Queen’s coffin in Edinburgh as thousands pay respects
EDINBURGH: Thousands of mourners thronged the route for the final journey of Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday as her coffin arrived in Edinburgh from the Scotish retreat where she died.
Huge crowds packed the streets of Scotland’s capital as the hearse bearing Britain’s longestserving monarch completed the first leg of a sombre odyssey that will culminate with her state funeral in London on September 19.
Soldiers in kilts stood to a tent ion as the seven-car cortege arrived at Holyroodhouse palace ater a six-hour drive from the Queen’s Balmoral residence where she passed away on Thursday, aged 96.
Some of the well-wishers along the way had thrown flowers or applauded, while others were in tears as the convoy including the Queen’s only daughter Princess Anne went by.
“It is history, history in the making. We lived so long with the Queen — 70 years,” said former soldier Stuart Mackay.
“It’s the only Monarch we’ve known and I think it’s my duty to be here to wave her goodbye.”
The Queen’s coffin will rest in Holyroodhouse Palace, the monarch’s official residence in Scotland, for a day before being moved to St Giles’ cathedral for the public to pay their respects.
Her son Charles III -- formally proclaimed monarch on Saturday — will travel to Edinburgh on Monday for a prayer service and to mount a vigil by her coffin along with other members of the royal family.
The body of the Queen will be flown to London the day ater to lie in state for four days, which is expected to draw at least a million people, ahead of a funeral set to be watched worldwide and attended by numerous heads of state.
The symbolism of the Queen’s last journey will be heavy for Scotland — a nation with deep royal links, but where there is also a strong independence movement intent on severing the centuries-old union with the United Kingdom.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wrote on Twiter that it was a “sad and poignant moment” to see the Queen leave her cherished Balmoral refuge for the final time.
Charles — also declared monarch in Scotland at a pomp-filled ceremony on Sunday — and other royals will on Monday take part in a procession to convey her coffin along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile to St Giles’ Cathedral.
The following day the coffin will be flown by Royal Air Force jet to Northolt airfield near London, and driven to Buckingham Palace. Then, on Wednesday, it will be moved to Westminster Hall to lie in state.
King Charles will also visit Northern Ireland and Wales in a show of national unity.
The new monarch will be joined at memorial services by British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who was only appointed by the late Queen on Tuesday.
DUBAI: Dubai residents offered their condolences on the death of Queen Elizabeth II by placing flowers next to a her statue at Queen Elizabeth 2 floating hotel.
Mourners queued to write leters of condolence, while others laid flowers and cards.
“We felt it was a fiting memorial for us to thank her for her 70 years of dedicated service to the country,” said Jim Hengensom, a resident of the emirate.
“I think it will always be there, and it will take some time to accept the fact that it is no longer there.”
“It’s a real shock,” said Jonathan Wallace. “It wasn’t just an inspiration to the UK; But for the whole world. We are sad and thought we should give our last salutations.”
Photos and videos showed British citizens placing flowers under the bust of Queen Elizabeth II during a memorial for the Queen at the British Consulate in Dubai.
With a trumpet fanfare and a cannon salute, Charles III was officially proclaimed king in a lavish ceremony on Saturday, in which he pledged to emulate his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and serve for the rest of his life.
Charles, 73, automatically became monarch upon the Queen’s death on Thursday, but the centuries-old constitutional formality — broadcast live for the first time — is the last stage of the 10-day programme he is preparing for his state funeral.
Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-serving monarch and symbol of the nation for seven decades, died peacefully at her home in Scotland on Thursday at the age of 96.
In Britian, Churchgoers gave thanks for the 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II at services as the country comes to terms with the death of the deeply religious monarch.
At the 800-year-old Anglican Southwark Cathedral in central London, the pews were busy for a mass in her honour as worshippers paid homage to the Queen. “Today is a time of national sorrow,” said Bishop Christopher Chessun at the start of the service.
“It was possible not to have met the Queen and to feel that we knew the Queen.”
Pious Elizabeth, who took her role as head of the Church of England profoundly seriously, had come to the cathedral on numerous occasions.
A statue marks her visit for her diamond jubilee in 2012. “We are experiencing a great sadness, but she is now at rest,” the bishop told reporters.