In recent days, the queen’s close relationship has been repeated ad nauseam Isabel II con Scotland. And from what can be seen from Friday on the streets of Edinburgh -only a few boos from less than a dozen people could be heard on Sunday- it follows that the feeling was mutual, despite the fact that this territory is the one that I least appreciate (although it is still the majority) for the crown. According to the latest YouGov poll, 42% of Scots believe the monarchy is good for Britain compared to 22% who believe the opposite. It is the most critical opinion of the rest of the territories. On the island as a whole, these percentages stand at 54% and 13%, respectively.
“That he died in Balmoral has given us the opportunity to be more involved in all the acts to bid farewell to the queen”, assured EL PERIÓDICO DE CATALUNYA, a medium of the Prensa Ibérica group to which this newspaper also belongs, Michael Andrews, an Edinburgher and monarchist to the core, during the proclamation ceremony in the city this Sunday In his opinion, Scotland is different from the rest of the United Kingdom, “but there are more sympathy by the royal house than people believe.
The crowd to follow procession who has carried the coffin from the palace of Holyroodthe official residence of the crown in Scotland, until the Saint Giles Cathedral from Edinburgh seems to agree with Michael. Thousands of people have gathered along the Royal Mile, the avenue that joins Holyrood with Saint Giles, many of them to be able to see nothing more than a mass of heads. But it did not matter, the important thing was to be there to “pay their respects” to the deceased sovereign. This is what Audrey Allan thinks, a woman who declares herself 100% monarchist and resident in Bo’ness, a town an hour’s drive from Edinburgh.
The four children of the queen
In the procession, which left the palace after 2:30 p.m. local time, the four children of the sovereign, King Carlosthe princess Well and the princes Andrés y Eduardo, as well as Ana’s husband, Vice Admiral Tim Laurence. Behind, in a vehicle, were the queen consort, Camilay SophieEdward’s wife.
Isla, a 15-year-old from Edinburgh, has skipped a few classes – with her mother’s permission, she says – in order to witness this piece of history. “It is a moment sadhas been the head of state for a long time,” she says. Much more excited is Fiona, a 53-year-old from East Ayrshire, two hours from the Scottish capital. “I loved Elizabeth, she’s been queen all my life she says, trying unsuccessfully to hold back her tears. Fiona would have liked to go to the burning chapel that will take place in the cathedral, but he considers it ruled out seeing the crowd that surrounds the temple.
The same thing happens to Alan. Originally from Glasgow but living in Switzerland for work, he has to catch a train this afternoon to attend another funeral, that of his sister-in-law. For this reason he is these days in Scotland. This Monday he has decided to approach the Royal Mile to pay tribute to a monarch “who did a good job throughout her reign and was at the foot of the canyon until the last moment“. In his opinion, Scotland’s sympathy for the monarchy is easy to explain: “A king is better than a president because he is outside of politics.” In addition, he emphasizes the fact that he died at Balmoral. “No she moved from there because she was at home,” she says after recalling the family ties that united the sovereign with this land.
Religious office and burning chapel
Among those who have come to see the procession there were also many tourists. Leonardo, Mexican but resident in London, is upset by the “chaos“that the event has generated in the city, with streets closed and bus routes canceled or modified, despite the fact that the device was “planned for a long time”. “It is a historic moment, but it is not what I came for” , he affirms, resigned, before emphasizing that he understands that for British citizens it has been a “very strong blow”. About the new king, Leonardo emphasizes that he has already hinted at what his reign will be like with gestures like the one he had the day of the proclamation, by asking an aide in a contemptuous manner to remove some inkwells.
Following the procession, members of the Royal Family, along with Scottish and UK authorities, including Scotland’s Chief Minister, Nicola Sturgeonand the British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, they have participated in a religious service before the opening of the funeral chapel, at 5:00 p.m. Later, the monarch has returned to Holyrood Palace to hold an audience with Sturgeon, and receive a motion of condolences from the Scottish Parliament. In the evening, the sovereign and the rest of the members of the royal family present in Edinburgh plan to attend a vigil in the cathedral next to the coffin of the deceased queen. This Tuesday afternoon, the coffin will be flown to London for the state funeral, which will take place next Monday.