Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin yesterday left the Scottish retreat where she died as the late monarch embarked on her final journey with thousands of her mourning subjects expected to line the route.
A hush fell over the gathered crowd as the cortege carrying the queen’s casket exited the gates of Balmoral Castle for Edinburgh at the start of an odyssey of mourning in the UK, culminating in her state funeral in London on Monday next week.
Six groundskeepers loaded the oak coffin — draped with a Scottish Royal Standard and a floral wreath — into the black hearse that was to wind its way slowly on a six-hour journey to Scotland’s capital.
Photo: AP
Security escort vehicles and a mauve Bentley carrying the queen’s only daughter, Princess Anne, made up the cortege passing through a series of towns before reaching Edinburgh, where it would rest for two days for people to pay tribute.
The first glimpse of her coffin for a grieving nation came a day after her son Charles III was formally proclaimed king, and after her grandsons princes William and Harry and their wives, Catherine and Meghan, briefly reunited for a walkabout.
The king is to travel to Edinburgh today for a prayer service, before the body of the queen, who died at Balmoral on Thursday at age 96, is flown to London tomorrow.
Photo: AFP
The UK’s longest-serving monarch would then lie in state for four days, which is expected to draw at least 1 million people, ahead of a funeral set to be watched worldwide and attended by numerous heads of state.
“It’s the end of an era, it’s quite a big moment for the country and the world,” said Nia Gray-Wannell, a scientist, who brought her two children to Balmoral to pay their respects. “It felt like it would be worth coming.”
While Charles’ accession has pushed the UK into what newspapers have called the new “Carolean” era, the UK 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.
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, near London.
The sight of the two couples, who have barely seen each other since 2020, together could likely spark rumors of a reconciliation.
Pictures of the four were splashed on the covers of yesterday’s newspapers.
“Reunited for granny,” read the Sunday Mirror’s headline, while the Telegraph ran with “Reunited in sorrow” and the Sun with “All 4 One.”
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