Hundreds of thousands are seen lining the streets during the procession led by King Charles III, in an attempt to bid farewell to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
The image appears to show a beam of light shining from the heavens in a straight line with the black hearse in which the Queen’s coffin was carried.
The photo was taken as part of a procession led by Charles III with his three brothers, which saw a lone piper from Balmoral mourn as Her Majesty was carried from the Palace of Holyroodhouse where she lay in repose.
As the national anthem played, the coffin was gently lowered into the hearse, watched by a visibly moved King Charles and his siblings Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, who then mournfully marched for 1,200 yards behind their beloved mother.
The symbolic moment is the second in a series of signs following the announcement of Her Majesty’s death, the first coming in the form of a double rainbow over Buckingham Palace along with another rainbow at Windsor Castle.
One twitter user said: “The rainbow at Windsor Castle made me cry. The rainbow queen sent us a sign.’
Another said: “A rainbow is breaking out as the Union Jack has been lowered to half mast in Windsor tonight. Remarkable picture. Goodbye, madam.
Others took it as a sign that the Queen had “truly left us” as rainbows appeared a bit as the news of the monarch’s death was announced.
A unique ray of sunshine from the heavens was captured on camera shining on Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin during a procession to St. Giles in Edinburgh
The symbolic moment is the second in a series of signs following the announcement of Her Majesty’s death, the first coming in the form of a double rainbow over Buckingham Palace (pictured)
Another rainbow was also recorded at Windsor Castle. The Queen’s death will send Britain and its Commonwealth realms into a ten-day period of mourning as millions of her subjects in the UK and abroad come to terms with her death
During the procession, the Duke of York did not wear military uniform like his brothers, after Her Majesty stripped him of his titles due to the Epstein scandal. He was briefly detained during the procession and Police Scotland said a 22-year-old man was arrested.
Pictured, hundreds of thousands lined the streets and applauded as the Queen was carried into the cathedral, where her family, and a congregation from all walks of Scottish society, attended a service of thanksgiving for her life.
The Queen’s coffin was draped in the Royal Standard in Scotland and draped in a wreath of flowers consisting of white spray roses, white freesias, white button chrysanthemums, dried Balmoral white heather, spray eryngium, foliage, rosemary, hebe and pittosporum.
The bagpipes played the National Anthem from the Palace of Holyrood as the Queen’s coffin started down the Royal Mile. The hearse was flanked by a Bearer Party formed by the Royal Regiment of Scotland and The King’s Body Guard for Scotland. Mounted police in ceremonial dress rode ahead of the parade.
King Charles walked solemnly down the aisle with his brothers and sister behind the Queen. The assembled well-wishers fell silent as the hearse appeared. The crowd then broke into spontaneous applause as the cortege approached and many chanted God Save the King and God Save the Queen.
About 30 minutes later the Queen arrived at St Giles’ Cathedral where the Crown of Scotland was placed on the coffin. After the service, members of the public will be able to apply to pay their respects for 24 hours before Her Majesty is flown to London.
Earlier, the King was met by well-wishers who lined the streets of Edinburgh to see him on an unscheduled walk today as the Scottish capital welcomed the new monarch and mourned the Queen – with so many people turning up that police had to turn many away .
The Queen’s children followed by the Princess Royal’s husband, Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence (centre left)
Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward line up to follow the hearse carrying their mother on her final journey
King Charles looks on mournfully as he watches the coffin move on its journey to St Giles Kirk
King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward walk behind the cortege carrying Queen Elizabeth II
Huge crowds lined the streets of Edinburgh to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II
King Charles III (L), Britain’s Princess Anne, The Princess Royal (2L), Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Britain’s Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex walk behind the coffin procession of Queen Elizabeth II ‘, from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral, on the Royal Mile
The city was full of people desperate to catch a glimpse of the Queen and her family
The motorcade carrying Queen Elizabeth II from the Palace of Holyroodhouse arrives at St Giles’ Cathedral
King Charles III and members of the Royal Family take part in the procession of Queen Elizabeth’s coffin from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles’ Cathedral,
People gather to pay their respects as the pallbearer of the late Queen Elizabeth II passes by
Huge crowds turned out to see the Queen for the last time in Scotland before she is flown to London tomorrow
The procession travels through the Scottish capital today
King Charles travels in a motorcade to Holyrood to return the Queen’s coffin to St Giles Cathedral, where the Princes’ Vigil will be held
There were cheers and applause as the limousine drove through the Scottish capital
Members of the public watch the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, dressed in the Royal Standard of Scotland, as it is driven into Edinburgh yesterday
People gathered in Edinburgh to pay their respects to Her Majesty as her entourage passed through the Scottish capital yesterday
Hundreds of thousands took part in the march – with Police Scotland forced to stop letting people into city centers
King Charles, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex walk behind Queen Elizabeth’s coffin procession
Huge crowds turned out to watch the procession in the Scottish capital this afternoon
The procession of the coffin of Britain’s late Queen Elizabeth II from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St. Giles’ Cathedral accompanied by members of the royal family
The coffin traveled from the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the sovereign’s official home in Edinburgh, to St Giles’ Cathedral, where a service of thanksgiving for the late monarch’s life was held before the public paid their respects
The coffin was lifted from the hearse and carried to the place of worship, with the King, the Queen Consort, the Princess Royal, her husband Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of York, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex walking behind.
As the coffin passed through the cathedral, the choir sang Thou Wilt Keep Him In Perfect Peace, Whose Mind Is Stayed On Thee.
The Queen’s coffin was placed in a wooden shelter as the church continued to stand.
The king, queen consort and other members of the royal family then walked to their seats beside the coffin.
The king has his wife on his left and the Duke of York on his right.
Crowds gather to watch the procession of Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles’ Cathedral
Dressed in the Royal Standard of Scotland and a wreath of Balmoral flowers, the Queen’s coffin was placed at the head of the church and given the honor of having the Crown of Scotland placed on top
The Queen Consort and the Countess of Wessex followed in a car, but the new Prince of Wales and his brother Harry did not join the procession
A hush descended on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile as crowds 10 deep got their first glimpse of the procession which included the coffin party – soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Scotland – flanked by the hearse and they in turn flanked by the King’s Guard for Scotland
The silence was broken at one point by a woman who shouted “God bless the Queen” several times and many in the audience held up camera phones to capture the historic moment
All in the procession walked in step, moving from side to side as one, within striking distance of the coffin draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland with a wreath of Balmoral flowers on top
The coffin traveled from the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the sovereign’s official home in Edinburgh, to St Giles’ Cathedral, where a service of thanksgiving for the late monarch’s life was held before the public paid their respects
People gather in tribute as the hearse carrying the coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II passes by this afternoon
Dressed in the Royal Standard of Scotland and a wreath of Balmoral flowers, the Queen’s coffin was placed at the head of the church and given the honor of having the Crown of Scotland placed on top
The Queen Consort and the Countess of Wessex followed in a car, but the new Prince of Wales and his brother Harry did not join the procession
This morning, the new king quoted Shakespeare as he responded to official condolences from MPs and colleagues, spoke movingly of tributes to his mother and described the “weight of history” as he stood inside the historic hall
The motorcade carrying Queen Elizabeth II from the Palace of Holyroodhouse arrives at St Giles’ Cathedral
Crowds gathered in Edinburgh…
