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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Jennifer Newton

Sophie Wessex chokes back the tears during Queen's emotional coffin procession

An emotional Sophie Wessex looked teary-eyed as she watched the Queen's coffin make its way through Edinburgh to a poignant service.

A procession saw the coffin taken from the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where it had stayed overnight, up the Royal Mile in Edinburgh to St Giles Cathedral for service of thanksgiving. King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward all walked in a line behind their mother's coffin, while Sophie joined the Queen Consort Camilla behind the hearse in a car. She held her hands up to her face and looked overwhelmed as she sat next to Camilla while travelling to the Cathedral, as the Royal Mile was packed with mourners paying their respects.

An emotional Sophie Wessex during the Queen's coffin procession (WireImage)

For the latest updates as the world mourns the Queen and King Charles III's reign begins, follow our live blog.

As she waited on the steps of the cathedral as the Queen's coffin was carried inside, Sophie, who had an extremely close relationship with the monarch, looked close to tears.

And at the service, she could be seen wiping tears from her eyes with a tissue as she sat and looked on at the Queen's coffin.

Meanwhile, at the service, the congregation heard they should remember the “long and happy reign” of Elizabeth II and was told simply that the Queen has “gone home”.

Sophie and Queen Consort Camilla await the coffin arriving at the cathedral (Getty Images)
Sophie on the steps of St Giles Cathedral today (James Whatling)

The Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, spoke about her “extraordinary life” at a service attended by the King and other members of the royal family.

Charles III was in St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh for a service of thanksgiving, held four days after the death of the Queen.

Rev Greenshields told the congregation that over those days “tributes to her Majesty have poured in” but it was now “beginning to sink in that she is gone from us – ‘gone home’ to express her own words”.

On Saturday, Sophie again looked close to tears as she viewed the sea of tributes for her beloved mother-in-law the Queen outside of Balmoral.

Sophie during the service today with other royals - Prince Edward, Prince Andrew, King Charles, Queen Consort Camilla, Princess Anne and her husband Sir Tim Laurence (PA)
The Crown of Scotland sits on top of the Queen's coffin (PA)

As wife to the Queen's youngest son Edward, Sophie isn't a senior member of the family but is often described as their "secret weapon".

Personally, the Queen has invited her to travel to several church services together and they're said to watch old movies together.

Last year, after the death of the Prince Philip, a royal source said Sophie has been a "tremendous source of comfort to the Queen."

They added: "Sophie cherishes her relationship with the Queen and not only appreciates her guidance and wisdom throughout her own life, she is very protective of her.

Crowds line the Royal Mile as the Queen's coffin passes through (Katielee Arrowsmith / SWNS)

“Their bond is very like a mother and daughter and the feeling of love and respect is quite mutual.

"It is very special.”

Earlier today, King Charles received a motion of condolence at Westminster Hall - and sat on his throne for the first time as the monarch along with Queen Camilla.

The new King and his wife took their seats while the Speaker of the House of Lords pledged his loyalty and shared the "deep sympathy" that Parliament felt over the royal family's grief.

Huge crowds gathered on the Royal Mile (Getty Images)

Their thrones are almost identical but the one used by the Queen consort is an inch shorter to indicate their respective roles.

The King quoted Shakespeare in a tribute to the Queen as he addressed Parliament for the first time since becoming monarch.

"As Shakespeare said of the earlier Queen Elizabeth, she was a pattern to all princes living," he said.

Addressing members of both Houses of Parliament, the King said the late Queen "set an example of selfless duty which, with God’s help and your counsels, I am resolved faithfully to follow".

You can leave your tributes to Queen Elizabeth II here.

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