EDINBURGH (Scotland, UK), Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Elizabeth II’s coffin left Balmoral Castle, north of Scotland, for Edinburgh, where the Scots will be the first to bid farewell to the queen who died last Thursday at the age of 96.
The funeral procession left the summer residence of the British royals at 10 am local time, and arrived in the Scottish capital six hours later, after passing through several cities, where people lined the streets to give a last goodbye to the monarch.
The Royal House announced the coffin will remain in Edinburgh until Tuesday, so that Scots can pay tribute to their sovereign in the cathedral of St. Giles, before being transferred that same day by plane to London.
After resting on Tuesday night at Buckingham Palace, a military group will carry the coffin to the Palace of Westminster, where it will remain in a burning chapel until Sept 19, the day the state funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey, next to the seat of Parliament.
As in Edinburgh, thousands of people are expected to gather in London to bid farewell to the queen, who was on the throne for 70 years, the longest reign in the history of the British monarchy.
It is also expected that dozens of heads of state and foreign personalities will attend to pay her tribute.
Once the funeral ceremony is over, Elizabeth II’s remains will be transferred that same day to Windsor Castle, West London, to be deposited in the royal crypt of St. George’s Chapel.
According to the rules of the British monarchy, after the death of the queen last Thursday, the heir to the throne, Prince Charles, automatically acceeded the position.
The new 73-year-old monarch, who will rule under the name of Charles III, was officially proclaimed king the day before by the Ascension Council. — NNN-AGENCIES
