Queen Elizabeth II's coffin arrives in Edinburgh on solemn remaining journey | World News

Tens of 1000's of mourners lined the route of Queen Elizabeth II's funeral cortege on Sunday because it left the Scottish retreat the place she died, to bid farewell to their longest serving monarch.

The hearse carrying the 96-year-old's oak coffin, draped within the Royal Normal of Scotland, was pushed from the Balmoral property by way of Aberdeen and Dundee to the capital Edinburgh, the place the streets have been filled with well-wishers.

Some applauded, some cried, after which they fell silent because the coffin reached the Palace of Holyroodhouse, met by senior royals together with the queen's daughter Anne, who curtseyed because it was carried inside.

"It was a really huge sense of loss, however a way of closure as nicely while you noticed the coffin go previous," stated onlooker Lucy Hampshire, who got here from the northern English metropolis of York.

The queen died on Thursday after a record-breaking seven a long time on the throne, her son Charles instantly taking up as king of the UK and 14 different realms.

Her coffin will likely be held in a single day at Holyroodhouse -- the monarch's official residence in Scotland -- and on Monday, Charles III will lead it in procession to the close by St Giles' Cathedral.

Will probably be flown to London on Tuesday for 4 days of lying-in-state earlier than the funeral on September 19, an occasion anticipated to be attended by heads of state and watched by hundreds of thousands of viewers worldwide.

"It's historical past, historical past within the making. We lived so lengthy with the queen -- 70 years," stated former soldier Stuart Mackay as he watched the cortege arrive.

"It is the one monarch we have recognized and I feel it is my obligation to be right here to wave her goodbye."

- 'Poignant second' -

The symbolism of the queen's final journey will likely be heavy for Scotland -- a nation with deep royal hyperlinks, however the place there's additionally a powerful independence motion intent on severing the centuries-old union with the UK.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stated it was a "unhappy and poignant second" to see the queen depart her cherished Balmoral refuge for the ultimate time.

Charles -- formally proclaimed monarch at a pomp-filled ceremony on Saturday in London -- will participate in a household vigil on Monday night over the coffin at St Giles'.

He will even have his first viewers with Sturgeon, earlier than flying together with his spouse Camilla, Queen Consort, on Tuesday to Belfast.

A visit to Wales will comply with later within the week, finishing his tour of all 4 nations of the UK.

The brand new monarch will likely be joined at memorial companies by British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who was solely appointed by the late queen on Tuesday.

- William and Harry collectively -

Charles has seen his recognition get better for the reason that scandalous break up together with his much-loved first spouse Diana, Princess of Wales, and her dying in a 1997 Paris automobile crash.

However he takes the throne at a second of deep nervousness in Britain over the spiralling value of residing and worldwide instability attributable to the warfare in Ukraine.

Whereas Charles' accession has introduced on what newspapers have referred to as the brand new "Carolean" period, Britain and the royal household are nonetheless coming to phrases with the top of the Elizabethan age.

Prince William broke his silence on Saturday with an emotional tribute to his beloved "Grannie".

"She was by my facet at my happiest moments. And he or she was by my facet in the course of the saddest days of my life," stated William, who has now change into the Prince of Wales, inheritor to the throne.

However the queen's dying additionally introduced a shock present of unity from William, 40, and his youthful brother Harry, 37, after they emerged with their wives to talk to well-wishers outdoors Windsor Citadel.

The sight of the 2 couples, who've barely seen one another since 2020, collectively -- even when they separated to talk and shake arms with totally different sides of the cheering crowds -- will doubtless spark rumours of a reconciliation.

Footage of the 4 have been splashed on the entrance pages of Sunday's newspapers.

"Reunited for granny," learn the Sunday Mirror's headline, whereas the Telegraph ran with "Reunited in sorrow" and the Solar with "All 4 One".

The Sunday Instances focussed on the obvious frostiness, with the headline: "Warring Windsors' awkward truce to honour the Queen".

- 'Inspiring instance' -

Charles vowed on the formal Accession Council at St James's Palace on Saturday that he would "try to comply with the inspiring instance I've been set" by his mom throughout her "lifetime of service".

Hundreds of individuals have gathered outdoors Buckingham Palace and different royal residences in current days to put flowers and messages of condolence, or just to expertise historical past within the making.

However officers count on much more individuals to pay their respects whereas the queen lies in state at parliament's Westminster Corridor, earlier than the televised funeral service at Westminster Abbey reverse.

The funeral for the queen -- who got here to the throne aged simply 25 in 1952 -- will likely be attended by world leaders together with US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and presumably Japanese Emperor Naruhito.

China's President Xi Jinping, who just isn't anticipated to attend, stated he was keen to "develop pleasant exchanges and mutually useful cooperation" as he congratulated Charles on ascending to the throne.

Charles was formally named king in Australia and New Zealand -- former British colonies which were unbiased for many years however retain the monarchy -- in tandem ceremonies on Sunday.

He hosted his first reception Sunday for representatives of the Commonwealth realms, the 14 former colonies over which he reigns along with Britain.

With republican actions gaining floor from Australia to Antigua, one in every of his largest challenges will likely be hold collectively the worldwide household that mom so cherished.

The queen's document 70 years on the throne have been a continuing throughout a turbulent time for Britain, from a world of post-war deprivation and the lack of its empire, to newer upheavals like Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic.

Charles's coronation, an elaborate ritual steeped in custom and historical past, will happen in the identical historic environment of Westminster Abbey, because it has for hundreds of years, on a date to be fastened.