In the early afternoon of this Sunday (11), the procession of vehicles carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrived in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh.
Mourning Britons filled the streets as the British monarch’s coffin passed through the cities of Aberdeen and Dundee – two important stops along its six-hour journey to Edinburgh.
The coffin was carried along Aberdeen’s North Deeside Road, past the Great Western Road, before passing through Duthie Park, a 178,000 m² public park.
Members of the public, as well as former and current members of the armed forces, gathered in large numbers along the perimeter of the park on the Great Southern Road for a special ceremony.
The oak coffin carrying the body of Queen Elizabeth II left Balmoral Castle on Sunday morning and began a procession journey, which should take around six hours, to the Scottish capital of Edinburgh.
Thousands of people accompany the car on the route that will pass through Scottish cities and towns such as Aberdeen, Dundee and Perth.
The final point of the trip is the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the royals in Scotland, where the body of the monarch will spend the night.
Since the Queen’s death, her coffin – covered with the Royal Standard of Scotland and a wreath – has stood in the ballroom at Balmoral Castle, where staff were given the chance to pay their last respects.
At 6:00 a.m. PDT on Sunday, game wardens took the coffin to a hearse waiting for the coffin of the beloved monarch to begin its six-hour journey to Edinburgh at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The road trip normally takes around three hours, however, it was conducted slowly to allow people to witness the hearse along the way and say goodbye as it passes.
An honor guard composed of the Royal Regiment of Scotland will greet the hearse arriving in Edinburgh with a royal salute before being transferred to the Throne Room by a military group.
On Monday, the coffin will be taken to St Giles Cathedral for a service attended by the king and queen consort and a congregation made up “from all walks of Scottish society”, the senior palace official said.
After the service, the coffin will rest for 24 hours to allow the Scottish public to pay their respects. Charles and members of the royal family will participate in the guard – or vigil – on Monday night.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is at the end of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Some of Scotland’s most iconic historical figures have lived in the palace, such as Queen Mary. Currently, it was used by Queen Elizabeth II for official engagements in Scotland.
Founded initially as a monastery by David I of Scotland in 1128, the site has served as the main residence of Scottish kings and queens since the 15th century.
Every year, the Queen used to spend a week at Holyroodhouse celebrating Scottish culture, including thousands of guests at the palace during this ‘Week of Holyrood’.
During the year, the space is open to the public, who can visit the State Apartments that are used by members of the Royal Family for ceremonies and official events.
“As the home of Scottish royal history, these spectacular rooms have played host to many important occasions. Visit the Grand Gallery, where Bonnie Prince Charlie partied, and the remarkable Throne Room, where George IV wore Highland attire for a royal reception! With so much history and royal splendor, it’s possible to walk right past some incredible treasures.
It is at Holyrood Palace that the Queen of the United Kingdom meets and appoints the Prime Minister of Scotland. During the British presidency of the European Union one of the meetings of the European Council took place there.
Source: CNN Brasil
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