Tag Archives: King Charles III

Thousands Of Mourners Line Streets As Queen’s Coffin Arrives At Holyroodhouse

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Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin has arrived at the Palace of Holyroodhouse after a six-hour journey from Balmoral Castle.

The cortege arrived in Edinburgh shortly after 4pm where the Queen’s coffin will rest overnight in an oak-panelled throne room.

Her coffin was greeted with a guard of honour before being carried into the palace.

Three of the Queen’s children looked on – Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward – as the coffin crossed the threshold.

Members of the public watch the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it is driven through Edinburgh.
Members of the public watch the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it is driven through Edinburgh.

NEIL HANNA via Getty Images

Meanwhile, thousands of mourners lined the streets of Scotland’s capital city on Sunday to pay their respects. Some observers clapped as the hearse came past, others threw flowers in the road.

Earlier on the 180 mile journey, the hearse passed crowds of people, shops with photographs of the monarch and even a guard of honour with tractors.

Members of the public watch the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it is driven through Edinburgh.
Members of the public watch the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it is driven through Edinburgh.

OLI SCARFF via Getty Images

The Queen died at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire on Thursday where she traditionally spent her summers.

Buckingham Palace said the 96-year-old died “peacefully” surrounded by members of the royal family.

The monarch started the journey to her final resting place just after 10am, with her only daughter the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence in the procession travelling directly behind.

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, driven through Edinburgh.
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, driven through Edinburgh.

IAN FORSYTH via Getty Images

The coffin was draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland and a wreath on top, made from flowers from the Balmoral estate including sweet peas – one of the Queen’s favourite flowers – dahlias, phlox, white heather and pine fir.

Floral tributes were thrown into the path of the coffin as thousands turned out to pay their respects.

A single motorbike police outrider led the way as the hearse, followed by six vehicles, travelled at a stately pace through the Scottish countryside.

As the Queen left Balmoral this morning, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was a “sad and poignant moment” as she left her “beloved Balmoral for the final time”.

Sturgeon added: “Today, as she makes her journey to Edinburgh, Scotland will pay tribute to an extraordinary woman.”

Meanwhile, down in London, King Charles III was greeted by thousands of well-wishers as he arrived at Buckingham Palace where he was due to meet with representatives from the Commonwealth.

Members of the public stand on a bridge, in Kinross, overlooking the M90 motorway, to pay their respects.
Members of the public stand on a bridge, in Kinross, overlooking the M90 motorway, to pay their respects.

ANDY BUCHANAN via Getty Images

On Monday, there will be a procession to St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh where the Queen’s coffin will rest for 24 hours.

The procession is expected to include members of the royal family.

There will be a service in the cathedral and members of the public will be able to file past the coffin.

The Princess Royal and her husband Admiral Sir Tim Laurence travel behind the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Princess Royal and her husband Admiral Sir Tim Laurence travel behind the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II.

Paul Campbell – PA Images via Getty Images

The following day the Queen’s coffin will be transported by road from the cathedral to Edinburgh Airport and then flown to RAF Northolt.

Her coffin will be accompanied by the Princess Royal, before being moved to rest at Buckingham Palace’s Bow Room.

A procession on September 14 will see the coffin, adorned with the Imperial State Crown, transported on a gun carriage of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster ready for the Lying in State in Westminster Hall.

The Queen will lie in state at Westminster Hall from Wednesday.

Her funeral will be held in London’s Westminster Abbey on Monday 19 September which will be a bank holiday.

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Here’s Some Very Normal Reactions In Britain To The Queen’s Death

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Britain has been paying its respects after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, after the monarch died at the age of 96 following 70 years on the throne.

But the reactions have came in all shapes and sizes – with some a mix of baffling, bizarre and just plain weird.

Weather forecasts scaled back

The Met Office has said it will only be posting daily forecasts and warnings during the 10-day mourning period.

Ex-BBC journalist Jon Sopel tweeted: “I am totally bewildered.

“Why is it a mark of respect to give us the weather forecast for today, but not tomorrow?

“Or to put it another way, why is it disrespectful to give us tomorrow’s weather?”

Football postponed

Football fixtures at all levels across the UK have been postponed.

The UK’s football authorities have decided to postpone all fixtures planned for this weekend as a mark of respect to the Queen, and there is a possibility no further Premier League matches will now be played this month.

Ex-England footballer Peter Crouch tweeted: “I know it’s only a game and some things are much bigger but imagine all our games went ahead this weekend.

“Black armbands, silences observed, national anthem, Royal band playing etc to the millions around the world watching? Isn’t that a better send off?”

A ‘Queen-shaped cloud’ appears

Believe it or not, but multiple news outlets reported on a cloud that “looks like the Queen” was spotted in Telford, Shropshire.

Leanne Bethell captured the photographs in the skies above the A4169.

She says her daughter Lacey was first to point out the glowing figure, shouting: “Oh my God” repeatedly.

No fancy dress at the cricket

England’s third and final Test against South Africa will resume this weekend at the Kia Oval,

What was supposed to be day two of the series decider was called off on Friday as a mark of respect following the death of the long-reigning monarch.

Surrey have announced fancy dress will not be permitted in the ground, a historical asset owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, across the three days.

Interest rate decision postponed

A widely expected rise in interest rates has been put on hold due to the death of the Queen, the Bank of England has said.

The Bank said that decision makers on its Monetary Policy Committee would not meet as scheduled next week.

Instead the meeting, at which committee members were expected to hike rates again, will take place the following week, the Bank said.

Corporate Britain was quick to get out its tributes, with purveyours of pasties, indoor cycling workouts and baked beans offering tributes.

Crazy Frog, the British Kebab Awards and the musical Hamilton joined the chorus, as did Ann Summer – which also unintentional promoted some of its sex toys.

The unfortunate gaffe garnered much attention on Twitter with the post, tweeted out by Summer Ray, a voiceover artist and writer, achieved over 2,000 likes and many comments.

A journalist has suggested that the monarch should receive an acting award, after the late Queen briefly appeared in a comic sketch with the animated character Paddington Bear back in June, for her Platinum Jubilee.

Their funny exchange over a cup of tea showed Paddington being characteristically ill-mannered at the table, and the Queen revealing she shares the bear’s love of marmalade sandwiches.

The two also tap out the beat of Queen’s We Will Rock You anthem during their exchange. The clip took half a day to film, and was celebrated at the time for showing the monarch’s jovial nature.

Michael Crick tweeted on Friday that the Queen should receive a posthumous Oscar – “Best supporting actor, perhaps?” – for that brief sketch. He added: “Or at least a Bafta.”

Prominent Eurosceptic and former leader of UKIP Nigel Farage shared a short clip on Twitter on Thursday night, showing him putting flowers down outside Buckingham Palace at night.

Curiously, Farage does not look at the camera but nods with deference at the Palace gates, before walking back through the crowd with his umbrella.

It’s not clear who filmed the video or how the GB News host secured the clip to share on his own account – along with the caption “paying respects” – especially considering he does not interact with the person filming at all. Twitter was quick to add its own captions.

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