizabeth’s funeral will be a public holiday in the UK. U.S. President Joe Biden said he would be there, but full details of the event and attendees have not been released.
Before that, her coffin will be airlifted to London, followed by a solemn procession, before it is moved from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, where it will be left for four days.
“Needless to say, we can expect a large number of people,” a spokesman for Prime Minister Liz Truss told reporters.
Truss’ appointment as prime minister on Tuesday was the Queen’s last public move as he joins King Charles as the new head of state and prime minister, visiting four countries in the UK over the next few days.read more
Charles, 73, is now the 41st monarch, whose origins can be traced back to William the Conqueror, the Norman king who seized the English throne in 1066.
Elizabeth’s death brings to an end a difficult few years for the royal family.
The most high-profile issue concerns her grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, who resigned from royal life in 2020 to move to California, and both have harshly criticized the agency.
This alienated them from the rest of the family, and Harry and his older brother William are said to hardly get along. But the death of their grandmother put their differences aside and they appeared with their wives to meet the crowd outside Windsor Castle on Saturday.read more
A royal source said it was an important show of unity at a very difficult time for the family.
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Reporting by Michael Holden, William James and William Schomberg in London, Russell Cheyne in Balmoral, Lewis MacDonald and Marco Trujillo in Ballater, Andrew MacAskill in Edinburgh, Editing by Kate Holton, Mark Potter and Frances Kerry
Our Standard: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.