Following the procession to, and service at, St Giles Cathedral yesterday (Monday 12th), King Charles and the Queen Consort Camilla attended the Scottish Parliament for a Motion of Condolence. A two-minute silence was observed and speeches given by the leaders of each of the main parties. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said for Scots it's “a time of profound sorrow”.
King Charles responding to the motion, told the chamber that the Queen “found in the hills of this land and in the hearts of its people, a haven and a home”.
The King added: “I take up my new duties with thankfulness for all that Scotland has given me, with resolve to seek always the welfare of our country and its people and with wholehearted trust in your goodwill and good counsel as we take forward that task together.”
The Queen has lain at rest inside St Giles since the afternoon service while members of the public pay their last respects
Thousands lined the High Street earlier, and thousands lined up to pass by the casket, with the crown of Scotland on top of it, for a brief moment in the high kirk’s hallowed space.
Later in the evening, The King, his brothers Andrew, Edward, and sister Anne, held a vigil at St Giles Cathedral.
Arriving together they stood, solemnly, facing outward on the four sides of their mother’s casket. Between them, stood four members of the Royal Company of Archers.
The ten minute vigil was clearly moving for the family, although with cameras rolling and members of the public streaming quietly past the coffin it was far from private.
The King was wearing a favourite kilt, a Prince Charles Edward Stewart tartan which is a variation on the Royal Stewart tartan. Princess Anne, who is an honorary Rear Admiral, wore her full Royal Navy ceremonial uniform, and Prince Edward also appeared in full uniform. Prince Andrew, who is not a serving member of the Royal family, wore a morning suit. All four also wore an array of medals.
After the solemnity of the vigil, there was applause and a smile from the King on exiting the cathedral for the waiting car.
Crowds lined the Royal Mile as dusk fell, and queues of people snaked along the pathways in the Meadows, waiting patiently for their moment to bid the Queen farewell.
And on and on through the meadows it snakes. #QueenElizabethII #Edinburgh #queue pic.twitter.com/HxGoBorxjP
— Frank (@Amadeus_IOM) September 12, 2022
The queuing system required collecting a wristband at George Square, which allowed passage through the security tent at St. Giles' Cathedral, some 1.5 miles away and entry to the cathedral.
The lying at rest will be open until around 3pm today.
Following the 24 hours of lying at rest, the Queen will be transported to Edinburgh Airport.
Princess Anne will join her later for the 6pm flight to RAF Northolt.
Route to the Airport
The route the Queen’s cortege will travel means the following roads will close between 4pm and 6.30pm:
- Johnstone Terrace
- Lothian Road
- Queensferry Street
- Dean Bridge
- Queensferry Road
In addition to roads on the route, extensive closures and diversions of adjoining roads will be in place, including all crossover junctions.
This will have a significant knock-on impact on surrounding trunk roads including the M8 and the Edinburgh City Bypass.
See the Scottish Government for route details.