Heartbreak of final farewell
NOTHING could have been more fitting than for our Queen to begin her long, final journey amid the glorious natural splendour of the Highlands home she loved most.
So it was that her cortege left Balmoral, the Scottish sanctuary she cherished her whole life, and snaked its way slowly through the spectacular pine forests alongside the River Dee.
Nothing could have been more fitting than for our Queen to begin her long, final journey in the Highlands
In Edinburgh she arrived to a vast throng on the Royal Mile bursting into spontaneous applause
Draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, Her Majesty’s oak coffin passed through hushed towns and cities, their streets lined with thousands of mourners clutching flowers and union flags.
In Edinburgh she arrived to a vast throng on the Royal Mile bursting into spontaneous applause. It was as if the entire city had turned out.
None will forget yesterday as long as they live.
We have all witnessed many events of immense historic significance over the last few years but none greater than the passing of our longest-reigning and most beloved monarch.
Scotland’s huge, respectful crowds are the perfect measure of that love.
It is natural to fear that without her our country is weakened.
All of us who recognise the importance to Britain of the monarchy, duty and tradition feel discombobulated without the figurehead who embodied them for 70 years with unswerving dedication and grace.
Star power
And, yes, Elizabeth II will be a tough act to follow.
But The Celeb Report does not believe we have cause to worry.
Even in their grief, our most senior Royals have so far responded flawlessly.
Our new King has made a seamless transition from Prince to monarch and set to work immediately while still finding time to greet crowds of mourners.
William and Kate have been pitch-perfect, especially with the impromptu Windsor walkabout to which they magnanimously invited Harry and Meghan despite their very public rift.
Those four reminded us of the global star power they could have wielded together and, who knows, might again one day.
But it is easy to get carried away with the notion that the brothers have been reconciled in their grief.
We would love to see it . . . but, sadly, it will take more than that.
Harry has an autobiography coming out, bound to sling more mud.
Meghan seems determined to continue profiting from her supposed victimhood as a rookie Royal.
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She needs to stop, for good. And Harry must bin his book.
Only then may the wounds they have already inflicted ever begin to heal.
William and Kate have been pitch-perfect, especially with the impromptu Windsor walkabout to which they magnanimously invited Harry and Meghan
It is easy to get carried away with the notion that the brothers have been reconciled in their grief
