Crowds line Edinburgh streets for Queen processionon September 12, 2022 at 2:34 pm

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

The Queen’s children, led by King Charles III, walk behind their mother’s coffin on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.

King Charles and the Queen Consort with Edinburgh's Lord Provost, Robert Aldridge, at the Palace of HolyroodhouseImage source, PA Media

King Charles III has arrived in Edinburgh to take part in a series of events as Scotland says its final farewell to the Queen.

There was applause as the King and the Queen Consort greeted crowds outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

The monarch spent time meeting members of the public and shaking their hands, and also received gifts of flowers.

He and other members of the Royal Family will follow the Queen’s coffin in a procession along the Royal Mile.

They will then take part in a service of remembrance for the Queen at St Giles’ Cathedral.

She will lie at rest 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.

Thousands of people are expected to line the streets during the procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to the cathedral on Monday afternoon.

A series of roads have been closed in the area and a number of schools and nurseries along the route will close at noon.Crowds build ahead of historic day in Edinburgh

The Queen’s coffin made the 175-mile journey from Balmoral to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh on Sunday.

graphic

The King – who earlier addressed both Houses of Parliament – and the Queen Consort flew to Edinburgh on Monday, arriving shortly before 12:30.

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

King Charles then took part in the ancient Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, 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 inspects an honour guard at the Palace of Holyroodhouse

Image source, Reuters

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

In the afternoon he will join the procession to the cathedral, which will host a service celebrating the Queen’s life and her connection to Scotland.

City of Edinburgh Council has warned there will be limited space on the Royal Mile to view the procession, and that those wanting to attend should arrive in plenty of time.

Guns will be fired every minute, with the final round of shots being fired as the hearse stops outside the cathedral.

2px presentational grey line
People waiting near St Giles' Cathedral

Image source, Reuters

The key times for events on Monday are:

  • 10:00 – The King will attend a Motion of Condolence at the Houses of Parliament in London before travelling to Edinburgh
  • 13:00 – The King takes part in the Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse
  • 14:25 – The Queen’s coffin will be taken along the Royal Mile to St Giles’ Cathedral
  • 15:00 – Service at St Giles’ Cathedral celebrating the life of the Queen and her connection to Scotland
  • 16:00 – The Queen will lie at rest at St Giles’ Cathedral for 24 hours, allowing members of the public to pay their respects
  • 17:30 – A motion of condolence, attended by the King, will be heard in the chamber of the Scottish Parliament. The King will respond.
  • 17:30 – Mourners will start filing past the Queen’s coffin at St Giles’ Cathedral
  • 19: 20 – The King and the Queen’s children will post a vigil around the coffin at St Giles’ Cathedral
2px presentational grey line

The service, led by the Rev Calum MacLeod, will be attended by members of the public, friends, family members and representatives from the charities and organisations the Queen was affiliated to in Scotland.

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

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

King Charles in Edinburgh

Image source, Getty Images

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

The queue will start at George Square Lane/North Meadow Walk in The Meadows, where wristbands will be 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.

crowds in Edinburgh

Image source, Reuters

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.

HM Queen Elizabeth II 640x55
HM Queen Elizabeth II black line
Banner saying 'Get in touch'

What are your memories of the Queen? Share your tributes and reflections by emailing yourqueen@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

If you are reading this page and can’t see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at yourqueen@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.

line
- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

Priti Patel faces legal threat over Ukraine visa delayson May 3, 2022 at 1:32 pm

Britons hoping to host Ukrainian refugees say they are preparing legal action against the Home Office.Image source, PA MediaHome Secretary Priti Patel faces the...

Laura Kuenssberg challenges PM over new restrictionson December 8, 2021 at 6:51 pm

Amid the fallout from the Christmas party row, Boris Johnson is asked how he can tell people they must now follow new instructions.

Sir Richard Sutton: Man charged with murderon April 11, 2021 at 1:32 am

Thomas Schreiber is charged with murder, attempted murder and dangerous driving.Thomas Schreiber is charged with murder, attempted murder and dangerous driving.

King Charles: Man arrested after reports egg thrown in monarch’s directionon December 6, 2022 at 3:23 pm

The alleged incident happened while the monarch was on a walkabout during a visit to Luton.Image source, PA MediaA man has been arrested on...

It’s snow joke: 11-month-old hits the slopeson November 21, 2021 at 12:02 pm

Snowboarding baby, Wang Yuji, goes viral in China and others stories you may have missed this week.