Shoulder to shoulder, four grieving siblings
Charles leads poignant procession as Scotland turns out in force to say a final farewell to Queen
Stoically marching shoulder to shoulder, the Queen’s four children were united in grief yesterday as they walked in a poignant procession behind their beloved mother’s coffin.
appearing side by side in age order, the siblings were led by King charles iii, as Scotland gathered to bid its final farewell to the Queen.
alongside him was the Princess Royal, followed by Prince andrew and Prince Edward.
the Duke of york was the only one of the children who wasn’t in military attire for the historic parade – having been stripped of his titles amid sexual assault allegations earlier this year, which he strenuously denied.
Despite the controversy, Prince andrew yesterday played a key public role in one of the major ceremonial events to mark his mother’s death. Palace sources said it was ‘out of the question’ for the disgraced duke to be excluded.
a solemn silence fell over Edinburgh’s most famous thoroughfare as the newly appointed King led his three siblings in the poignant march. thousands gathered along the cobbled Royal Mile – some for many hours.
they perched on walls, peered from windows, held their mobile phones aloft and craned their necks over the thick crowds to catch a glimpse of the historic moment.
the Queen’s coffin was departing the Palace of Holyroodhouse, her official residence in Scotland, for the final time to travel to St Giles’ cathedral for a thanksgiving service in her honour.
Draped in the royal standard and adorned with a wreath, the coffin was carried out of the palace as bagpipes were played and King charles watched on in silence. the hearse conveying Her Majesty was flanked by the Royal company of archers, as mounted police in ceremonial dress rode ahead.
the crowd stood several rows deep in places, with the police forced to close off roads and officers told to turn away the steady flow of visitors.
Despite the city’s old town being filled to capacity, a hushed quiet enveloped the Royal Mile as the hearse and procession emerged from the forecourt of the palace.
Some momentarily applauded as the Queen embarked on the famil
‘A constant in all our lives’
iar route to the cathedral where her coffin was to lay in state overnight before returning to london.
the silence was occasionally pierced by the shout of ‘God bless the Queen’ and the sound of a 21-gun salute at Edinburgh castle in the distance.
the solemn marchers, their faces drawn but focused, remained unflinching – even when a heckler shouted insults at Prince andrew.
Few will forget the sight of the procession as it made its way along the winding street and through the heart of Edinburgh.
as they approached the cathedral, the Queen’s children were met with applause before silence once again resumed as the coffin was carried inside.
the choir at the cathedral sang thou Wilt Keep Him in Perfect Peace as the Queen’s coffin was brought in, with her children closely following behind.
the crown of Scotland – part of the oldest surviving royal regalia in the UK – was placed on top of the coffin by the Duke of Hamilton.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and other politicians joined members of the Royal Family for the service of thanksgiving which was played on speakers for the crowds outside.
Reverend calum Macleod paid tribute to the UK’s longest-reigning monarch, whose ‘love for Scotland was legendary’.
Miss Sturgeon gave a reading from Ecclesiastes 3 before bowing her head towards the coffin.
Giving the homily, the Rt Rev Dr iain Greenshields, moderator of the general assembly of the church of Scotland, told the congregation:
‘Most of us cannot recall a time when she was not our monarch.
‘ committed to the role she assumed in 1952 upon the death of her beloved father, she has been a constant in all of our lives for over 70 years.’ He said that those who were lucky enough to be in her company always felt they were being listened to ‘carefully and attentively and with compassion’.
Mourners will be allowed to file past the coffin until 3pm today before it is flown back to England this evening.