Edinburgh's Royal Mile is reportedly 'at capacity' as thousands of people have gathered ahead of the Queen's procession on Monday afternoon.
Locals and tourists flocked to the historic street at the crack of dawn on Monday, with some arriving as early as 6:30am. With King Charles III arriving in the capital around 1pm, the crowds are reportedly at breaking point.
Amid warnings of a crush, many well-wishers were turned away and directed to the Meadows, with routes to the Royal Mile closed off.
The Queen's coffin is to be carried from the Palace of HolyroodHouse to St Giles' Cathedral around 3pm and people have travelled from all ends of the world to catch a glimpse of the memorable moment in a city that the Her Majesty thoroughly enjoyed visiting throughout her lifetime.
You can find all the latest on the Queen's procession in Edinburgh on our LIVE blog here.
Police have supposedly told those in the area that the street is 'at capacity' following the procession, as Edinburgh Live's Donald Turvill reports that access to the Royal Mile has now been blocked off by police. He tweeted: "Seems all routes to the Royal Mile have been blocked off - everyone now being denied access and told to go to meadows. Overhead officers saying there were crushes in the crowd earlier on."
Officers have also issued advice for those attempting to travel across the city for the remainder of the day and Tuesday, saying people should work from home if possible and avoid travelling if not absolutely necessary. Lothian Buses have also issued a statement on social media saying that services are running around two hours behind schedule and some may not even run at all, with dozens of road closures and diversions currently in place.
Thousands of people have gathered behind metal barriers on the mile-long road through the city's Old Town, even more that were present on Sunday at the Queen's coffin arrived following the journey from Balmoral Estate in Aberdeenshire.
Pictures from the scene on Monday afternoon show rows of about four and five people deep lining up against the barriers as they attempt to catch a glimpse of history in the making. Her Majesty's coffin is expected to make the short journey to St Giles', followed by King Charles III and his siblings, before the coffin will lay to rest before making its way to Edinburgh Airport and south to London.
Police Scotland have been approached for comment on the claims that the Royal Mile is at capacity, and have posted this statement on the next 48 hours:
Traffic Scotland Operator Manager Stein Connolly said: “Monday and Tuesday will be extremely busy for Edinburgh, the City Bypass, and the surrounding network, due to a series of road closures and the sheer volume of people expected to line the streets.
"We want to strike a balance and ensure those who wish to pay their respects can do so safely. If you can work from home we would strongly encourage you to do so. Please consider your need to travel if you are not attending any of the advertised events.
“If you do plan to pay respects in person, please allow extra time for your journey and leave the car at home. Consider public transport options, or if you need to use a car, think about car sharing and using park and ride facilities where possible. On arrival, be prepared for long periods of standing. Bring water and dress for the weather. Most importantly – let’s look out for each other.
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