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Thousands Pay Their Respects as Her Majesty’s Final Journey Begins (& Event Updates)

Thousands Pay Their Respects as Her Majesty’s Final Journey Begins (& Event Updates)

HM left her beloved Balmoral estate in Scotland this morning at 10:07 am.  The vehicle carrying her oak coffin led a seven-car procession on its way to Edinburgh.

More from the NY Times

…her coffin began its journey by being carried by six gamekeepers from the ballroom at the Balmoral estate, where the queen spent her summer vacations and for which she had a deep and long affection. The route took the hearse from Balmoral, via Aberdeen, Dundee and Perth, before the procession arrived after 4 p.m. at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

The coffin was covered with the Royal Standard of Scotland and a wreath made with flowers cut from the Balmoral gardens. The wreath includes Dahlias, Sweet Peas, Phlox, White Heather, and Pine Fir from the Balmoral Estate.

Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Tim Laurence, traveled with the coffin. The minister of Crathie Kirk and a representative of the Lord Chamberlain’s Office were also part of the convoy. The journey took about six hours, traveling more than 180 miles through Scotland. 

Along the route, people waited to see the cortége, many arriving early to ensure they had a good view. The Guardian reports, “In Ballater, the crowds had been gathering since before 7am…”. The gentleman you see below, Frank Groves, was in Ballater, the village closest to Balmoral.

For more about Mr. Groves, we return to The Guardian’s story

Sitting alone on a bench by Glenmuick parish church in the centre of the village, Frank Groves was dressed in a dark suit and tie and carrying a bouquet of creamy flowers bound with a black ribbon. The 70-year-old had driven from the fishing village of Cruden Bay on the north-east coast to Ballater, which he often visited with his wife, Jeanette, after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Inevitably, this collective grief sharpens his own loss from seven years before.

“From when I was born, the Queen was there; when I went to school, got married, and when my wife passed, she was there. She almost feels like a distant relative.”

Along the route in Ballater.

CTV News reports, “People turned out hours early to grab a space by the police barricades in Edinburgh. By afternoon, the crowds were 10 people deep.” Below, the procession is passing over the King George VI bridge in Aberdeen, a bridge is named after HM’s father.

From The Telegraph’s story

Thousands of mourners lined streets in Scottish towns and cities throughout Sunday, as the cortege made the six-hour trip from the Queen’s favourite Highland retreat to Edinburgh. 

From Aberdeen to Dundee and motorway verges around the River Forth, veterans, army cadets, school children and families stood quietly or applauded, clutching flowers and Union flags.

A view of the cortége as it passes over the Queensferry Crossing bridge; a bridge officially opened by HM in 2017.

In Edinburgh. 

More via this NY Times piece:

Local people, visitors and tourists thronged the city’s main streets under gray clouds to pay their respects to a monarch who had a deep affinity for Scotland. There was some applause as the convoy of seven vehicles, led by a motorcycle outrider, drove through central Edinburgh, though the mood was respectful and generally somber.

Another view from Edinburgh.

One more picture of the crowds in Edinburgh.

Here you see the cortége as it passes St. Giles’ Cathedral, where the coffin will be brought tomorrow.

Veterans of the Royal British Legion of Scotland outside St. Giles’.

A wide shot shows the Guard of Honour at the Palace of Holyroodhouse as the procession arrives.

That Guard was made up of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. 

Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Prince Andrew, Princess Anne, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and Edward, the Earl of Wessex.

A military Bearer Party from the Royal Regiment of Scotland carried the coffin into the Palace and to the Throne Room, where it will remain until tomorrow.

A curtsy from the Queen’s daughter, who has been at her side throughout this past week.

Princess Anne and Sir Tim.

Another view of family members. 

From The Guardian’s story:

The Queen’s body will be lain to rest at Holyroodhouse for the evening, where members of the royal household will be able to pay their respects in private.

Tomorrow there will be a procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse conveying the coffin to St. Giles’ Cathedral. The King and members of the Royal Family will participate in the procession and attend a 3pm (10am EDT) service at the Cathedral to receive the coffin. Beginning at 5pm, mourners will be able to pay their respects. More from The Scotsman’s coverage

Members of the public who wish to pay their respects have been warned they face long waits due to the anticipated demand.

Officials say weather conditions may be challenging and standing for a number of hours should be expected.

A “Vigil of the Princes” is expected at some point in the next week, but there are conflicting reports as to when that will happen. The Guardian reports it will be tomorrow night while other media say it will be later in the week. Below, you see Prince Edward, Prince Charles, David Armstrong-Jones, and Prince Andrew as they arrived at Westminster Hall in 2002 to stand watch during the Lying-in-State of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. 

A wider shot of Westminster Hall.

The Independent reports “At some point, the late monarch’s four children – King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward – and her eight grandchildren, including Princes William and Harry, will take their place around her coffin.” We’ll have to wait and see when this takes place and exactly how many family members will be involved. 

VIDEOS:

Sky News has about 7 minutes of coverage from the Edinburgh portion of the day. 

ITV offers 5+ hours of coverage of the entire journey from Balmoral to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.  

 This Reuters video has more than 6 hours of coverage. 

 

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A look ahead at some of the specifics for events in the next week.  

MONDAY, SEP 12

  • As noted above, the Queen’s coffin will travel by procession to St Giles’ Cathedral, accompanied by the King and members of the Royal Family. This procession is expected to start at 2:35pm local time, 9:35am EDT.  The coffin will be guarded by Vigils from The Royal Company of Archers.  There may be a vigil with family members in the evening. 

TUESDAY, SEP 13

  • At 5pm, the Queen’s coffin will travel from Scotland to London. Princess Anne will accompany the coffin. The coffin will then be conveyed to Buckingham Palace, where it will rest in the Bow Room. The Guardian reports, “Its arrival at 8pm will be witnessed by the King and the Queen Consort, with other members of the royal family.”

WEDNESDAY, SEP 14

  • The coffin will be borne on a Gun Carriage of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster, where The Queen will Lie-in-State in until the morning of the funeral. The procession is expected to begin at 2:22 pm BST (9:22am EDT).  
  • The Procession is planned to take roughly 40 minutes. The route will travel via Queen’s Gardens, The Mall, Horse Guards and Horse Guards Arch, Whitehall, Parliament Street, Parliament Square, and New Palace Yard.
  • After the coffin arrives at Westminster Hall, the King and Royal Family members will attend a short service conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury assisted by The Very Reverend Dr. David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster. 
  • The Lying-in-State begins after the service, allowing members of the public to visit Westminster Hall and pay their respects to The Queen.

THURSDAY, SEP 15: Lying-in-State

FRIDAY, SEP 16: Lying-in-State 

SATURDAY, SEP 17: Lying-in-State 

SUNDAY SEP 18:Lying-in-State 

MONDAY, SEP 19

  • The coffin will be taken on a State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy to Westminster Abbey for the 11am funeral. The BBC reports “Senior members of the Royal Family, including the new King, are likely to follow in procession.”
  • After the state funeral, the coffin will travel in a procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch and then to St. George’s Chapel in Windsor.
  • A Committal Service will then take place in St George’s Chapel.

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I will wrap up the post with Her Majesty’s message after the September 11th attacks that took place 21 years ago today. It was shared on social media today by the British Embassy in Washington.

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Meta

Wednesday 14th of September 2022

Actually both Princess Anne and Sophie Countess of Wessex curtsied when the coffin of HM passed them. We can’t see Sophie as clearly as Princess Anne on the video, but we can see her body moved.

Zell

Monday 12th of September 2022

I love coming here to see what is posted by the admin. So many moving photos, and explanations of what is happening. I'm in the states, but I so wish I were in England, especially at this time. I have always wanted to go, never have and probably never will. Ever since when a tiny child, I have felt a deep love for England. I so wish I could be in the crowds, with the other mourners. This site makes me feel like I kind of am with them. I think a major death like that of Queen Elizabeth (or Diana, Princess of Wales) will bring up grief for the one who is gone, but also one's own inner grief, usually pushed down deep, so that one can get on with things. But, it never goes away. Queen Elizabeth was so right when she said, "grief is the price we pay for love." Sometimes the price can be unbearably high.

Zell

Monday 12th of September 2022

@admin, my pleasure! Thank you for such a marvelous site!

admin

Monday 12th of September 2022

Thank you for the lovely comment, Zell. 😊

Mackie

Monday 12th of September 2022

Some very moving images and stories here. Thank you for compiling them and all the other information.

In addition to the Princess Royal's curtsey, the image I find most moving is the one of the bearer party where the four gentlemen's faces are visible. The range of expressions as they take that solemn duty, from stoicism to sorrow, including the one gentleman whose eyes are closed and almost seems to be leaning his head against the side of the coffin. He may well have been blinking when the image was captured, but regardless it makes for a very moving picture.

Zell

Monday 12th of September 2022

@Mackie, I felt the exact same way when I saw that photo!

Manda

Monday 12th of September 2022

HRH The Princess Royal curtseying to her late Sovereign, also her mother, outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse was very moving.

Manda

Monday 12th of September 2022

@Sansa Stark, it really affected me. HRH has been an unsung hero over many years, conducting quiet and diligent service to HM.

Sansa Stark

Monday 12th of September 2022

@Manda, indeed. HRH is a credit to the institution. Her fortitude is nothing short of impressive. That one gesture summed it up.

Margaret

Monday 12th of September 2022

Thank you for this moving coverage. Still doesn't seem real that she is gone.

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