He left the castle on the Scottish estate of Balmoral this Sunday, on the last trip to the capital for an unprecedented state funeral.
the coffin of the Queen Elizabeth II left Balmoral this Sundaythe Scottish estate where His Majesty had one of his favorite castles, in what will be the beginning of a long journey to London to receive a state funeral after 70 years on the throne.
Guards at Balmoral, the summer residence where the queen died Thursday, moved the queen’s oak coffin from the castle ballroom to a hearse to start a journey of six hours and 280 kilometers through Scottish towns towards the Palace of Holyroodhouse, in Edinburgh. The car left around 6 in the morning, Argentine time.
There were people waiting on the planned route, while the country mourned the monarch who occupied her throne for the longest time, the only one most Britons have ever known. On Sunday morning flowers and other offerings – a small teddy Paddington bear, a hand-drawn portrait of the queen – were seen before the gates of Balmoral.
Among the flowers placed before the doors there was also a jam sandwich, the favorite snack of the Paddington bear, with the message “a jam sandwich for your journey, mrs.”.
Sunday’s solemn journey through Scotland begins the day after the queen’s eldest son was officially proclaimed the new monarch, King Carlos III, in a lavish ceremony steeped in ancient traditions and political symbolism.
“I am deeply aware of this great heritage and of the onerous duties and responsibilities of sovereignty, which have now been handed over to me,” Carlos said as he assumed the duties of kingship.
Charles III will be proclaimed king on Sunday in English towns and in the other countries of the United Kingdom: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Proclamations had previously been made elsewhere in the Commonwealth, which groups former British colonies such as Australia and New Zealand.
In New Zealand’s capital Wellington, Crown Representative Governor-General Cindy Kiro said “on behalf of New Zealanders, I convey to King Charles our loyalty and support and wishes for a long and happy reign.”
Even during his mourning for his mother, Carlos worked. He was scheduled to meet at Buckingham Palace with the Commonwealth Secretary General, a group of countries grappling with affection for the queen and lingering bitterness over their colonial legacyl. That heritage includes everything from slavery to corporal punishment in African schools to the looted antiquities that remain in British institutions.
Amid the grief in the House of Windsor there were hints of a possible family reconciliation. Prince William and his brother Harry, along with his wives Kate, Princess of Wales, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stepped out to greet mourners near Windsor Castle with an unexpected joint appearance on Saturday.
Elizabeth’s last trip
The journey to Edinburgh, which will take about six hours, will cover, in addition to Ballater, the towns of Aberdeen and Dundee. The coffin with the mortal remains of the queen will enter the Palace of Holyroodhouse around 12 before this Monday it is moved to the nearby St. Giles Cathedral.
Thus, the funeral procession will leave the royal residence on Monday to advance in procession along the Royal Mile avenue – which links Holyroodhouse with Edinburgh Castle – to St Giles, where there will be a religious service attended by members of the royal family, including King Charles III. The The sovereign’s coffin will remain for about 24 hours in the cathedral so that the population can pay tribute to him.
On Tuesday, the mortal remains will be taken to the British capital for the state funeral that will take place on September 19 at Westminster Abbey. Although the coffin was originally planned to be carried on the royal train from Edinburgh’s Waverley station to London’s King’s Cross station, He will do it on an official plane in which Princess Anne will travel.
It will then be taken from Buckingham Palace to Parliament, where there will be a funeral chapel until the funeral in Westminster Abbey on September 19, the date on which the state funeral will be held.