The streets fell silent as the Queen’s coffin was driven away from her official Scottish residence in Edinburgh for the final time after her tragic passing.
Thousands of people stood for several hours in a bid to get a spot on the Royal Mile where they could watch the procession as it made its way to St Giles’ Cathedral on Monday.
Despite the sombre occasion, spirits appeared high before the convoy arrived with a noticeable excitement over the prospect of seeing the new King for the first time since he became monarch.
They gave a small cheer when King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla arrived at the Palace of Holyrood House after flying up from London earlier today.
The procession, which began slightly behind schedule, was led by two horses who walked ahead of the hearse carrying Her Majesty’s coffin as dogs barked at the sound of the hooves.
Members of the Royal Family, including the new King and Prince Andrew, followed behind on foot.
A single protester was thrown to the ground by members of the public after shouting a slur at the Duke of York. Nearby bystanders chanted ‘God Save the King’ in a bid to drown out his heckles as he was removed from the area by police. He was later seen being questioned by uniformed officers.
Despite the minor disruption, several other attendees told the Daily Record they were glad to be in the capital for the historic occasion.
Harold Jonker, 49, from Ontario, Canada, who had been standing on the Royal Mile for almost three hours, said: “We were at Buckingham Palace last Thursday at around 4.30pm and we were wondering why there was so much media there until a man told us that the Queen was almost dying.
“She’s our Queen too so it’s kind of like ‘oh wow’. Then we came to Edinburgh and found out what was happening here, so we had to come.
“Even yesterday when she drove by, I was kind of tearing up. She’s going to a better place. A 96-year-old lady, she’s lived a long life.”
Wife Janice, 45, added: “It’s just so neat to be with some many people and to be together doing this.”
Stacey Zara McLaren, 36, from East Lothian, who stood for around four hours, said: “We’re here to see everything that’s happening and pay our respects to the Queen because she embodies everything that I’ve looked up to and she just reminds me of my gran. She's somebody that’s been there our whole life and for the realisation that somebody isn’t going to be there anymore, it just hits you. My gran raised me and my daughter so the thought about what therRoyal Family are going through is very real and life changing.
“I’m quite excited to see the King. It’s a new era.”
Georgia Ramage, nine, added: “I’m really looking forward to seeing the Royals going past with the coffin today. I felt really really sad when the Queen died because I was really lucky to have a queen because there isn’t going to be another one for a long time now.”
And Pam and Callum MacDonald, from Edinburgh, were joined by their dog Dylan as they waited to see the Queen’s coffin. Callum said: “It’s a historic moment. She’s been there our entire lives and for most of our parents lives as well. My mother was actually at her Coronation in 1952.
“It’s a new beginning with the new King but he’s got a lot to live up to.”
Pam added: “It’s still pretty unbelievable because she’s always been there.”
