Crowds line Edinburgh streets for Queen procession


BBC | Published: September 12, 2022 21:13:25 | Updated: September 13, 2022 16:39:41


Britain's King Charles, Princesss Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward following the hearse carrying the coffin of Britain's Queen Elizabeth in Edinburgh on Monday –Reuters photo

Thousands of people watched in near-silence as the coffin of Britain’s late Queen made its journey up the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.

The Queen's children, led by new British King Charles III, walked behind the hearse as it drove from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles' Cathedral.

A service of remembrance is now being held in the cathedral.

The Queen will lie at rest in the cathedral until Tuesday afternoon, allowing members of the public to pay their last respects.

Preparations have been made to accommodate a queue that could stretch from the historic cathedral to the city's Meadows park, a distance of about three-quarters of a mile.

There was a respectful silence from the crowd, which was 10 deep in places, as the procession took place on Monday afternoon.

The quiet was punctuated by the echo of ceremonial gunshots which were fired from Edinburgh Castle every minute.

All four of the Queen's children - King Charles, Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward - walked behind the hearse, along with Princess Anne's husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

A car behind them carried Camilla, the Queen Consort, and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward's wife.

The King addressed both Houses of Parliament earlier on Monday, before he and the Queen Consort flew to Edinburgh.

He was welcomed on the tarmac by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack and Edinburgh's Lord Provost, Robert Aldridge.

They then travelled to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where there was applause as the King and the Queen Consort met members of the public.

The monarch spent time shaking hands and also received gifts of flowers.

King Charles then took part in the ancient Ceremony of the Keys, where he was handed the keys to the city by the lord provost.

In keeping with tradition, he handed them back, entrusting their safekeeping to the city's elected officials.

King Charles III also inspected a guard of honour from the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

He then led the procession to St Giles' Cathedral behind the Queen's coffin, which was draped with the Royal Standard in Scotland and dressed with a wreath of flowers.

The cathedral is now hosting a service celebrating the Queen's life and her connection to Scotland, led by the Rev Calum MacLeod.

It is being attended by members of the public, friends, family members and representatives from the charities and organisations the Queen was affiliated to in Scotland.

During the service, Ms Sturgeon read the first lesson Ecclesiastes 3: 1-15.

Karen Matheson, accompanied by Catriona McKay on harp, also sang Psalm 118: 17-21.

The other events taking place on Monday are:

The Queen will lie at rest at St Giles' Cathedral for 24 hours, allowing members of the public to pay their respects

A motion of condolence, attended by the King, will be heard in the chamber of the Scottish Parliament. The King will respond.

Mourners will start filing past the Queen's coffin at St Giles' Cathedral.

The King and the Queen's children will post a vigil around the coffin at St Giles' Cathedral.

Charles III will meet Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon before he attends Scottish Parliament to receive a motion of condolence.

While the Queen lies at rest at St Giles' Cathedral, her coffin will remain under continuous vigil for 24 hours, guarded by the Royal Company of Archers.

Mourners will be allowed to file past the coffin from 17:30 on Monday.

The queue starts at George Square Lane/North Meadow Walk in The Meadows, where wristbands are being issued for entry to the cathedral.

The public have been warned the queue is likely to involve standing for a number of hours.

Mourners are advised to bring their own food and drinks. Toilets will be available and visitors will be able to leave the queue briefly to use the facilities.

There will be airport-style security checks for entering St Giles' at George IV Bridge and certain restrictions will apply on mobile phones, with photography and recording not permitted.

The queue may close early to ensure as many visitors as possible can enter the cathedral before the lying-at-rest period ends.

The Royal Household has asked that floral tributes are left at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

On Tuesday, the Queen's coffin will be flown from Edinburgh Airport to Buckingham Palace.

From Thursday, the Queen will lie in state at Westminster Hall for four days. Her funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey on Monday, 19 September. 

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