A SOMBRE Princess Anne followed her late mother’s coffin from Balmoral this morning.
The Queen’s second child and only daughter looked tearful alongside her husband Admiral Sir Tim Laurence for the emotional journey through Scotland.
Princess Anne accompanies the hearse carrying the coffin of the Queen
People line the street as the hearse passes through the village of Ballater, near Balmoral
The Queen is travelling from her beloved Balmoral ahead of her state funeral on September 19.
Mourners are lining the streets to pay their respects as Her Majesty’s oak coffin makes its slow procession.
The emotional scenes are being broadcast live on television, with millions tuning in from home.
The Princess Royal appeared sorrowful as she looked on at the crowds gathered outside.
It comes as…
- The Queen has begun her final journey after her coffin was taken from her beloved Balmoral
- 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
At 10am, gamekeepers lifted the Queen into a hearse ready for the six-hour journey to Edinburgh.
Draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland, the coffin was earlier moved to the Small Dining Room where a prayer was said by the minister of Crathie Kirk church.
Her Majesty then led the cortege in a black hearse with white flowers picked from the Balmoral garden on top of the coffin.
The wreath is made up of sweet peas – one of her favourite flowers – plus dhalias, phlox, white heather and pine fir.
Anne, her husband, the minister of Crathie Kirk and a representative of the Lord chamberlain’s Office are in the convoy following behind.
She was first taken to the village of Ballater where families arrived early this morning wearing Union flags.
The procession will arrive in Aberdeen in just over an hour as tributes are paid in the city’s Duthie Park.
Her Majesty’s coffin will be taken to Dundee at 2pm and then on to Edinburgh for 4pm.
Scottish party leaders including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will observe the journey to Holyroodhouse.
The Queen will remain there overnight as the Scottish capital becomes the first point on the nation’s period of mourning.
Well-wishers have been invited to gather along the route to honour the UK’s longest-serving monarch.
King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla will arrive in Edinburgh tomorrow to travel with the coffin from Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral.
They will mount a vigil along with other members of the Royal Family inside the cathedral at 7.20pm.
The Queen will lie in state for 24 hours, allowing Scots to come to pay their respects.
Princess Anne will then accompany her late mother from Edinburgh Airport to RAF Northolt on Tuesday evening.
The coffin will be met by a Guard of Honour from the King’s Guard as it arrives at Buckingham Palace.
King Charles and Queen Camilla will watch as it is carried to the Bow Room where chaplains will keep watch.
On Wednesday, there will be a horse and carriage procession through the streets of London at 2.22pm to Westminster Hall.
One million mourners are expected to visit her coffin as the Queen lies in state for four full days.
Details on how to attend will be released in the coming days, but it is expected to operate on a first come first served basis.
Soldiers will be on guard around the clock as the streams of mourners file past.
Members of the Royal Family are also expected to take turns standing guard in a tradition known as the Vigil of the Princes.
Prince Edward and Charles both stood watch over the Queen Mother’s coffin in 2002.
Her Majesty will then be laid to rest on September 19 at 11am.
The state funeral has officially been declared as a Bank Holiday with a two minute’s silence expected to beheld across the nation at midday.
The Queen’s final resting place will be the King George VI memorial chapel where her mother and father were buried along with the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret.
Prince Philip’s coffin will move from the Royal Vault to the memorial chapel to join his beloved wife of 73 years.
