Queen Elizabeth began her final trip to Scotland on Sunday, with tens of thousands of well-wishers lining the streets in towns and villages along the route from Balmoral Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. The Queen’s hearse began the journey on Sunday morning, following a route of more than 300 kilometers to Edinburgh. In the tiny village of Ballater, crowds stood in complete silence as her hearse passed. The village is also home to Balmoral Castle, where the Queen is said to have been happiest and where she spent her summers. She died in Scotland on Thursday, aged 96, after 70 years on the throne. There has since been a huge outpouring of grief from the public, with thousands of bouquets, cards and other tokens left at palaces across Great Britain and at British high commissions around the world. Her oak coffin was carried in a glass-walled hearse by six gamekeepers. Amidst all the pomp and pageantry, this humble gesture brought Diane Mitchell to tears. “I think it’s really, really touching because this is the working man he’s known for probably decades,” she said. It speaks to the Queen’s connection with ordinary people, he said. “You knew her, she didn’t know you,” said Mrs. Mitchell. “She just had this bond that spanned generations and tribes and she just gave her life.” Ms Mitchell was one person among a steady stream of visitors arriving at Holyroodhouse over the weekend to pay their respects to the Queen. “She was someone’s mum, Gran and Gan Gan,” she said, referring to what the Queen’s great-grandchildren called her. Analysis: In London, tale of two crowds on display as mourners honor beloved queen cast skeptical eyes on King Among the hundreds of bouquets outside the monarch’s official residence Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh were also toy corgis and Paddington bears. One of the bears was left with a jam sandwich in a plastic bag. Nearby a card read: “I have done my duty Paddington, please take me to my husband.” A Paddington Bear toy and jam sandwich are left among flowers and tributes outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse, following the death of Queen Elizabeth on Thursday, Saturday, September 10, 2022, in Edinburgh. Jane Barlow/The Associated Press Sunday’s procession marked the start of a three-day trip the Queen will make to London, where she will lie in state ahead of her funeral on September 19. Her coffin arrived in Edinburgh on Sunday afternoon, where it will first lie in state at Holyroodhouse before moving to St. Mary’s Cathedral. Giles on Monday to rest. King Charles and his queen consort, Camilla, will attend a service at the cathedral on Monday before it opens for public viewing. In Edinburgh, officials began closing roads on Saturday in preparation for the funeral procession that passed through the city on Sunday afternoon. Thousands of people gathered for hours along the city’s Royal Mile to catch a glimpse of the Queen’s coffin. A man waited while carrying his corgi puppy, many others held bouquets for Queen Elizabeth which were then left outside Holyroodhouse. “It just shows respect and shows the world what a wonderful person he was,” Ivy Cowan said. “There’s a good Scottish saying: We’ll never see the likes again.” A hush fell over the restrained crowd as a policeman on a motorcycle signaled the arrival of the Queen’s hearse. Hundreds of mobile phones were raised in the air as people viewed the coffin draped in the Scottish royal standard and a wreath of flowers recently picked from the Balmoral estate. A wave of applause followed her as the cortege passed out of sight. The response was a token of our “respect for all he has done over the years. And a thank you for everything he’s done for the country, for the people,” said Jo Osborne, who grew up in London and now lives in Edinburgh. “While she is the Queen and has given seventy years of service to our nation, she is still somebody’s mum and somebody’s nanny.” In a statement posted on social media, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described the start of the procession as a “sad and poignant moment”. “The Queen leaves her beloved Balmoral for the last time. Today, as she makes her journey to Edinburgh, Scotland will pay tribute to an extraordinary woman,” he said. As the Queen’s coffin made its way through the Scottish countryside on Sunday, King Charles III was officially proclaimed monarch in Scotland, the North Island and Wales. The ceremony followed his official announcement in London on Saturday. Britain’s King Charles heads to Buckingham Palace following the death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, in London, September 11, 2022. SARAH MEYSSONNIER/Reuters The Queen’s daughter, Princess Anne, accompanied her coffin on the six-hour journey to Edinburgh. On Monday, King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort, will arrive in Scotland for a service at St. Giles. The public will then be able to view the coffin before it is taken to London. The King will be at Buckingham Palace on Sunday for a series of meetings, including a reception for High Commissioners from Canada and other sectors. With reporting by Paul Waldie and Reuters. Queen Elizabeth was flown from Balmoral in the Scottish Highlands on Sunday morning (September 11) to rest in Edinburgh, giving the streets a first glimpse of her coffin. Reuters Our Morning Update and Afternoon Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.
