Africa-Press – Angola. King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward follow the Queen’s coffin as it is taken along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles’ Cathedral for a service of remembrance.
On arrival at St Giles’ Cathedral, pallbearers carried the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, which was draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland.
The coffin is made of English oak and lined with lead – a traditional design choice for members of the Royal Family.
The Crown of Scotland was placed on the Queen’s coffin during the service. Historically, the crown has been used in ceremonies to represent the sovereign’s presence.
It was placed on the coffin by Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, the 16th Duke of Hamilton, and it will remain there while thousands of people pay their respects.
As well as the royals, the guest list included politicians, council officials, members of the armed forces, war veterans, judiciary and consular officials. There were also representatives from various Scottish charities of which the Queen was patron, and people involved in the arts, sports, emergency services and faith groups.
Prime Minister Liz Truss was there – she’d also attended the morning events at Westminster Hall in London.
Earlier in the day, King Charles III had inspected the Guard of Honour as he arrived for the Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The monarch was presented with the keys of the city of Edinburgh.
Well-wishers greeted the King in the garden area set aside for floral tributes to the late Queen outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The King met Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at Edinburgh Airport after travelling from London with the Queen Consort.
Thousands of people waited on the Royal Mile to watch as he and other royals joined a procession behind the Queen’s coffin.
In the morning King Charles was at Westminster Hall, which is where the Queen’s coffin will lie in state later this week. At a ceremony the speakers from both Houses of Parliament – Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Lord McFall – addressed the King on behalf of MPs and peers.
Ahead of the arrival of the monarch, about 900 MPs and peers, including Prime Minister Liz Truss and Labour leader Kier Starmer, gathered in the hall.
Former prime minister Boris Johnson was also in attendance.
A trumpet fanfare welcomed King Charles and the Queen Consort.
Lord McFall of Alcluith welcomed the King and Queen Consort to Parliament. He said Queen Elizabeth II was both “a leader to – and a servant of – the people”.
He added that she possessed “commitment, kindness, humour and courage, as well as the deep faith that was the anchor in her life”.
Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said the loss of the Queen is felt across the UK and the entire Commonwealth, “which she did so much to nurture”.
“Deep as our grief is, we know yours is deeper,” he added.
Following his address, Sir Lindsay passed his speech to King Charles.
Replying, King Charles III said he could not help but feel the weight of history which surrounds those in Westminster Hall and which “reminds us of vital Parliamentary traditions, to which MPs and peers dedicate themselves”.
Following the ceremony, King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, flew to Edinburgh.
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