EDINBURGH, Scotland — King Charles III, dressed in a Field Marshal’s ceremonial uniform, and his three siblings, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward marched behind a hearse carrying their mother’s coffin Monday in a solemn procession attended by thousands along the Royal Mile in the historic heart of the Scottish capital of Edinburgh.
The hearse was flanked by a bearer party of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and a detachment of The King’s Body Guard in Scotland, the Royal Company of Archers. Following the procession, a memorial service for Queen Elizabeth II was held at St Giles’ cathedral in Edinburgh.
The coffin, with the Crown of Scotland resting on a cushion on top of it, is to stay in the 12th-century cathedral through Tuesday. Soon after the service ended, the cathedral opened members of the public who wish to pay their respects to the late queen.
The Scottish government is warning that the line, and waiting times, are expected to be long, with perhaps hours of standing. Visitors can leave the line to use toilet facilities.
Authorities have introduced airport-style security, banning people from taking inside the cathedral any large bags, sharp items, or food or liquids.
The memorial service featured Karen Matheson singing Psalm 118 in Gaelic, with harp accompaniment, and a reading from Ecclesiastes by the head of the Scottish government, Nicola Sturgeon.
The congregation sang The Lord’s My Shepherd, said to be one of the queen’s favorite hymns.
Members of the royal family are scheduled to hold a vigil by the coffin in the evening.
The new king and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, arrived in Scotland earlier Monday ahead of the procession.
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King Charles III, Queen Consort Camilla arrived in Edinburgh Monday
The royal couple flew to Edinburgh Monday where they attended a service of remembrance for the queen and will visit the Scottish Parliament to meet senior officials.
After landing, Charles and Camilla rode from the airport to the royal family’s official residence in Edinburgh, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin lay overnight in the Throne Room.
On their way, they passed large crowds of people who were packed behind metal barriers along the Royal Mile, the road between Holyroodhouse and St. Giles’ Cathedral. Onlookers clapped and waved as the king’s limousine passed.
The royal couple got out of their car at Holyroodhouse and greeted people, and looked at floral tributes before a gun salute boomed from Edinburgh Castle.
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King Charles III received condolences, addresss Parliament
Before touching down in Edinburgh, the royal couple visited Parliament at Westminster Hall in London to receive condolences from the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
“Deep as our grief is, we know yours is deeper,” House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said.
The king said symbols of his “darling late mother” were all around the Palace of Westminster, such as a fountain in New Palace Yard, sundial in Old Palace Yard and a “magnificent” stained glass window that commemorated the queen’s Silver Jubilee.
Charles III told the House of Commons he is “deeply grateful for the Addresses of Condolence by the House of Lords and the House of Commons, which so touchingly encompass what our late sovereign, my beloved mother the queen, meant to us all. As Shakespeare says of the earlier Queen Elizabeth, she was ‘a pattern to all princes living.'”
“As I stand before you today, I cannot help but feel the weight of history which surrounds us and which reminds us of the vital Parliamentary traditions to which members of both Houses dedicate yourselves, with such personal commitment for the betterment of us all,” he continued.
Speaking of the queen’s journey back to London, Charles III said, “The great bell of Big Ben – one of the most powerful symbols of our nation throughout the world and housed within the Elizabeth Tower also named for my mother’s Diamond Jubilee – will mark the passage of the late queen’s progress from Buckingham Palace to this Parliament on Wednesday.”
Read the full transcript:King Charles makes first national address following queen’s death
Man arrested after shouting at Prince Andrew during procession
During Monday’s procession in Scotland, a man was arrested for shouting at Prince Andrew while he walked behind the late queen’s coffin, according to reports from Sky News and the Independent.
In clips shared around social media from the procession, a man is heard shouting, “Andrew, you’re a sick old man.”
A spokesperson from Police Scotland confirmed to the Independent that “a 22-year-old man was arrested in connection with a breach of the peace on the Royal Mile around 2.50pm on Monday.”
The 62-year-old Prince Andrew, in February, settled a sex abuse lawsuit filed against him by Virginia Roberts Giuffre. He also expressed regret for his former friendship with convicted American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who Giuffre alleged had trafficked her to Andrew when she was 17.
In a separate incident, the Independent and The Mirror reported that a 22-year-old woman was arrested Sunday after she held an anti-monarchy poster at a proclamation ceremony for King Charles III, according to Police Scotland.
Queen’s coffin to be moved to London Tuesday
The coffin will remain there for 24 hours before being flown to London on Tuesday. The queen’s coffin will then 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.
On Tuesday, the king and Camilla will also visit Northern Ireland where they will meet politicians and faith leaders and attend a service of remembrance at St. Anne’s Cathedral.
Line forming in London to view queen’s coffin days in advance
A line has already started forming to view Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin when she lies in state in London, even though that won’t start till Wednesday evening.
Security staff are preparing for millions of people to pay their respects to the late monarch, whose coffin will be in London’s Westminster Hall until her state funeral on Sept. 19.
The line is expected to stretch from Parliament along the bank of the River Thames.
Officials have advised commuters in the city to change their working patterns because London is expected to be extremely busy in coming days.
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Prince Harry pays tribute to his ‘Granny’
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, paid tribute to the queen – his “Granny” – and her “everlasting legacy,” making his first full public statement since her death last week at 96.
In his statement, Harry commended the queen, sharing, “we are all reminded of the guiding compass she was to so many in her commitment to service and duty.”
Harry’s words became deeply personal. “Thank you for your sound advice,” he wrote. “Thank you for your infectious smile. We, too, smile knowing that you and grandpa are reunited now, and both together in peace.”
Prince Harry’s tribute:Prince Harry gives touching tribute to his ‘Granny’ and her ‘infectious smile’
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UK government releases advisory on how public should act when paying respect to Queen Elizabeth II
On Monday, the U.K. government announced that members of the public will be able to pay their respects to the queen at lying-in-state at Westminster in London starting Wednesday evening.
The public can watch the procession take place in person at the ceremonial viewing areas along the processional route, or at a screening site in Hyde Park, a news release said. Guests are warned not to arrive intoxicated, wear appropriate clothing, make no political statements and are prohibited from taking any photos within Westminster Hall.
The queen’s coffin will remain closed on a raised platform in Westminster Hall and will be draped in the Royal Standard with the Orb and Sceptre placed on top. Each corner of the platform will be guarded around the clock.
Large crowds and long queue hours, possibly overnight, are to be expected for those wanting to pay their respects to the queen. To those attending the Lying-in-State, the U.K. government warns they will go through airport-style security.
Officials tell public to stop leaving marmalade sandwiches in tribute to queen
Officials in charge of the park outside Buckingham Palace have told people to stop leaving marmalade sandwiches as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II because of the “negative impact on the park’s wildlife.”
Some mourners have left the snacks alongside floral tributes at Buckingham Palace and neighboring Green Park. The sandwiches are a reference to a comedy sketch featuring the queen and an animated Paddington Bear filmed for the late monarch’s Platinum Jubilee earlier this year.
In the video, the queen said that like Paddington Bear she also favors marmalade sandwiches and hides them in her purse “for later.”
The Royal Parks organization said Monday people should not leave the snacks but could leave teddy bears and other items if they wished.
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Contributing: Maria Puente, Scott Gleeson, Pamela Avila, Naledi Ushe, Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY; The Associated Press
Source Article from https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2022/09/12/king-charles-queen-consort-camilla-elizabeth-scotland-vigil-live-updates/8060790001/
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