© Reuters Britain’s Queen Elizabeth is seen at a floral tribute outside Balmoral Castle in Balmoral, Scotland, Britain, September 11, 2022.
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by Michael Holden and Russell Chain
BALLEMORAL, Scotland (Reuters) – Queen Elizabeth’s casket began the six-hour journey from her home in the Scottish Highlands to Edinburgh as crowds lined the streets in silence to mourn her reigning monarch for 70 years.
Elizabeth Oak’s coffin, which has been in the halls of Balmoral Castle since her death on Thursday at the age of 96, was placed in six gamekeepers’ cars.
Soon the boat left the Balmoral Gate and headed for Scotland’s capital. The coffin was draped in Scottish royalty and topped with a wreath made from flowers from the Balmoral estate, including sweet peas – one of Elizabeth’s favourites.
The slow procession is the first of a series of events https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/plans-run-up-queen-elizabeths-funeral-2022-09-10 at the state funeral at Westminster Abbey in London on September 19.
Her death drew tears, grief and warm tributes not only from the Queen’s immediate family and many families in Britain, but also from around the world – marking seven decades of her presence on the world stage.
In the nearby village of Balatar, hundreds of people stood silently by the side of the road as the car passed, some throwing flowers on the road.
In the year
Escorted by the Queen’s daughter, Princess Anne, the coffin will slowly make its way from the distant palace, winding its way through small towns and villages to Edinburgh, where it will be taken to the throne room of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Since Elizabeth’s death, tens of thousands have gathered at the royal palaces to leave flowers and pay her respects.
Her son King Charles said at the ceremony on Saturday: “You, the whole nation – and I think the whole world – I know how deeply we all feel the irreparable loss we have suffered.
The Queen came to the throne when her father, King George VI, died on February 6, 1952, aged just 25.
Charles became king immediately after his mother’s death, but the new king was officially announced at the ceremony.
While Elizabeth’s death was not entirely unexpected given her age, her declining health and the death of her 73-year-old husband Prince Philip last year still came as a shock to the news.
“We all thought she was invincible,” her grandson, Prince William, https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/prince-william-pledges-support-king-charles-every-way-he-can-2022-09-10. Now the heir to the throne, he addressed a crowd at Windsor Castle on Saturday for good wishes.
Funeral ceremony
Officials have announced that Elizabeth’s funeral will be a public holiday in Britain. US President Joe Biden has said he will be there, although full details of the event and the attendees have yet to be announced.
Before that, her coffin will travel to London and later be moved from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where she will lie in state for four days in sombre procession.
In the year In 2002, more than 200,000 people lined up to pay their respects when Elizabeth’s mother’s coffin lay in state, and aides said it was estimated millions more would visit.
A spokeswoman for Prime Minister Liz Truss told reporters: “We can’t say we’re expecting a lot of people.
Truss, whose appointment as prime minister on Tuesday will be the Queen’s last public act, will join King Charles as both head of state and prime minister visit the UK’s four countries over the next few days.
Charles, 73, is now 41st in line to the Norman King William the Conqueror, who took the throne of England in 1066.
He is the king and head of government of not only the United Kingdom, but 14 other states, including Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.
Elizabeth’s death has had a difficult couple of years for the royal family, including last year for her husband, Prince Philip.
The most famous case is her grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan in 2015. In 2020, he left the royal life and went to California where he criticized the establishment.
This has kept them estranged from the rest of the family, with Harry and his older brother William said to be barely able to get their words across. But his grandfather’s death put differences aside as he and his wife arrived to meet the public outside Windsor Castle on Saturday.
A royal source described it as an important show of unity during an incredibly difficult time for the family.