THE Queen’s oak coffin, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland with a wreath of flowers placed on top, spent last night in the Throne Room of Holyroodhouse.
This morning, staff will file past to pay their final respects to the late monarch.
The coffin of the Queen is borne through Edinburgh
The solemn Vigil of the Princes during the Queen Mother’s lying in state
The Queen’s final homecoming
Meanwhile, Charles and his Queen Consort will travel to Westminster Hall where both Houses of Parliament will meet to express their condolences.
The King will make what is called “his reply”.
He and Camilla will then fly to Edinburgh Airport, landing at around 12.45pm, before heading to Holyroodhouse to inspect the guard of honour.
The Ceremony of the Keys will follow, with Charles handed the keys of the city of Edinburgh and welcomed to “your ancient and hereditary kingdom of Scotland”.
At 2.35pm, the hearse carrying the Queen’s coffin will leave Holyroodhouse for a 1,200-yard procession to St Giles’ Cathedral on the Royal Mile.
Charles and other royals will walk behind.
At 2.55pm the coffin will be carried into the cathedral where the crown of Scotland will be placed on top.
A short service will follow with a congregation drawn from “all areas of Scottish society”.
The coffin will rest at the cathedral for 24 hours to enable the people of Scotland to pay their final respects to Queen Elizabeth.
Vigils will be mounted by the Royal Company of Archers.
But at 7.20pm, Charles and other members of the Royal Family will carry out their own, known as the Vigil of the Princes — much like they did for the Queen Mother in 2002.
Tomorrow
AT 5pm the Queen’s coffin will be taken from St Giles’ Cathedral by hearse to Edinburgh Airport.
An hour later, at 6pm, the aircraft bound for RAF Northolt, West London, will depart with Princess Anne among those on the flight.
The Queen’s coffin will be taken to Buckingham Palace after arriving at RAF Northolt
On arrival at 6.55pm the coffin will be taken directly to Buckingham Palace.
King Charles and the Queen Consort, along with other royals will join in prayer as they watch the King’s Guard and Grenadier Guards mark Her Majesty’s final homecoming.
It comes as…
- The website of the firm on the side of the Queen’s coffin crashed just seconds after it appeared on TV
- Princes William and Harry and wives Kate and Meghan dramatically reunited yesterday in tribute to the Queen
- Princess Kate revealed son Louis’ poignant reaction after she told him the Queen had died
- The full details of the Queen’s dignified final journey from Balmoral to London have been revealed
- Senior royals faced a mysterious hour-long delay as they raced to be with the dying Queen
Wednesday
THE Queen’s coffin, adorned with the Imperial State Crown and a wreath, will leave Buckingham Palace for the Palace of Westminster at 2.22pm.
The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery will carry it on a gun carriage while King Charles and other royals lead the procession.
The Queen’s coffin will leave Buckingham Palace for the Palace of Westminster
At 3pm, Her Majesty’s casket will be placed in Westminster Hall by the bearer party of the Grenadier Guards.
The Archbishop of Canterbury will lead a service before she lies in state for four days.
Thursday to Monday
A REHEARSAL will take place in London on Thursday ahead of Monday’s state funeral procession.
The following day King Charles will travel to Wales to receive a motion of condolence from the Welsh Parliament.
A rehearsal will take place in London on Thursday ahead of Monday’s state funeral procession
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He will also attend a service at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff.
On Sunday, an evening reception will be held for funeral guests, including heads of state.
The King will also hold an audience with the PM, Liz Truss.
