Queen’s funeral cortege arrives in Edinburgh

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II embarked on a last journey from her Scottish retreat at Balmoral where she died to arrive at the Scottish capital on Sunday as thousands of mourners lined the route. 

After a 300-kilometre journey, the royal hearse arrived in Edinburgh and is expected to be greeted by a gun salute. It will then spend the night in the throne room of Holyroodhouse, the official royal residence in Scotland, during which time the castle staff will say their final goodbyes to the queen.

Her son Charles III was formally proclaimed king, and after her warring grandsons William and Harry, and their wives Kate and Meghan, briefly reunited for a walkabout. The king himself will travel to Edinburgh on Monday for a prayer service, before the body of the queen, who died at Balmoral on Thursday aged 96, is flown to the capital on Tuesday.

While Charles’ accession has pushed Britain into what newspapers have called the new “Carolean” era, Britain and the royal family are still coming to terms with the end of the Elizabethan age.

Prince William broke his silence with an emotional tribute to his beloved “Grannie” on Saturday. “She was by my side at my happiest moments. And she was by my side during the saddest days of my life,” said William, who has now become the Prince of Wales.
AFP.com, 11 Sept, 2022