OWEN HUMPHREYS/AFP via Getty Members of Queen Elizabeth’s family stepped out for the first time since her death to see the many tributes in her honour. On Saturday, the Queen’s children, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, saw flowers and other tributes outside the gates of Balmoral Castle in Scotland, where the monarch died peacefully at the age of 96 on Thursday. They were joined by Anne’s husband, Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, and Edward’s wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex. Many of the Queen’s grandchildren – including Zara Tindall, Peter Phillips, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Lady Louise Windsor – were somber as they walked with their family from Crathie Kirk, where the group had attended a private prayer service. The two generations united before the assembled crowd and paused to spend time reading the cards hidden in the deluge of bouquets. Zara, Beatrice and Eugenie appeared in tears as they read tributes. At one point, Sophie bent down to get a closer look at the notes. RELATED: King Charles officially declared monarch in first televised ceremony Members of the royal family return from Crathie Kirk and view floral tributes following the death of Queen Elizabeth, in Balmoral, Scotland, Britain, September 10, 2022. September 10, 2022 Photo: Queen Elizabeth II dies at Balmoral. Day 3. Members of the Royal Family walk behind Crathie Kirk and examine floral tributes at the gates of Balmoral following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in Balmoral, Scotland, Britain, September 10, 2022. Photo Credit: Mirrorpix / MEGA TheMegaAgency.com + 1 888 505 6342 Mirrorpix / MEGA Thanking the public for their condolences, the Duke of York, 62, said: “We’ve been allowed one day, now we’re starting the process of handing it over,” according to Sky News. Not present were King Charles III, Queen Camilla and Prince William, who attended the Accession Council in London on Saturday to formally announce the new King. The ceremony took place at the State Apartments of St. James’s Palace in London at 10am local time — and in a historic first, the ceremony was televised. ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Edward, Earl of Wessex, Princess Anne, Princess Royal and Rear Admiral Timothy Lawrence look at floral tributes outside Crathie Kirk on September 10, 2022 in Aberdeen, United Kingdom. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in Bruton Street, Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926. She married Prince Philip in 1947 and ascended the throne of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth on 6 February 1952 after the death of her father, King George VI. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022 and was succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Jeff J Mitchell/Getty As William and Camilla watched, a council official read: “The Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland belongs solely and rightfully to Prince Charles Philip Arthur George.” “We… now with one voice and consent of tongue and heart publish and proclaim that Prince Charles Philip Arthur George is now our only lawful and rightful sovereign, Charles III, after the death of our late Sovereign of happy memory. .” The story continues RELATED: Queen Elizabeth Had ‘No Fear of Death’ and ‘Hope for the Future’, Archbishop of Canterbury Says ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Princess Eugenie of York and Princess Beatrice of York hold hands as they look at floral tributes outside Crathie Kirk on September 10, 2022 in Aberdeen, United Kingdom. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in Bruton Street, Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926. She married Prince Philip in 1947 and ascended the throne of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth on 6 February 1952 after the death of her father, King George VI. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022 and was succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Jeff J Mitchell/Getty The official finished with “God Save The King”, which was repeated by the 200 privy councillors, led by former prime ministers including Boris Johnson, Tony Blair, David Cameron and Gordon Brown. Although King Charles ascended immediately after the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth, the accession should not be confused with the official coronation. Charles’ coronation ceremony is not expected immediately and courtiers have not yet announced a date. The coronation for his mother took place 16 months after her accession on 6 February 1952, following the sudden death of her father, King George VI. Members of the royal family return from Crathie Kirk and view floral tributes following the death of Queen Elizabeth, in Balmoral, Scotland, Britain, September 10, 2022. September 10, 2022 Photo: The Countess of Wessex. Photo: WPA-Pool / MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342 WPA-Pool / MEGA Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for the free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! In announcements updated on the Buckingham Palace website on Friday, King Charles asked the public to observe a period of royal mourning, effective immediately and lasting up to a week after his mother’s funeral. Flags will be flown at half-mast over the royal residences, although this time around, and floral tributes, such as those seen at Balmoral, are left to rest at designated gates.
