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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Kieran Isgin

The moment the Queen's coffin left Balmoral

The Queen's coffin has begun its journey to Edinburgh after leaving Balmoral Castle where she passed away.

Draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland alongside a wreath of flowers, the coffin has spent some time in the Balmoral ballroom so the Queen's Balmoral estate workers can say their farewell. Six of the estate's gamekeepers were tasked with lifting the oak coffin into a hearse today at 10am.

The six-hour journey from Balmoral to Edinburgh will see the queen travel the nearby town of Ballater, Aberdeen, Dundee, and finally Edinburgh. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the "poignant" journey will give the public a chance to come together to "mark our country's shared loss".

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It comes after a crowd of well-wishers left floral tributes in memory of the late monarch at her homes of Balmoral and Windsor Castle. In a walkabout meeting around Berkshire castle, the Duke and Duchess Sussex as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales shared in their grief.

The hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland, leaving Balmoral as it begins its journey to Edinburgh (PA Wire/PA Images)

At roughly 10.12am, the coffin should have arrived at Ballater. An hour later, it should arrive in Aberdeen where tributes are expected to be paid in the city's Duthie Park.

Then, after travelling south along A90, it will arrive in Dundee at around 2pm. Finally, it will arrive in Edinburgh where it will be welcomed by Ms Sturgeon and other party leaders in Scotland.

The coffin will then move past the Scottish Parliament before arriving at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where it will remain for the rest of night.

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