Queen Elizabeth II's cortege has arrived in Edinburgh following a six-hour journey from Balmoral.
Crowds line the Royal Mile as the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is driven through Edinburgh towards the Palace of Holyroodhouse, 11 September 2022. Photo: AFP
Mourners lined the streets as the hearse travelled from Aberdeenshire to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where her coffin will rest overnight.
A respectful silence fell as people waited for the procession to pass by before they burst into polite applause and cheers.
Crowds have also gathered to hear King Charles III proclaimed across the UK.
He will travel up to Scotland on Monday and will be joined by members of the Royal Family as he accompanies his mother's coffin to the cathedral in the Scottish city.
The Queen's cortege left her home at Balmoral at around 10am, winding through Aberdeen and Dundee among other villages and towns, on its way to Edinburgh.
Her coffin will lie under vigil in Edinburgh's St Giles' Cathedral on Monday before heading to London ahead of her funeral on Monday 19 September.
In Ballater, Aberdeenshire, near Balmoral, flowers were thrown into the road ahead of the cortege by mourners.
Down the road in Aboyne, pipes played as a hush fell over the village and the procession passed by, with one voice saying "you're on your way now".
Pallbearers carry the coffin of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, covered with the Royal Standard of Scotland, at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, 11 September 2022 Photo: AFP
As it drove through Edinburgh city centre, some six hours later, silence fell before there was applause from the crowd that had gathered there.
Hundreds of people lined Edinburgh's Royal Mile, waiting sombrely to pay their respects.
The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, travelled in the second car of the cortege on the 175-mile journey, accompanied by her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
She curtsied as her mother's coffin was carried into Holyroodhouse - the monarch's official residence in Scotland - where it will lie at rest in the throne room.
From left, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Prince Andrew, Princess Anne, Princess Sophie and Prince Edward await the arrival of the hearse carrying the coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II, at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, in Edinburgh. Photo: AFP
The Duke of York and Duke and Duchess of Wessex, who were there to receive the coffin, also bowed and curtsied respectively, alongside palace staff.
The country is in a period of national mourning until after the Queen's funeral next Monday.
A series of constitutional and ceremonial events will take place over the coming days following her death aged 96 on Thursday.
Earlier at the start of the journey, six gamekeepers from her Balmoral estate placed the Queen's oak coffin into a hearse before she left Balmoral, her beloved private Scottish estate, for the final time.
Members of the public gather by a makeshift memorial to pay respects as they wait for the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II to pass through Ballater. Photo: AFP
The wreath on top of the coffin featured some of the Queen's favourite flowers, all cut from the estate - white heather, dahlias and sweet peas, phlox and pine fir.
When the cortege reached Ballater, Aberdeenshire - the closest village to Balmoral - flowers were thrown in the road by mourners, many of whom regard the Queen and the Royal Family as neighbours.
The coffin will remain under continuous vigil for 24 hours at St Giles' Cathedral, with the public able to pay their respects.
A service will be held at the cathedral in the evening.
The following day, Princess Anne will accompany her mother's coffin as it travels by plane from Edinburgh Airport back to Buckingham Palace, via RAF Northolt in north-west London.
Meanwhile, in Windsor, thousands gathered in the town to pay tribute to the Queen.
Roads were closed, as floral tributes and cards continued to be placed outside the castle gates.
And in Green Park, near Buckingham Palace, thousands more floral tributes were placed in memory of the Queen.
Thousands of floral tributes were laid in Green Park, near Buckingham Palace, in memory of the Queen. Photo: AFP / SEBASTIEN BOZON
The King was cheered by hundreds of well-wishers as he travelled to Buckingham Palace from nearby Clarence House to carry out audiences with representatives of the Commonwealth.
There he met with the Commonwealth Secretary General Baroness Scotland - who publicly represents the association of 56 countries with historical ties to the UK.
Later, the King hosted a reception for High Commissioners - ambassadors - from the 14 Commonwealth realms where he is also head of state, before meeting with the Dean of Windsor.
On Monday afternoon local time, the coffin will proceed from Holyroodhouse to St Giles' Cathedral, accompanied by the King and other members of the Royal Family. The coffin will remain under continuous vigil for 24 hours, with the public able to pay their respects.
A service will be held at the cathedral in the evening.
The following day, Princess Anne will accompany her mother's coffin as it travels from Edinburgh Airport back to Buckingham Palace via RAF Northolt.
Elizabeth's state funeral will be held at London's Westminster Abbey on 19 September, which will be a public holiday in Britain, officials announced.
Before that, her coffin will be flown to London and there will be a sombre procession when it is later moved from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where it will lie in state for four days.
- BBC / Reuters
