queen elizabeth ii journey

Queen's coffin arrives in Edinburgh as Charles is proclaimed king of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Live coverage on this blog has ended, please click here for the latest updates.

A fanfare of trumpets sounded at proclamation ceremonies in the capital cities of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on Sunday officially declaring Charles king of the nations that, along with England, form the United Kingdom.

Thousands of people gathered at Edinburgh Castle, Cardiff Castle and Hillsborough Castle in Belfast to hear the official announcement, although Charles officially became king when  Queen Elizabeth II died Thursday .

The ceremonies took place as the late monarch's coffin left Balmoral Castle and traveled to Edinburgh on Sunday. Crowds also lined the roads in tribute to the queen as the funeral procession slowly wound through tiny villages and small towns from the remote castle in the Scottish Highlands.

Here's what happened:

• Queen Elizabeth II's coffin arrived at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh from Balmoral.
• The queen’s daughter, Princess Anne, accompanied the cortege as it slowly made its way to the throne room at Holyroodhouse Palace.
• King Charles III met with the secretary-general of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, who heads the central body that has served the group of former colonies since it was established in 1965.
• Prince Andrew and his former wife, Sarah, the Duchess of York, will inherit the queen's corgis, according to a source close to the prince.

Follow here for live coverage.

Public art honors the queen at a familiar spot in London

Queen Elizabeth's subjects get one final chance to pay respects at Palace of Westminster

David K. Li

Jean-Nicholas Fievet

The general public will be allowed to file past Queen Elizabeth's closed coffin in a round-the-clock operation that organizers warned could be physically taxing on mourners.

The queen's subjects and well-wishers will be able to stroll past the raised platform to glimpse her casket inside Westminster Hall in the Palace of Westminster from 5 p.m. BST Wednesday until 6:30 a.m. a week from Monday, the government announced Sunday.

"You will need to stand for many hours, possibly overnight, with very little opportunity to sit down as the queue will be continuously moving," a government statement said.

Larger bags, food and food containers will be strictly prohibited once mourners reach the Palace of Westminster, where they will be subjected to "airport-style" security screening, officials said.

King Charles meets with the Realm High Commissioners of U.K.'s Commonwealth nations

Newly crowned King Charles III greeted Realm High Commissioners at Buckingham Palace on Sunday in hope of maintaining the affiliation of former British-ruled lands that meant so much to his mother.

King Charles is the head of state in those countries, but Antigua and Barbuda is reportedly planning a referendum to possibly become a republic .

The House of Commons of Canada, one of the 14 realms, announced Saturday night that Parliament, originally set to reconvene for the fall term on Sept. 19 , will push that to Sept. 20 in honor of Queen Elizabeth's funeral.

Preparations underway at Edinburgh's St. Giles' Cathedral

Alexander Smith

Preparations were underway at Edinburgh’s St. Giles’ Cathedral on Sunday, readying the house of worship for the arrival of the queen's casket Monday. It will be taken from Holyroodhouse in a procession to St, Giles’ Cathedral, where it will lie at rest until Tuesday. Large crowds of mourners are expected to pay their respects.

Thousands turn out as Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin arrives in Edinburgh

Crowds lined the streets of the Scottish capital as the queen’s hearse passed by, with some people bursting into applause. Amid solemn ceremony, the coffin was then taken to lie in state in the throne room at Holyroodhouse Palace.

Sydney Opera House sings praises of the queen

Ali Gostanian

The iconic Sydney Opera House paid tribute to the queen all weekend, shining her image on a shell of the architectural wonder's famed exterior.

Queen Elizabeth II presided over opening ceremonies of the Sydney Opera House, one of the world's most famous and distinctive structures, in 1973.

Her death has already had an impact on Australian politics. Prime Minster Anthony Albanese said he would not call for a referendum on whether Australia should become a republic in his first term.

President Biden accepts invitation to attend the queen's funeral

Jessica Simeone

President Joe Biden formally accepted an invitation Sunday to attend Queen Elizabeth II's funeral on Sept. 19. The first lady will accompany him to the service.

An emotional moment for some in the crowd

EDINBURGH, Scotland — For some in the crowd in the Scottish capital, seeing the coffin was a deeply emotional moment.

“I cried when I saw it,” said Margory Young, 57, a nurse who traveled from the Scottish city of Glasgow to pay her respects. “We have never known life without her, so it was a moment in history and we had to see it.”

Prince Andrew to inherit queen's corgis

The queen’s corgis will be cared for by Prince Andrew and his former wife, Sarah, the Duchess of York, who live together in Windsor, according to a source close to the prince. 

It was Sarah who found the puppies, which the prince gave to the queen last year after Prince Philip died, the source said.

Biden recalls Queen Elizabeth II tribute at 9/11 commemoration

Alicia Victoria Lozano

Speaking at the National Sept. 11 Pentagon Memorial, President Joe Biden recalled a message from the late queen after the attacks 21 years ago Sunday.

“I remember a message sent to the American people from Queen Elizabeth,” he said. “It was on September 11. Her ambassador read a prayer of service at St. Thomas Church in New York, where she pointedly reminded us [that] ‘grief is the price we pay for love.’”

The queen broke with tradition in 2001 by ordering that the U.S. national anthem be played outside Buckingham Palace two days after the attacks. In 2010, she traveled to ground zero in New York City to honor the victims and laid a wreath at the site.

Hearse carrying queen's coffin completes journey

EDINBURGH, Scotland — The appearance of a helicopter overhead sent a crackle through the dense crowd and then the hearse carrying Queen Elizabeth II arrived on Edinburgh's Royal Mile.

Some climbed on phone boxes, balconies and a staircase. Others leaned out windows eager to catch a glimpse. Many tried to capture the moment on their cellphones, some applauded. Minutes later it started to rain.

After the hearse stopped outside Holyroodhouse Palace, the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland, the coffin was carried into the throne room by members of the military.

The coffin will remain under continuous vigil for 24 hours, allowing the public to pay its respects.

Queen's coffin arrives in Edinburgh

A hearse carrying Queen Elizabeth II's coffin has completed its journey to Edinburgh after a six-hour drive from Balmoral estate.

The coffin will remain in Scotland until Tuesday, when it will be flown from Edinburgh to Buckingham Palace in London.

The hearse left Balmoral Castle Sunday morning, draped in the Royal Standard and adorned with a wreath of flowers.

Highway overpass filled with crowds of people in Scotland

Elizabeth Kuhr

Anti-monarchists in Scotland turn their backs on king's proclamation

EDINBURGH, Scotland — Not everyone was deferential when King Charles III's proclamation was read aloud outside St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh Sunday.

A group of anti-monarchist protesters — or republicans — turned their backs and shouted “no consent” during the proclamation, part of which declares that Scotland consents to Charles being declared king.

“We wanted to make it clear that there’s more than one viewpoint in Scotland,” said John Hall, 33, treasurer of the anti-monarchy campaign group One Republic. “I wanted to make sure that I made it clear I didn’t consent to this pageantry.”

Hall added there were a number of people in the crowd shouting similar messages. “It’s nice to know I’m not the only one holding that viewpoint,” he said.

Crowds increase on Edinburgh's Royal Mile as queen's coffin nears Scottish capital

EDINBURGH, Scotland — With the crowds on Edinburgh's Royal Mile already three or four deep in places, Vivienne Evans, 29, and Raina Roche, 24, were slightly worried about what it would be like when Queen Elizabeth II's coffin arrived in the Scottish capital.

“I don’t know what the response is going to be like when we see her coffin,” said Evans, who is originally from London and goes to college in nearby Glasgow.

“I imagine it will be incredibly overwhelming for a lot of people,” said Roche, a New Jersey native studying in London.

No kidding! Goat mascot attends King Charles III's proclamation in Wales

In Wales, an unusual guest appeared at the proclamation of Charles as king at Cardiff Castle — Shenkin IV, the mascot of the 3rd Battalion Royal Welsh, an infantry regiment of the British army. 

The battalion has kept a goat as a mascot since the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American War of Independence in 1775, according to the Royal Welsh Museum.

Queen Victoria allowed the new mascot to be chosen from the royal herd of Kashmir goats and the tradition has been followed until the modern day. Queen Elizabeth II gave Shenkin IV — who has a military rank of Lance Corporal and receives an income that contributes to his uniform and lodging — to the battalion in 2018.

Shenkin IV took four weeks to catch from the royal herd. Goat Major Sergeant Mark Jackson of the Royal Welsh said at the time it was the “cheeky look in his eye” that made him an ideal mascot.

New Prince of Wales speaks with Welsh first minister

Joy Y. Wang

Prince William, newly named the Prince of Wales after his father's ascent to the throne, spoke on Sunday with the Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford.

William told the official that he would serve the Welsh people with “humility and great respect,” according to a statement released by Kensington Palace.  

“The prince acknowledged his and the princess’s deep affection for Wales, having made their first family home in Anglesey including during the earliest months of Prince George’s life,” it added.

William and his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, intend to visit the country soon and to meet with Drakeford and other leaders, according to the statement.

Anti-royalists demonstrate outside Cardiff Castle in Wales

Antigua and Barbuda to hold republic referendum within 3 years

The prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda said he would call for a referendum on whether the his country should become a republic within three years.

The Caribbean country is one of 14 nations to retain the British monarch as their head of state, but after signing a document confirming Charles’ status as the new king, he said he would push for a new poll.

“It does not represent any form of disrespect to the monarch. This is not an act of hostility, or any difference between Antigua and Barbuda and the monarchy,” he told British broadcaster ITV News. “It is a final step to complete the circle of independence to become a truly sovereign nation.”

Since Barbados became a republic in 2021, a number of other Caribbean countries, including the Bahamas, Jamaica and St. Kitts and Nevis, signaled they intend to do the same. 

Sharp shooters over Edinburgh cathedral ahead of queen's arrival

King arrives at Buckingham Palace

Daniel Arkin

LONDON — Crowds lining the roads cheered as King Charles III arrived at Buckingham Palace Sunday afternoon.

The new king waved as his black car drove down The Mall and through the palace gates accompanied by a motorcade of four cars and four police motorbikes.

Onlookers shouted “God save the King” while one man teared up and said he would remember the moment for the rest of his life.

India holds national day of mourning

Mithil Aggarwal

NEW DELHI — Flags at public places are flying at half-staff across India as the country held a national day of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II.

While some questioned why a symbol of colonial rule was being honored, others chose to focus on the person herself.

New Delhi shop owner Sameer Chaudhary, 50, told NBC News that the queen had a "terrific" reign but she symbolized the cruel colonial institution that devastated India.

What is the Royal Standard draped over the queen's coffin?

The coffin of the late queen was draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland as it left Balmoral Estate, highlighting the monarch's personal and official connection to one of her favorite places.

The Royal Standard has taken various forms throughout history and varies from country to country.

In Scotland, it features Scottish arms in the first and fourth quarters and English arms in the second. The lion rampant is a nod to the Royal Banner of the Royal Arms of Scotland, the crown’s official banner in Scotland.

In England, however, the standard bears four quarterings — England (represented by three lions) in the first and fourth quarters, Scotland (represented by a lion rampant) in the second quarter and Ireland (represented by a harp) in the third quarter.

Crowds build outside Edinburgh cathedral

Andrew Lonie, 79, a retiree from Edinburgh, was among the swelling crowds outside the cathedral where Charles was officially proclaimed king of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

“I wanted to come and see it in person — I’ve never heard one before,” said Lonie, who was 9 years old when the last new monarch took the throne. “It’s a piece of history, and I’m just so glad I’m able to see it.”

Charles proclaimed King of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Henry Austin

A fanfare of trumpets was sounded in Scotland's capital, Edinburgh, Wales' capital, Cardiff, and Northern Ireland's capital, Belfast, before Charles was officially proclaimed king in all the three countries.

Thousands of people gathered at Edinburgh Castle, Cardiff Castle and Belfast's Hillsborough Castle to hear the official announcement, although Charles officially became king when  Elizabeth died Thursday .

Many joined in as the national anthem, “God Save the King,” was played and offered three cheers for their new monarch.

Afterward, 21-gun salutes resounded outside all three venues.

Wreath atop queen's coffin adorned with flowers from Balmoral

An elaborate wreath accompanied the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, featuring flowers and leaves from her beloved Balmoral estate in Scotland.

It features dahlias, sweet peas, phlox, white heather and pine fir, the royal family said in a tweet.

Flowers pile high at the gates of Balmoral Castle

Australian prime minister will not hold referendum on country becoming a republic during his first term

With a pro-republic Labor Party government in power, Australia’s constitutional ties to the British monarchy will again be open to debate for the first time since change was rejected in a 1999 referendum.

However, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told British broadcaster Sky News he will not hold a referendum on whether Australia should become a republic in his first term. (Sky News is owned by Comcast, the parent company of NBC News.)

In his first international interview since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Albanese said it was a moment to show gratitude for the Queen’s “service to Australia, the Commonwealth and the world.”

Queen Elizabeth II in 1954 became the only reigning British monarch to travel to Australia and went on to visit the country 16 times.

Scottish leader marks 'sad and poignant moment' as queen leaves Balmoral Castle

As Queen Elizabeth II's coffin embarked on its final journey from Balmoral Castle, Scotland's first minister posted a touching tribute to the late monarch.

“A sad and poignant moment as Her Majesty, The Queen leaves her beloved Balmoral for the final time. Today, as she makes her journey to Edinburgh, Scotland will pay tribute to an extraordinary woman,” Nicola Sturgeon said in a tweet .

On Friday, Sturgeon was pictured signing a book of condolence the monarch.

'You'll always be remembered'

EDINBURGH, Scotland — The outer walls and gates of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland, have been covered in row upon row of flowers, notes and even children’s drawings mourning and thanking the late queen.

“You’ll always be remembered in my house as an example on how to behave under all circumstances,” one handwritten message said.

Another was written on a Portuguese flag. “Canada loves you forever,” one said.

Fiona and Alex Herries laid flowers with their two young daughters. “We just thought it was important for the next generation to be part of this so they understand the significance of this moment in history,” Fiona said.

Knitted tribute to the queen placed on postbox in Scottish village

Children wave union flags as they wait for queen's funeral procession

Queen's coffin leaves Scotland's Balmoral Castle

Draped in the Royal Standard, Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin has left Balmoral Castle to begin its journey to Edinburgh, Scotland's capital.

It is the first time her coffin has been seen since her death on Thursday.

The hearse will wind its way through tiny villages and small towns from the remote castle in the Scottish Highlands before it is laid to rest in the throne room of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland, until Monday afternoon.

Royal reunion dominates British front pages

Images of Prince William, Prince Harry and their wives together for the first time in several months were splashed across the pages of British newspapers Sunday morning, with headlines proclaiming “peace” and unity for the sake of their grandmother.

On Saturday, the siblings walked together around a large flower memorial for the queen outside Windsor Castle, where they shook hands with members of the public and read handwritten notes left by mourners.

"William and Harry came together to mourn," The Independent said while tabloid, The People said they made "Peace for Gran."

Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior royals in 2020 while Prince William and Catherine, now Princess of Wales, carried on official duties.

Early mourners gather to see the queen's funeral procession

Remembrance services to be held for queen across U.K.

Remembrance services for Queen Elizabeth II will be held across the U.K. on the first Sunday after her death.

Special guidance has been issued by the Church of England on services during the period of mourning.

“Flags to be lowered to half mast, and to remain at this height until the day after the State Funeral,” it says, adding that bells should be rung at a “practicable” time.

The queen was formally the Defender of the Faith and governor of the Church of England, titles dating back centuries that have now passed to her son.

Queen Elizabeth to leave Balmoral for the last time

Dennis Romero

On Sunday, the queen’s coffin will be driven from Balmoral Castle, Royal Deeside, to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. 

Public viewing of the vehicle will be possible along the route in Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen and Dundee, officials said.

The queen’s coffin will be carried into the Throne Room at Holyroodhouse, where it will remain until Monday.

Proclamations for the queen will be read elsewhere in Scotland, in Northern Ireland and Wales.

Denmark’s queen scales back her jubilee after Queen Elizabeth II’s death

Associated Press

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Denmark’s Queen Margrethe canceled, postponed and scaled back events of her own jubilee this weekend in which she marks 50 years on the throne of Europe’s oldest ruling monarchy.

Queen Margrethe, 82, whose reign is now Europe’s longest, has praised Britain’s late monarch as “a towering figure among European monarchs and a great inspiration to us all,” adding that “We shall miss her terribly.”

The Danish monarch also asked for a moment of silence Saturday evening before a gala performance at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen.

Billboards around the world pay homage to Queen Elizabeth II

Rania Soetirto

Displayed in a solid black background, images of the queen in her earlier years and in her 90s accompanied by the queen’s initials could be seen across buildings in Manila, Philippines.

This is one of the many tributes seen across the world as people continue to commemorate the queen’s legacy.

Watch CBS News

Queen Elizabeth II begins her final journey

By Holly Williams

September 11, 2022 / 7:30 PM EDT / CBS News

At 10 a.m. Sunday, Queen Elizabeth II began her final journey.

From her favorite home, Balmoral Castle in the Scottish countryside, the Queen's cortege traveled to Edinburgh, where she'll lie in rest until Tuesday, before moving to London. Hundreds of thousands are expected to pay their last respects.

The British monarch, who reigned for over 70 years, passed away on Thursday.

Just two days earlier she'd met with Britain's new prime minister, as she had with every prime minister, going back to Winston Churchill. For decades she was arguably the glue that united this kingdom.

At 96, she'd been frail for months, but outside Buckingham Palace a shocked crowd immediately gathered. King Charles III was officially proclaimed the new sovereign yesterday. The death of their grandmother brought estranged brothers, Princes William and Harry, together again, briefly at least.

In his first address to the nation as king, Charles borrowed from Shakespeare to bid his mother farewell.

"May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest," he said.

After a state funeral on Monday the 19th, Queen Elizabeth will be laid to rest alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, at Windsor Castle, just outside London.

• Queen Elizabeth II
• United Kingdom

Holly Williams is a CBS News senior foreign correspondent based in the network's CBS London bureau. Williams joined CBS News in July 2012, and has more than 25 years of experience covering major news events and international conflicts across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

More from CBS News

U.S. women's soccer team beats Brazil 1-0 to win Olympic gold

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone sets world record in 400-meter hurdles final

U.S. women's water polo team go home empty-handed from Paris Olympics

Remains of Mississippi airman identified 81 years after he died as POW

Queen's funeral: Elizabeth II is buried beside Prince Philip - as royals bid farewell to monarch at procession and poignant services

In an emotional day for grieving members of the Royal Family, tens of thousands of people lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the procession carrying the Queen's coffin and millions more watched on television around the world.

Chief sub-editor @DavidMercerSky

Tuesday 20 September 2022 06:36, UK

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

The Queen has been buried beside her husband, Prince Philip, after a state funeral and a poignant chapel service - as the nation bid a final farewell to Britain's longest reigning monarch.

Elizabeth II was laid to rest at the King George VI Memorial Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle following a private burial on Monday evening.

It followed an emotional day for grieving members of the Royal Family, with tens of thousands of people lining the streets to catch a glimpse of the procession carrying the Queen's coffin and millions more watching on television around the world.

The King appeared close to tears during the funeral of his mother at Westminster Abbey, where world leaders - including US President Joe Biden, his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Liz Truss - were among the 2,000-strong congregation.

Read live updates as they happened from Queen Elizabeth II's funeral

The Queen's coffin left Westminster Hall on Monday morning, where the final members of the public had queued overnight to see the monarch lying in state, and was carried on a gun carriage to the abbey in a procession including the monarch's children.

In a personal touch, the wreath adorning the Queen's coffin had a handwritten note written by the King, which read: "In loving and devoted memory. Charles R."

The wreath also included flowers requested by the King which were cut from the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Highgrove House.

George and Charlotte walk behind coffin

Inside Westminster Abbey, King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, walked immediately behind the coffin.

They were followed by the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, the Duke of York, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, and the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Nine-year-old Prince George and Princess Charlotte , aged seven, accompanied their parents, followed by their uncle and aunt, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Before the service, the Princess of Wales could be seen holding Charlotte's hand, and giving her a reassuring touch on the shoulder.

'We will meet again'

Delivering the sermon, the Archbishop of Canterbury told mourners the "grief" felt around the world over the Queen's death "arises from her abundant life and loving service".

"She was joyful, present to so many, touching a multitude of lives," the Most Rev Justin Welby said.

"People of loving service are rare in any walk of life. Leaders of loving service are still rarer."

"Her late Majesty's broadcast during the COVID lockdown ended with 'We will meet again', words of hope from a song of Vera Lynn."

He added: "All who follow the Queen's example, and inspiration of trust and faith in God, can with her say: 'We will meet again'."

Read more: King's goodbye message and Andrew's tears - key moments In pictures: the Queen's state funeral

The Dean of Windsor told members of the congregation they were at the venue where the Queen "was married and crowned... to remember her long life of selfless service".

State trumpeters from the Household Cavalry sounded the Last Post followed by a two-minute silence across the country, with the national anthem then sung by the congregation.

Huge crowds gather for historic procession

Tens of thousands of mourners lined the ceremonial procession route from the Abbey to Wellington Arch, passing Buckingham Palace where staff stood outside the gates and watched as the late monarch was taken past.

The Queen's four children - the King, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and Earl of Wessex - walked behind the coffin in the procession, followed by three of her grandsons, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex and Peter Phillips.

Flowers were thrown into the road by members of the public after the Queen's coffin was transferred to the state hearse at Wellington Arch and then travelled to Windsor Castle.

Thousands of people gathered along the Long Walk leading to the landmark and broke out in applause as the procession carrying the coffin passed them.

Queen buried beside husband

Around 800 mourners, including senior royals and members of the Queen's Household and Windsor estate staff, attended a committal ceremony held at St George's Chapel.

The King took the same seat where the Queen sat alone for the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to the final hymn, the Imperial State Crown, the orb and the sceptre were removed from the Queen's coffin, and placed on the altar.

At the end of the final hymn, the King placed a flag - the Queen's company camp colour of the Grenadier Guards - on the coffin.

The coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault, before the Queen's piper played a lament as he walked away, in a symbolic gesture.

The Archbishop of Canterbury concluded the service with a blessing before the congregation sang the national anthem.

In a touching gesture before the service, the Queen's faithful friends, her corgis Muick and Sandy, made an appearance in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle.

Read more: The history and significance of Queen's final resting place Windsor says goodbye to a much-loved Queen - and neighbour

The Queen's final resting place is in the King George VI memorial chapel, an annex to the main chapel where her mother and father were buried, along with the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret.

The coffin of the Queen's husband, Prince Philip, has been moved from the Royal Vault to the memorial chapel to join her.

The earth scattered onto the Queen's coffin was gathered from the royal mausoleum at Frogmore.

The Queen's death on Thursday 8 September at the age of 96 brought an end to her 70-year reign and triggered a period of national mourning, which ends on Monday.

The Royal Family will remain in mourning for seven days after her funeral.

Related Topics

• Royal Family

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Auto Racing
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin takes long road through Scotland

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, have joined Prince William and his wife Kate at Windsor Castle to view floral tributes left by the public in honor of Queen Elizabeth II. (Sept. 10)

The hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland, passes the City Chambers on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 on the journey from Balmoral to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, where it will lie in rest for a day. (Jane Barlow/Pool Photo via AP)

• Copy Link copied

The hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland, passes along Canongate towards the Royal Mile as it completes its journey from Balmoral to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, where it will lie in rest for a day, Sunday Sept. 11, 2022. (Jacob King/Pool Photo via AP)

People watch the Queens cortege with the hearse containing her coffin on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. The coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II is being transported Sunday on a journey from Balmoral to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, where it will lie at rest before being moved to London later in the week. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

The hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland, passes down the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 on the journey from Balmoral to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, where it will lie in rest for a day. (Jane Barlow/Pool Photo via AP)

Pallbearers carry the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland, as it arrives at Holyroodhouse, where it will lie in rest for a day, in Edinburgh, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and a rock of stability across much of a turbulent century, died Thursday Sept. 8, 2022, after 70 years on the throne. She was 96. (Alkis Konstantinidis/Pool Photo via AP)

The coffin containing the body of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II leaves Balmoral Castle in Scotland, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. The Queen’s coffin will be transported Sunday on a journey from Balmoral to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, where it will lie at rest before being moved to London later in the week. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Members of the public line the streets in Ballater, Scotland, as the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II passes through as it makes its journey to Edinburgh from Balmoral in Scotland, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. The Queen’s coffin will be transported Sunday on a journey from Balmoral to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, where it will lie at rest before being moved to London later in the week. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)

People watch the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland, after it crossed Friarton Bridge as it continues its journey to Edinburgh from Balmoral, in Perth, Scotland, Sunday Sept. 11, 2022. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and a rock of stability across much of a turbulent century, died Thursday Sept. 8, 2022, after 70 years on the throne. She was 96. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)

Spectators watch as the cortege with the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II drives on the M90 motorway as it makes its journey to Edinburgh from Balmoral in Scotland, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. The Queen’s coffin is being transported Sunday on a journey from Balmoral to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, where it will lie at rest before being moved to London later in the week. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Members of the public await the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, passing through Dundee, Scotland, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, as it continues its journey to Edinburgh from Balmoral. (Michael Boyd/PA via AP)

The hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland, passing over the Queensferry Crossing in Scotland, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, as it continues its journey to Edinburgh from Balmoral. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)

Members of the public at Friarton Bridge in Perth, Scotland, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 wait for arrival of the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, as it continues its journey to Edinburgh from Balmoral. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)

From left, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Prince Andrew, Princess Anne, Sophie the Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward watch as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland, completes its journey from Balmoral to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where it will lie in rest for a day, in Edinburgh, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and a rock of stability across much of a turbulent century, died Thursday Sept. 8, 2022, after 70 years on the throne. She was 96. (Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP)

From second right, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Sophie, Countess of Wessex watch as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland, completes its journey from Balmoral to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where it will lie in rest for a day, in Edinburgh, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and a rock of stability across much of a turbulent century, died Thursday Sept. 8, 2022, after 70 years on the throne. She was 96. (Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP)

CAPTION CORRECTS BYLINE Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence and Princess Anne stand solemnly as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland, as it arrives at Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, where it will lie in rest for a day, Sunday Sept. 11, 2022. (Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP)

A man holds up a sign among members of the public attending a public Proclamation to announce the Accession of King Charles III, outside St Giles Cathedral, on the Royal Mile, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, died Thursday Sept. 8, 2022, after 70 years on the throne. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Crowds of people walk to Windsor Castle to bring flowers, in Windsor, England, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch died Thursday Sept. 8, 2022, after 70 years on the throne. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Lance Corporal Shenkin IV, the regimental mascot goat, accompanies the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Welsh regiment at the Accession Proclamation Ceremony at Cardiff Castle, Wales, publicly proclaiming King Charles III as the new monarch, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. (Ben Birchall/PA via AP)

The Union Jack is set on half-mast at a church outside Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch died Thursday Sept. 8, 2022, after 70 years on the throne. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

King Charles III during a reception with Realm High Commissioners and their spouses in the Bow Room at Buckingham Palace, London, Sunday Sept. 11, 2022. (Victoria Jones/Pool Photo via AP)

Flowers and posters for Queen Elizabeth II in front of Buckingham Palace, in London, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

People wait in line to lay flowers for Queen Elizabeth II in front of Buckingham Palace, in London, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

Neil Pollard arrives with his three year old son Bruce, dressed as a King’s Guard, at Windsor Castle to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, in Windsor, England, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and a rock of stability across much of a turbulent century, died Thursday Sept. 8, 2022, after 70 years on the throne. She was 96. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace, London, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Sunday Sept. 11, 2022. (James Manning/PA via AP)

People gather at flowers and messages to tribute Queen Elizabeth II, in front of Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and a rock of stability across much of a turbulent century, died Thursday Sept. 8, 2022, after 70 years on the throne. She was 96. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — In a somber, regal procession, Queen Elizabeth II’s flag-draped coffin was driven slowly through the Scottish countryside Sunday from her beloved Balmoral Castle to the Scottish capital of Edinburgh. Mourners packed city streets and highway bridges or lined rural roads with cars and tractors to take part in a historic goodbye to the monarch who had reigned for 70 years .

The hearse drove past piles of bouquets and other tributes as it led a seven-car cortege from Balmoral, where the queen died Thursday at 96, for a six-hour trip through Scottish towns to Holyroodhouse palace in Edinburgh. The late queen’s coffin was draped in the Royal Standard for Scotland and topped with a wreath made of flowers from the estate, including sweet peas, one of the queen’s favorites.

The procession was a huge event for Scotland as the U.K. takes days to mourn its longest-reigning monarch, the only one most Britons have ever known. People turned out hours early to grab a space by the police barricades in Edinburgh. By afternoon, the crowds were 10 people deep.

“I think she has been an ever-constant in my life. She was the queen I was born under, and she has always been there,” said Angus Ruthven, a 54-year-old civil servant from Edinburgh. “I think it is going to take a lot of adjusting that she is not here.”

Silence fell on the packed Royal Mile in Edinburgh as the hearse carrying the queen arrived. But as the convoy vanished from view, the crowd spontaneously started clapping.

“A very historic moment. I am quite speechless actually,” said Fiona Moffat, a 57-year-old office manager from Glasgow. “She was a lovely lady. Great mother, grandmother. She did well. I am very proud of her.”

When the hearse reached Holyroodhouse, members of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, wearing green tartan kilts, carried the coffin past the queen’s youngest three children —Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — into the throne room, where it was to remain until Monday afternoon so staff can pay their last respects.

King Charles III and his Queen Consort Camilla will travel Monday to Edinburgh to join another solemn procession that takes the queen’s coffin to St. Giles Cathedral on the city’s Royal Mile. There the coffin will remain for 24 hours so the Scottish public can pay their respects before it is flown to London on Tuesday.

The first village the cortege passed through was Ballater, where residents regard the royal family as neighbors. Hundreds of people watched in silence. Some threw flowers in front of the hearse.

“She meant such a lot to people in this area. People were crying, it was amazing to see,” said Victoria Pacheco, a guest house manager.

In each Scottish town and village, the entourage was met with respect. People stood mostly in silence; some clapped politely, others pointed their phone cameras at the passing cars. In Aberdeenshire, farmers lined the route with an honor guard of tractors.

Along the route, the cortege passed through locations laden with House of Windsor history. Those included Dyce, where in 1975 the queen formally opened the U.K.’s first North Sea oil pipeline, and Fife, near St. Andrews University, where her grandson Prince William, now the Prince of Wales, studied and met his future wife, Catherine.

Sunday’s solemn drive came as the queen’s eldest son was formally proclaimed the new monarch — King Charles III — in the rest of the United Kingdom: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It came a day after a pomp-filled accession ceremony in England.

“I am deeply aware of this great inheritance and of the duties and heavy responsibilities of sovereignty, which have now passed to me,” Charles said Saturday.

Just before the proclamation was read Sunday in Edinburgh, a protester appeared with a sign condemning imperialism and urging leaders to “abolish the monarchy.” She was taken away by police. Reaction was mixed. One man shouted, “Let her go! It’s free speech!” while others shouted: “Have some respect!”

Still, there was some booing in Edinburgh when Joseph Morrow, Lord Lyon King of Arms, finished his proclamation with “God save the king!”

That upset Ann Hamilton, 48.

“There’s tens of thousands of people here today to show their respect. For them to be here, heckling through things, I think it was terrible. If they were so against it, they shouldn’t have come,” she said.

Still, it was a sign of how some, including people in Britain’s former colonies, are struggling with the legacy of the monarchy — and its future.

Earlier in the day, proclamations were read in other parts of the Commonwealth, including Australia and New Zealand.

Charles, even as he mourned his late mother, got to work at Buckingham Palace, meeting with the secretary-general and other Commonwealth envoys. Many in those nations are grappling with both affection for the queen and lingering bitterness over their colonial legacies , which ranged from slavery to corporal punishment in African schools to looted artifacts held in British cultural institutions.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is in favor of an Australian republic, said Sunday that now was not the time for a change but for paying tribute to the late queen. India, a former British colony, observed a day of state mourning, with flags lowered to half-staff.

Amid the grief enveloping the House of Windsor, there were hints of a possible family reconciliation. Prince William and his brother Harry , together with their respective wives, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, delighted mourners near Windsor Castle with a surprise joint appearance Saturday.

The queen’s coffin was taking a circuitous journey back to the capital. After it is flown to London on Tuesday, the coffin will be moved from Buckingham Palace on Wednesday to the Houses of Parliament to lie in state until a state funeral at Westminster Abbey on Sept. 19.

In Ballater, the Rev. David Barr said locals consider the royal family as neighbors.

“When she comes up here, and she goes through those gates, I believe the royal part of her stays mostly outside,” he said of the queen. “And as she goes in, she was able to be a wife, a loving wife, a loving mum, a loving gran and then later on a loving great-gran — and aunty — and be normal.”

Elizabeth Taylor, from Aberdeen, had tears in her eyes after the hearse passed through Ballater.

“It was very emotional. It was respectful and showed what they think of the queen,” she said. “She certainly gave service to this country, even up until a few days before her death.”

Corder reported from London.

Follow AP coverage of Queen Elizabeth II at https://apnews.com/hub/queen-elizabeth-ii

Queen Elizabeth II's Coffin Makes Journey Through Scotland

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — In a somber, regal procession, Queen Elizabeth II ’s flag-draped coffin was driven slowly through the Scottish countryside Sunday from her beloved Balmoral Castle to the Scottish capital of Edinburgh. Mourners packed city streets and highway bridges or lined rural roads with cars and tractors to take part in a historic goodbye to the monarch who had reigned for 70 years .

The hearse drove past piles of bouquets and other tributes as it led a seven-car cortege from Balmoral, where the queen died Thursday at 96, for a six-hour trip through Scottish towns to Holyroodhouse palace in Edinburgh. The late queen’s coffin was draped in the Royal Standard for Scotland and topped with a wreath made of flowers from the estate, including sweet peas, one of the queen’s favorites.

The procession was a huge event for Scotland as the U.K. takes days to mourn its longest-reigning monarch, the only one most Britons have ever known. People turned out hours early to grab a space by the police barricades in Edinburgh. By afternoon, the crowds were 10 people deep.

“I think she has been an ever-constant in my life. She was the queen I was born under, and she has always been there,” said Angus Ruthven, a 54-year-old civil servant from Edinburgh. “I think it is going to take a lot of adjusting that she is not here.”

Silence fell on the packed Royal Mile in Edinburgh as the hearse carrying the queen arrived. But as the convoy vanished from view, the crowd spontaneously started clapping.

“A very historic moment. I am quite speechless actually,” said Fiona Moffat, a 57-year-old office manager from Glasgow. “She was a lovely lady. Great mother, grandmother. She did well. I am very proud of her.”

When the hearse reached Holyroodhouse, members of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, wearing green tartan kilts, carried the coffin past the queen’s youngest three children —Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — into the throne room, where it was to remain until Monday afternoon so staff can pay their last respects.

King Charles III and his Queen Consort Camilla will travel Monday to Edinburgh to join another solemn procession that takes the queen’s coffin to St. Giles Cathedral on the city’s Royal Mile. There the coffin will remain for 24 hours so the Scottish public can pay their respects before it is flown to London on Tuesday.

The first village the cortege passed through was Ballater, where residents regard the royal family as neighbors. Hundreds of people watched in silence. Some threw flowers in front of the hearse.

“She meant such a lot to people in this area. People were crying, it was amazing to see,” said Victoria Pacheco, a guest house manager.

In each Scottish town and village, the entourage was met with respect. People stood mostly in silence; some clapped politely, others pointed their phone cameras at the passing cars. In Aberdeenshire, farmers lined the route with an honor guard of tractors.

Along the route, the cortege passed through locations laden with House of Windsor history. Those included Dyce, where in 1975 the queen formally opened the U.K.’s first North Sea oil pipeline, and Fife, near St. Andrews University, where her grandson Prince William, now the Prince of Wales, studied and met his future wife, Catherine.

Sunday’s solemn drive came as the queen’s eldest son was formally proclaimed the new monarch — King Charles III — in the rest of the United Kingdom: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It came a day after a pomp-filled accession ceremony in England.

“I am deeply aware of this great inheritance and of the duties and heavy responsibilities of sovereignty, which have now passed to me,” Charles said Saturday.

Just before the proclamation was read Sunday in Edinburgh, a protester appeared with a sign condemning imperialism and urging leaders to “abolish the monarchy.” She was taken away by police. Reaction was mixed. One man shouted, “Let her go! It’s free speech!” while others shouted: “Have some respect!”

Still, there was some booing in Edinburgh when Joseph Morrow, Lord Lyon King of Arms, finished his proclamation with “God save the king!”

That upset Ann Hamilton, 48.

“There’s tens of thousands of people here today to show their respect. For them to be here, heckling through things, I think it was terrible. If they were so against it, they shouldn’t have come,” she said.

Still, it was a sign of how some, including people in Britain’s former colonies, are struggling with the legacy of the monarchy — and its future.

Earlier in the day, proclamations were read in other parts of the Commonwealth, including Australia and New Zealand.

Charles, even as he mourned his late mother, got to work at Buckingham Palace, meeting with the secretary-general and other Commonwealth envoys. Many in those nations are grappling with both affection for the queen and lingering bitterness over their colonial legacies , which ranged from slavery to corporal punishment in African schools to looted artifacts held in British cultural institutions.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is in favor of an Australian republic, said Sunday that now was not the time for a change but for paying tribute to the late queen. India, a former British colony, observed a day of state mourning, with flags lowered to half-staff.

Amid the grief enveloping the House of Windsor, there were hints of a possible family reconciliation. Prince William and his brother Harry , together with their respective wives, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, delighted mourners near Windsor Castle with a surprise joint appearance Saturday.

The queen’s coffin was taking a circuitous journey back to the capital. After it is flown to London on Tuesday, the coffin will be moved from Buckingham Palace on Wednesday to the Houses of Parliament to lie in state until a state funeral at Westminster Abbey on Sept. 19.

In Ballater, the Rev. David Barr said locals consider the royal family as neighbors.

“When she comes up here, and she goes through those gates, I believe the royal part of her stays mostly outside,” he said of the queen. “And as she goes in, she was able to be a wife, a loving wife, a loving mum, a loving gran and then later on a loving great-gran — and aunty — and be normal.”

Elizabeth Taylor, from Aberdeen, had tears in her eyes after the hearse passed through Ballater.

“It was very emotional. It was respectful and showed what they think of the queen,” she said. “She certainly gave service to this country, even up until a few days before her death.”

Corder reported from London.

Follow AP coverage of Queen Elizabeth II at https://apnews.com/hub/queen-elizabeth-ii

From Our Partner

More in world news.

Skip to Main Content of WWII

A princess at war: queen elizabeth ii during world war ii.

During the Second World War, life changed dramatically for the people of Britain, including the Royal Family.

Top Image: Princess Elizabeth, pictured in her ATS uniform, April 1945. Image from the Imperial War Museum collection, TR 2832.

On September 13, 1940, shortly after the start of Germany’s bombing campaign on the towns and cities of Britain, five high explosive bombs were dropped on Buckingham Palace. The Royal Chapel, inner quadrangle and Palace gates were hit, and several workmen were injured. Rather than flee the city under attack, King George VI and his wife Queen Elizabeth, remained at Buckingham Palace in solidarity with those living through the Blitz. This was a highly symbolic decision and received much attention in the press. The royal couple visited areas of London which had been devastated by air raids, speaking to residents and members of the local emergency services. The Queen took a keen interest in what was being done to help people who had lost their homes. After Buckingham Palace was bombed, she is reported to have said: 

'I am glad we have been bombed. Now we can look the East End in the eye.'

Princess Elizabeth was just 13 years old when war broke out on September 3, 1939. Like many children living in London, Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret were evacuated to avoid the dangers of bombing raids. They were sent to Windsor Castle, approximately 20 miles outside of London. The young princesses were two of over three million people—mainly children—who left cities for the safety of small towns and the countryside over the course of the war. The government’s Children’s Overseas Reception Board also evacuated over 2,600 children to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States. On October 13, 1940, in response to this mass movement of people, Princess Elizabeth gave her first address from the drawing room of Windsor Castle as part of the BBC’s Children’s Hour  in an attempt to boost public morale. She spoke directly to the children who had been separated from their families as part of the evacuation scheme.

“Thousands of you in this country have had to leave your homes and be separated from your fathers and mothers. My sister Margaret Rose and I feel so much for you, as we know from experience what it means to be away from those you love most of all. To you living in new surroundings, we send a message of true sympathy and at the same time we would like to thank the kind people who have welcomed you to their homes in the country.”

Hear Princess Elizabeth’s address to the children of the United Kingdom in this Smithsonian Magazine video .

Public responses to this broadcast varied. Interviewers from the social research project Mass Observation took to the streets to ask people what they thought in an effort to gauge the reaction of the British public. Out of 57 people surveyed, 38 had heard the broadcast. More than 20 people positively commented how “charming,” “sweet,” “beautiful,” or “lovely” Princess Elizabeth sounded, but also that she spoke “very clearly,” was “wonderful,” and “did very well.” Most people assumed that the speech had been written for her and suggested it was “propaganda” or “a way to ‘keep the population quiet.’” However, several newspapers reported positively on the speech and included a photograph of the two princesses at the microphone.

As the war progressed, Princess Elizabeth championed more aspects of wartime life and resilience. In 1943, she was photographed tending her allotments at Windsor Castle as part of the government’s “Dig for Victory” campaign, in which people were urged to use gardens and every spare piece of land to grow vegetables to help combat food shortages. Before the Second World War, Britain had relied on food imports from across the world, but when the war started, shipping was threatened by enemy submarines and warships. This resulted in food shortages and led to rationing of foods such as meat, butter cheese, eggs, and sugar.

On the morning of her sixteenth birthday, Princess Elizabeth undertook her first inspection of a military regiment during a parade at Windsor Castle. She had been given the role of honorary colonel of the Grenadier Guards, which symbolized her military involvement in the war effort. When Princess Elizabeth turned 18 in 1944, she insisted upon joining the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), the women’s branch of the British Army. For several years during the war, Britain had conscripted women to join the war effort. Unmarried women under 30 had to join the armed forces or work on the land or in industry. King George made sure that his daughter was not given a special rank in the Army. She started as a second subaltern in the ATS and was later promoted to Junior Commander, the equivalent of Captain.

Princess Elizabeth began her training as a mechanic in March 1945. She undertook a driving and vehicle maintenance course at Aldershot, qualifying on April 14. Newspapers at the time dubbed her “Princess Auto Mechanic.” There were a wide range of jobs available to female soldiers in the ATS as cooks, telephonists, drivers, postal workers, searchlight operators, and ammunition inspectors. Some women served as part of anti-aircraft units, although they were not allowed to fire the guns. The jobs were dangerous, and during the course of the war, 335 ATS women were killed and many more injured. By June 1945, there were around 200,000 members of the ATS from across the British Empire serving on the home front and in many overseas theaters of war.

While Princess Elizabeth spent the majority of her days at the training facility, it was close enough to Windsor Castle that the princess would return there each evening rather than sleep at the camp with her fellow ATS members. The King and Queen and Princess Margaret visited Princess Elizabeth at the Mechanical Transport Training Section in Camberley, Surrey, and watched her learn about engine maintenance. When describing the visit to LIFE Magazine , the Princess commented “I never knew there was quite so much advance preparation [for a royal visit] ...I’ll know another time.”

Princess Elizabeth (leaning over the vehicle) shows her father the King and Princess Margaret her work on a car engine. Image from the Imperial War Museum collection, H 41641.

As part of her ATS training, Princess Elizabeth underwent a course in driving instruction. Image from the Imperial War Museum collection, H 41661.

On May 8, 1945, the war in Europe ended . In London, thousands of people took to the streets to celebrate, flooding Trafalgar Square and the Mall leading up to Buckingham Palace where the King and Queen greeted them from the balcony. As the light began to fade and the celebrations looked to continue into the night, Princess Elizabeth, dressed in her ATS uniform, slipped into the crowds with her sister to enjoy the festivities. In 1985, the now Queen spoke to the BBC about how she tried to avoid being spotted, “I remember we were terrified of being recognized so I pulled my uniform cap well down over my eyes.” She described the “lines of unknown people linking arms and walking down Whitehall, and all of us were swept along by tides of happiness and relief.” There are even reports that the princesses joined a conga dance through the Ritz Hotel as they celebrated with the crowds. “I think it was one of the most memorable nights of my life.” she recalled.

Celebrating V-E Day on the balcony of Buckingham Palace are (L-R), Princess Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, His Majesty King George VI, and Princess Margaret. Image from the Imperial War Museum collection, MH 21835.

Today, Queen Elizabeth is colonel-in-chief of 16 British Army regiments and corps, and many Commonwealth units. As a member of the ATS, she was the first female of the Royal family to be an active duty member of the British Armed Forces. The Queen is also the last surviving head of state to have served during the Second World War. Now in her 90s,  she is often pictured behind the wheel and has been known to diagnose and repair faulty engines just as she was taught to do during her wartime service in the ATS.

Meet the Author 

Vikki Hawkins has been a curator at the Imperial War Museum in London since 2016. In her current role creating IWM’s new Second World War Galleries, Vikki develops content relating to the British Home Front, the British Empire and the war in Asia and the Pacific. She has published and contributed to various conferences on the topic of Displaying Marginalised Histories in Museums, and is currently developing a research project on the Material Culture of Sexual Violence in Conflict. Vikki holds a master’s degree in the History of Warfare from King’s College London. 

Explore Further

Julia Child Helped Develop Shark Repellant during World War II

Julia Child is known more for her recipe for bœuf bourguignon than her time in the Office of Strategic Services. 

James Allen Ward: The Pilot Who Risked It All to Save His Crew

A young New Zealander airman receives a Victoria Cross for his daring feats. 

Frank Kameny: WWII Veteran, Patriot, and LGBTQ+ Activist

Frank Kameny saw combat in Europe during the war, only to return home to face discrimination from the very country he served.

Jewish Resistance in Amsterdam

Though they resisted in many ways, Amsterdam’s Jewish population suffered immensely in World War II. 

Garland Kerlec’s Fuse Pin Diary

Technical Sergeant Garland Kerlec used the bomb fuse tags to make a sort of diary of his combat flights, recording the date, target, as well as some commentary on the nature of the mission.

Beyond the Beaches: D+1 and the Battle for Normandy

At this free daylong public symposium, guests heard from leading historians on the challenges, battles, and victories that followed the June 6 Allied landings and made the liberation of Europe from Nazi oppression possible.

D-Day: The Allies Invade Europe

In May 1944, the Western Allies were finally prepared to deliver their greatest blow of the war, the long-delayed, cross-channel invasion of northern France, code-named Overlord.

'A Pure Miracle': The D-Day Invasion of Normandy

This column is the first of three D-Day columns written by war correspondent Ernie Pyle describing the Allied invasion of Normandy. 

Queen Elizabeth II 1926–2022

The final journey London to Windsor, follow the route to the Queen's resting place

By Ivana Kottasová, Lauren Said-Moorhouse and the Visuals Team, CNN

The Queen’s funeral will be held in London’s Westminster Abbey. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

L arge crowds lined the streets of central London on Wednesday to mourn Queen Elizabeth II and witness the first of a series of highly choreographed ceremonial moments honoring the life of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.

The plan, codenamed “Operation London Bridge,” covers arrangements for the Queen’s last journey to London and a state funeral. Here is a look at the details.

The Queen’s coffin was flown by the Royal Air Force from Edinburgh to London on Tuesday, accompanied by the Queen’s only daughter, Princess Anne. It was then taken by hearse to Buckingham Palace, where it was met by King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, as well as other members of the royal family.

On Wednesday, a procession took the coffin, adorned with the Imperial State Crown and a flower wreath, on a gun carriage from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster. There, the Queen will lie in state in Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the palace, until the morning of the state funeral on September 19.

The procession to Westminster Hall Follow the route of the procession.

Return to London The Queen’s coffin was flown from Edinburgh to London on Tuesday.

Buckingham Palace On Wednesday, the Queen’s coffin traveled in procession from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster on a gun carriage.

Click below for a 360 view of The State Rooms in Buckingham Palace

The procession The silent procession set off from Buckingham Palace at 2:22 p.m. (9:22 a.m. ET) and took just over 40 minutes. Members of the royal family walked behind their beloved matriarch, followed by senior staff from the royal households and some of the Queen’s close personal staff.

The Mall As the coffin left the palace, the procession traveled along The Mall, on a processional route that passes by royal residences Clarence House and St James's Palace.

Click below for a 360 view of The Mall

Horse Guards Parade The procession passed the Horse Guards Parade, the setting for the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony held to mark the monarch’s official birthday.

Whitehall It then turned onto Whitehall, the street that cuts through London’s government district.

Downing Street It passed Downing Street and the Cenotaph, the site of the annual National Service of Remembrance, which the Queen personally attended most years.

Click below for a 360 view of Whitehall by Downing Street

Palace of Westminster As crowds watched, Big Ben tolled and minute guns were fired by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery at Hyde Park.

Westminster Hall The coffin finally arrived at Westminster Hall, where the Queen will lie in state for four days.

The Queen's coffin was placed on a raised platform — or catafalque — in the middle of Westminster Hall and is being guarded by officers from the Household Division, the King's Bodyguard or the Royal Company of Archers, in a round-the-clock vigil.

Upon arrival at Westminster Hall, a short service was conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. From 5 p.m. (noon ET), the hall will remain open 24 hours a day for the public to pay their respects.

The Queen will lie in state until 6:30 a.m. (1:30 a.m. ET) on Monday, the day of the funeral.

Monday, September 19 The day of the funeral and the final journey to Windsor

Westminster Abbey On the morning of September 19, the coffin will travel in a procession from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey, where the state funeral will take place.

Click below for a 360 view inside Westminster Abbey

Procession through London After the funeral, the coffin will process through the streets of London to Wellington Arch, where the journey to Windsor will begin.

Windsor The Queen’s coffin will be driven to Windsor, 25 miles west of the capital. Windsor Castle is where the Queen lived for the last two years of her life.

St. George’s Chapel The coffin will then be taken to St. George’s Chapel within the castle’s grounds.

St. George’s Chapel is where Prince Philip's memorial service was held, as well as more jubilant occasions like the nuptials of the Queen's grandchildren.

Following the service for the Duke of Edinburgh in 2021, his coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault, set below the chapel, where many royal family members have been laid to rest.

However, he is expected to be relocated to lie together with the Queen, his wife of 73 years, in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, located elsewhere within St. George's Chapel.

The George VI Memorial Chapel in St. George's Chapel, Windsor, where the Queen's father and mother were interred. A casket containing the ashes of the Queen's sister, Princess Margaret, is also in the vault.

• History Classics
• Your Profile
• Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window)
• This Day In History
• History Podcasts
• History Vault

Queen Elizabeth II

By: History.com Editors

Updated: April 25, 2023 | Original: May 23, 2018

Queen Elizabeth II served from 1952 to 2022 as reigning monarch of the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) and numerous other realms and territories, as well as head of the Commonwealth, the group of 53 sovereign nations that includes many former British territories. Extremely popular for nearly all of her long reign, the queen was known for taking a serious interest in government and political affairs, apart from her ceremonial duties, and was credited with modernizing many aspects of the monarchy.

Childhood and Education of a Princess

When Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, the elder daughter of Prince Albert, Duke of York, and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, was born on April 21, 1926, she apparently had little chance of assuming the throne, as her father was a younger son of King George V.

But in late 1936, her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated to marry an American divorcée, Wallis Simpson. As a result, her father became King George VI, and 10-year-old “Lilibet” (as she was known within the family) became the heir presumptive to the throne.

Though she spent much of her childhood with nannies, Princess Elizabeth was influenced greatly by her mother, who instilled in her a devout Christian faith as well as a keen understanding of the demands of royal life. Her grandmother, Queen Mary, consort of King George V, also instructed Elizabeth and her younger sister Margaret in the finer points of royal etiquette.

Educated by private tutors, with an emphasis on British history and law, the princess also studied music and learned to speak fluent French. She trained as a Girl Guide (the British equivalent of the Girl Scouts) and developed a lifelong passion for horses.

As queen, she kept many thoroughbred racehorses and frequently attended racing and breeding events. Elizabeth’s famous attachment to Pembroke Welsh corgis also began in childhood, and she owned more than 30 corgis over the course of her reign.

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth

Elizabeth and Margaret spent much of World War II living apart from their parents in the Royal Lodge at Windsor Castle, a medieval fortress outside London. In 1942, the king made Elizabeth an honorary colonel in the 500 Grenadier Guards, a Royal Army regiment.

Two years later, he named her as a member of the Privy Council and the Council of State, enabling her to act on his behalf when he was out of the country.

In 1947, soon after the royal family returned from an official visit to South Africa and Rhodesia, they announced Elizabeth’s engagement to Prince Philip of Greece, her third cousin (both were great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert) and a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. She had set her sights on him when she was only 13, and their relationship developed through visits and correspondence during the war.

Though many in the royal circle viewed Philip as an unwise match due to his lack of money and foreign (German) blood, Elizabeth was determined and very much in love. She and Philip wed on November 20, 1947 , at Westminster Abbey .

Their first son, Charles (Prince of Wales, then King Charles III ) was born in 1948; a daughter, Anne (Princess Royal) arrived two years later. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's third child and second son, Prince Andrew, was born in 1960 and the couple's youngest child, Prince Edward, was born in 1964.

Elizabeth and Phillip were married for an extraordinary 73 years, until the Prince died in April 2021 at the age of 99.

Behind‑the‑Scenes Photos of Queen Elizabeth’s 1947 Wedding

A tremendous amount of effort goes into planning a royal wedding.

Queen Elizabeth II: 15 Key Moments in Her Reign

Revisit some of the most historic moments in the reign of Britain’s record‑setting monarch.

Queen Elizabeth’s First Televised Broadcast Presented a New Type of Monarch

The 1957 Christmas Day address humanized the monarch and acknowledged a shift in the position's role from aloof ruler to accessible figurehead.

Queen Elizabeth's Coronation

With her father’s health declining in 1951, Elizabeth stepped in for him at various state functions. After spending that Christmas with the royal family, Elizabeth and Philip left on a tour of Australia and New Zealand, making a stopover in Kenya en route.

They were in Kenya on February 6, 1952, when King George VI succumbed to lung cancer at the age of 56, and his 25-year-old daughter became the sixth woman in history to ascend to the British throne. Her formal coronation as Queen Elizabeth II took place on June 2, 1953, in Westminster Abbey.

In the first decade of her reign, Elizabeth settled into her role as queen, developing a close bond with Prime Minister Winston Churchill (the first of 15 prime ministers she would work with during her reign), weathering a foreign affairs disaster in the Suez Crisis of 1956 and making numerous state trips abroad.

In response to pointed criticism in the press, the queen embraced steps to modernize her own image and that of the monarchy, including televising her annual Christmas broadcast for the first time in 1957.

Elizabeth and Philip had two more children, Andrew (born 1960) and Edward (born 1964). In 1968, Charles was formally invested as the Prince of Wales , marking his coming of age and the beginning of what would be a long period as king-in-waiting.

Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee in 1977, marking her 25 years on the throne, proved a bright spot in an era of economic struggles. Always a vigorous traveler, she kept a punishing schedule to mark the occasion, traveling some 56,000 miles around the Commonwealth, including the island nations Fiji and Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, the British West Indies and Canada.

Royal Scandals

In 1981, all eyes were on the royal family once again as Prince Charles wed Lady Diana Spencer at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Though the couple soon welcomed two sons, William and Harry , their marriage quickly imploded, causing considerable public embarrassment for the queen and the entire royal family.

In 1992, Elizabeth’s 40th year on the throne and her family’s “Annus Horribilis” (according to a speech she gave that November) both Charles and Diana and Prince Andrew and his wife, Sarah Ferguson, separated, while Princess Anne and her husband, Mark Phillips, divorced.

A fire also broke out at Windsor Castle that same year, and amid public outcry over the use of government funds to restore the royal residence, Queen Elizabeth agreed to pay taxes on her private income. This was not required by British law, though some earlier monarchs had done so as well.

At the time, her personal fortune was estimated at $11.7 billion. In another modernizing measure, she also agreed to open the state rooms at Buckingham Palace to the public for an admission fee when she was not in residence.

Response to Lady Diana's Death

After Charles and Diana divorced in 1996, Diana remained incredibly popular with the British (and international) public. Her tragic death the following year triggered a tremendous outpouring of shock and grief, as well as outrage at the royal family for what the public saw as its ill treatment of the “People’s Princess.”

Though Queen Elizabeth initially kept the family (including Princes William and Harry) out of the public eye at Balmoral, the unprecedented public response to Diana’s death convinced her to return to London, make a televised speech about Diana, greet mourners and allow the Union Jack to fly at half-mast above Buckingham Palace.

‘Annus Horribilis’: Why Queen Elizabeth II Called 1992 a Horrible Year

Marriage troubles for three out of her four children, humiliating press, a racy book and a fire at Windsor Castle all added to the year's misery.

Why Princess Diana’s 1995 BBC Interview Shocked the World

The interview, in which Princess Diana talked about her struggles with mental health and her marriage, rocked the royal family and generated empathy among the public.

Princess Diana’s Death

Lady Diana Spencer: From Teacher to Princess Diana was born on July 1, 1961, to Edward John Spencer and his wife Frances. At the time of her birth, in Britain’s peerage system, her father held the title of Viscount Althorp. Her parents were divorced in 1969, when she was eight, and her father won sole […]

A Modern Monarchy

The queen’s popularity, and that of the entire royal family, rebounded during the first decade of the 21st century. Though 2002 marked Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee—50 years on the throne—the death of her mother (the beloved Queen Mum) and sister early that year cast a pall on the celebrations.

In 2005, the queen enjoyed public support when she gave her assent to Prince Charles’ once-unthinkable marriage to his longtime love Camilla Parker Bowles.

In her seventh decade on the throne, Queen Elizabeth presided over the pomp and circumstance of another royal wedding at Westminster Abbey, that of Prince William to Catherine Middleton in April 2011. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who are in line to become Britain’s next king and queen, continued the line of succession with their children, Prince George (born 2013), Princess Charlotte (born 2015) and Prince Louis (born 2018).

In September 2015, Elizabeth surpassed the record of 63 years and 216 days on the throne set by Queen Victoria (her great-great-grandmother) to become the longest-reigning British monarch in history. A consistent presence by his wife’s side and one of Britain’s busiest royals for much of her reign, Prince Philip stepped down from his royal duties in 2017, at the age of 96. That same year, the royal couple celebrated 70 years of marriage, making theirs the longest union in the history of the British monarchy. Philip died in 2021, at the age of 99. 

In May 2018, Prince Harry wed the American actress Meghan Markle , a biracial divorcée. The couple had a son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, in 2019, and a daughter, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, in 2021. Harry and Meghan announced they would be stepping back from senior royal duties in January 2020 and subsequently relocated to Los Angeles.

Rumors swirled at various times that Queen Elizabeth would step aside and let Prince Charles take the throne. In 2017, she delegated some of her royal obligations, such as the official Remembrance Day ceremony, to him, fueling speculation that she was preparing to bequeath the throne to her eldest son. Instead, she remained a consistent, stable presence at the head of Britain’s reigning family until her peaceful death on September 8, 2022 at her beloved country residence, Balmoral Castle. 

In the final years of her reign, she continued many of her official duties, public appearances and spent plenty of time outside with her beloved dogs and horses. Two days before her death, she officially installed a new prime minister, Liz Truss.

HISTORY Vault: Profiles: Queen Elizabeth II

Chart the unexpected rise and record-breaking reign of Queen Elizabeth II, which unfolded in the turbulent modern history of the English monarchy.

Her Majesty the Queen, The Royal Household website . Sally Bedell Smith, Elizabeth the Queen ( Penguin Random House, 2012 ). Queen Elizabeth II – Fast Facts, CNN . “Will Queen Elizabeth Give Prince Charles the Throne in 2018?” Newsweek .

Sign up for Inside History

Get HISTORY’s most fascinating stories delivered to your inbox three times a week.

By submitting your information, you agree to receive emails from HISTORY and A+E Networks. You can opt out at any time. You must be 16 years or older and a resident of the United States.

More details : Privacy Notice | Terms of Use | Contact Us

• Latest News
• Emergencies
• Environment
• Ask the Law
• Visa+Immigration
• Phone+Internet
• Reader Queries
• Safety+Security
• Banking & Insurance
• Corporate Tax
• Travel & Tourism
• Corporate News
• Electronics
• Home and Kitchen
• Consumables
• Saving and Investment
• Budget Living
• Expert Columns
• Community Tips
• Cryptocurrency
• Cooking and Cuisines
• Guide to Cooking
• Art & People
• Friday Partner
• Daily Crossword
• Word Search
• Philippines
• Australia-New Zealand
• Corrections
• Special Reports
• Pregnancy & Baby
• Learning & Play
• Child Health
• For Mums & Dads
• UAE Success Stories
• Photos & Videos
• Course Reviews
• Learn to Play
• Schedule | Medal Tally
• South Indian
• Health+Fitness
• Best Of Bollywood
• Entertainment
• Special Features
• Gratuity Calculator
• Notifications
• Prayer Times

Applause then silence on Queen Elizabeth II's last journey

World europe.

Some raised mobile phones in the air to film the seven-car procession passing

Edinburgh: The first sign that the cortege was arriving was a ripple of gentle applause moving along the crowds that lined Edinburgh's streets ten-deep.

After hours of waiting, they could see the hearse carrying Queen Elizabeth II's coffin, covered with the Scottish royal standard and a wreath of white heather, dahlias and sweet peas, from the gardens of the Balmoral estate.

Some raised mobile phones in the air to film the seven-car procession passing, while others simply absorbed being part of a moment in history.

"Seeing her passing is a way of accepting the fact that it's the end of an era," said Rob Parsons, 28, who came from the English city of York with his girlfriend.

"It's a real sense of connection to history. I thought it was important as two younger people that we saw her to say goodbye."

Then finally a complete hush fell over the crowd as the coffin made its way to the Holyroodhouse Palace, the monarch's official residence in Scotland where the queen's body will rest overnight.

"She was constantly in our lives, our currency, our stamps, everywhere, she was a member of the family that we never met," said Parsons' partner Lucy Hampshire.

Viktoriia Saienko, 29, was one of a group of Ukrainian refugees who had set up camp close to the palace.

"We wanted to say thank you very much to Britain, to the queen and all her family," she said, carrying a bouquet of roses decorated with yellow and blue ribbons in the colour of the Ukrainian flag.

Some had been there since the morning, like Lindsay Lewis, a 51-year-old public health service employee, seated in a green folding camping chair.

Coming from the north of England with her husband, she decided she wanted to "get a good place".

"It's very quiet. Just a solemn feeling."

'Queen of everyone'

A perfect silence had also greeted the late queen at the start of her journey from her beloved Balmoral Castle estate.

Fittingly, the first to see the coffin were the villagers of nearby Ballater, where Elizabeth spent many happy times during her summer retreats from the burden of monarchy.

Some threw flowers as the coffin wound its way through the sun-bathed countryside. A few wiped tears from their eyes.

Members of the public, some wearing traditional Scottish dress, mixed with local dignitaries, members of the armed forces and church representatives on the streets of the quaint village, falling silent as the coffin passed by.

"She really sacrificed a lot for... the country and that earns a lot of respect," said Judith Brown, who made the trip to Ballater from England to pay her respects.

Farmers on the route positioned their tractors to form a guard of honour as the cortege drove by, while riders on horseback lined up in Peterculter, a suburb of Aberdeen, to pay respect.

Shortly after the news of the queen's death, there were just a few mourners paying their respects at Balmoral - by the weekend, there were crowds.

The hundreds of bouquets, which included roses, lilies, Scottish thistles and sunflowers, were interspersed with cards and gifts.

"Thank you for being you," read one card left in the sea of flowers.

Another, bearing a poem by Scotland's national poet Robert Burns, said: "My heart's in the highlands."

Near the iron railings sat a stuffed Paddington Bear, the much-loved British children's book character, who shared a cup of tea with the queen as part of televised celebrations for her Platinum Jubilee in June.

Marina Hermant, a French tourist, had been on the Isle of Skye off Scotland's west coast when she heard the news of Elizabeth's death and rearranged her plans.

"She's not necessarily our queen, but she's kind of the queen of everyone in the whole world," she said.

More From Europe

Anti-racism protesters rally across UK

Modesty the aim for Olympic shooting sensation Dikec

Add to your bucket list: Soar on Europe's highest swing

Why the Olympic gold medal is silver

Kuwait imposes travel ban on 43,000 in 2024

Saudi authorities target unlicensed airport transport

See: Saudi Arabia’s flying restaurant dazzles tourists

6 members of a family killed in horrific accident

6 firms fined SR77m over monopolistic practices

Heavy rains and storms expected across Saudi Arabia

Shah rukh khan receives lifetime achievement award, trump campaign says it was hacked, blames iran, beyond the podium: moments that defined paris olympics, algeria's khelif files complaint amid gender dispute, kipyegon wins 3rd straight olympic women's 1,500m gold.

Get Breaking News Alerts From Gulf News

We’ll send you latest news updates through the day. You can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon.

Queen's final journey - full route as coffin flown to London before 15-mile drive

Fans are expected to line the streets as the oak casket of Queen Elizabeth II continues its final journey towards London after flying 400 miles from Edinburgh Airport

• 21:35, 12 Sep 2022
• Updated 07:39, 13 Sep 2022

Crowds of thousands will turn out on Tuesday as Queen Elizabeth II ’s coffin continues on its final journey to London.

The oak casket will land at RAF Northolt after flying 400 miles from Edinburgh Airport.

And fans will line the streets for the 15-mile journey to Buckingham Palace , where Her Late Majesty will rest for the evening as staff pay their respects.

At 2.22pm on Wednesday, the coffin will be taken on a gun carriage of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery to the Palace of Westminster.

Accompanied by the sound of minute guns fired from Hyde Park by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, the cortege will make a trip past London landmarks.

It will travel via Queen’s Gardens, The Mall, Horse Guards and Horse Guards Arch, Whitehall, Parliament Street, Parliament Square and New Palace Yard.

The Queen will lie in state until 6.30am on the day of her state funeral on Monday.

Over a little less than five days, a million people are expected to visit Westminster Hall to pay their respects.

Queues could reach as long as five miles, while mourners are being warned to expect a wait of up to 30 hours.

Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan used a WhatsApp message to MPs to reveal the latest estimates.

Formal details of the queue – which will be open for 24 hours a day – will only be made public at 10pm tonight.

But some patriotic mourners dashed to London yesterday – more than two days before lines officially open at 5pm tomorrow.

Vanessa Nathakumaran, 56, from Harrow, arrived at noon yesterday.

The administrative assistant, who grew up in Sri Lanka before moving to the UK in the 1980s, said her great uncle, Sir Vaithilingam Duraiswamy, was knighted by King George VI.

Her daughter, Praveena, was an air cadet and once met the Queen.

Vanessa said she became interested in the Royal Family while working in London.

She added: “She was very devoted. She has done a service to our country, Britain, and also internationally and the Commonwealth.

“I respect her way of kindness, how she treats everyone equally, the religions and the communities. She sees everyone as equal.

“I really, really want to be part of it. I don’t want to miss it in case they control the crowds if (the queue) gets too long.”

Ms Nathakumaran is planning to have her daughters bring warm clothes and glucose bars to keep her energy up during the wait.

Her Late Majesty will be accompanied by the Princess Royal and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, on her journey from Scotland this evening.

At Edinburgh Airport, her coffin will be conveyed on to an RAF C-17 by a bearer party, while The Royal Regiment of Scotland forms a guard of honour.

At RAF Northolt, The Queen’s Colour Squadron will convey the coffin to the state hearse, where it will travel to Buckingham Palace via the A40, Eastbourne Terrace, Lancaster Gate, Bayswater Road, Marble Arch, Park Lane, Hyde Park Corner and Constitution Hill.

Transport bosses warn London will experience “unprecedented travel demand”. Tube stations will have to temporarily close to avoid overcrowding and passengers are urged to avoid Green Park station.

Network Rail, Transport for London and the Rail Delivery Group said: “As Her Majesty’s coffin travels to London to lie in state, it is expected that we will see unprecedented travel demand in the capital, especially from Wednesday, September 14.”

A service will run on the Elizabeth line between Paddington and Abbey Wood on Sunday to ease pressure on the network.

That part of the line, which was opened by the Queen in May, is usually closed on Sundays.

Meanwhile, large numbers are expected to line the streets in Belfast and Royal Hillsborough as the King and Queen Consort visit Northern Ireland today.

MORE ON The Queen The Queen's funeral Buckingham Palace Anne, Princess Royal King George VI Marble Arch Commonwealth Edinburgh Airport Transport for London Royal Family Horses

Get our daily royal round-up direct to your inbox.

Simple Flying

Final journey: the queen is flown to london on a boeing c17 ahead of her funeral.

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Latino Pilots Association Plans 2nd Expo To Inspire & Educate Future Aviators

Royal air maroc adds new routes from casablanca to toronto & beijing, psa airlines flight attendants to vote on strike authorization.

Queen Elizabeth II passed away last week at 96, holding the prestige honor of Queen for more than 70 years. Today, her coffin is being transported from Edinburgh to Northolt on a Royal Air Force (RAF) Boeing C-17 Globemaster.

The Queen's final flight

The Queen's coffin had been resting at St. Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh since yesterday afternoon. The Queen had a special love for Scotland, "in whose hills, and in the hearts of whose people, she found a refuge." Today, the Queen departs Scotland for the final time.

At 16:30, her coffin was transported from the cathedral to Edinburgh Airport. Members of the public lined up across some of the route to pay respect to the Queen. According to numbers shared by the Scottish government, more than 26,000 people lined up to say goodbye to their beloved monarch.

Upon arrival at the airport, members of the Royal Air Force bearer party carried the Queen's coffin onto the RAF C-17 and were accompanied by a Guard of Honor from the Royal Regiment of Scotland. As the aircraft began to taxi for takeoff, the Guard of Honor gave a final Royal Salute, with the regiment's band playing a verse of the national anthem.

A few minutes later, the Queen left Scottish soil for the last time. Flight KRF01R took off from Edinburgh (EDI) at 17:42 local time and is set to land in Northolt at 18:49 local time. Upon landing in Northolt, the Queen will be transported to Buckingham Palace, where a line has been forming for more than a day of those who would like to say farewell to the Queen.

Lines are also being formed at Westminster Palace, where the Queen will lie in state until her funeral on September 19 at Westminster Abbey. Public visitation is set to commence on Wednesday, with the British government anticipating a large number of visitors, which could lead to a wait time of 30 hours. The funeral is set to draw leaders from the entire world, at quite possibly the most significant event the United Kingdom has hosted in decades.

Foreign Office asks world leaders to fly commercially to the Queen's funeral

To minimize disruptions to England's air traffic, the United Kingdom's Foreign Office has requested that world leaders travel to England on commercial flights , wherever possible. The office warned that London Heathrow would not be available for private flights or aircraft parking and that helicopter flights between airports and venues would not be allowed because of air traffic.

Passengers flying through airports in the United Kingdom have also been informed that "unforeseen events may require commercial and private flights to divert from the intended airport of arrival." In addition to asking world leaders to fly commercially, the government has asked leaders to stage at a location outside London to be then transported to Westminster Abbey via bus to minimize vehicular traffic in London.

• Aviation News
• Editor's Picks

Princess Kate set for 'longest journey since she was diagnosed with cancer'

Princess Kate is set for her "longest journey since she was diagnosed with cancer", royal sources have claimed.

The Princess of Wales is thought to be joining the Royal Family at Balmoral Castle this month, located in the Scottish Highlands.

The 42-year-old will likely accompany her husband Prince William and their three children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Prince Louis, as well as other members of the family to Scotland for their annual break.

This will be Kate's "longest journey since she was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year", sources told The Mail.

The princess revealed in March that she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy following abdominal surgery earlier in the year.

Kate has mostly divided her time between the family’s Windsor home, Adelaide Cottage, and their holiday residence in Norfolk, Anmer Hall.

The latter was a wedding present from the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2011.

The Waleses' two properties are located around 125 miles apart, which results in a three-hour car journey.

The princess has made two official outings so far in 2024 - the first was a short journey to London for Trooping the Colour in June, and the second was to Wimbledon for the men’s tennis final in July.

But Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire would be Kate's longest journey since announcing her cancer diagnosis, with the castle located roughly 510 miles away from Adelaide Cottage, which would equal a nine-hour car journey.

In June, Kate revealed she was “making good progress” but still had “a few more months” of treatment to complete.

She said in a statement: “I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months.

LATEST ROYAL NEWS:

・ Meghan 'setting herself up for another embarrassing failure'

・ Harry 'rubbing salt in the wounds' of Royal Family would be catastrophic for peace talks

・ Princess Anne returns from Olympics as other royals head to France

"It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.

“I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days.

"On those bad days, you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well. My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months.

"On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.”