Queen Elizabeth’s funeral procession: King Charles leads a procession through Edinburgh

Queen’s coffin in Edinburgh
King Charles leads the procession

09/13/2022, 12:31 PM

Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, is all about mourning the Queen. The new king Charles III. He leads a procession with his mother’s coffin. His siblings Anne, Andrew and Edward are also part of the funeral procession, which was largely silent.

Before the remains of Queen Elizabeth II were flown from Edinburgh to London on Tuesday, several Scots bid farewell to the king in a funeral procession. King Charles III and a walking coffin procession in the Scottish capital’s old town.

And while it rained in Edinburgh on Sunday evening, the sun was shining on Monday. Thousands of Scots lined the road as Charles, along with his siblings Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward walked past the funeral.

The procession led from the royal residence, Palace of Holyroodhouse, to St Giles’ Cathedral, just over a kilometer away, where Mass was held. The sealed coffin must remain there for 24 hours so that the residents can continue to say goodbye.

Prince Andrew out of uniform

The coffin, draped in royal standard, was carried to heaven by eight kilt-clad soldiers. The bagpipes were played at first, before the national anthem was played. A guard escorted the fast-moving car to its destination. During the largely silent procession, cannon shots were fired frequently in honor of the deceased king.

Prince Andrew was the only one of the Queen’s children who did not wear a military uniform. Earlier this year, the Queen stripped him of all military ranks for his involvement in the abuse scandal surrounding the late American millionaire Jeffrey Epstein. He has already lost his official role as a representative of the royal family. Later in London, according to a report by the Palestinian Authority News Agency, he was only allowed to wear the uniform once during the mourning ceremony.

Charles had received expressions of condolence from MPs in London that morning. He and his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, were greeted with applause as they drove into Edinburgh city center in the afternoon. Thousands of people have gathered along the Royal Mile since the morning hours.

Operation Spring Tide

Charles’ trip to Scotland, during which he will also receive Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon and also wish to receive expressions of condolences in Parliament there, is part of “Operation Spring Tide”, which envisages Charles’ visits as the new king of all four. parts of the country. It was Northern Ireland’s turn on Tuesday, and a visit to Wales is also scheduled.

The Queen’s body is also scheduled to be flown to London on Tuesday evening, where the body of the deceased is scheduled to be transported for several days. On Wednesday, Charles will also lead a funeral procession there, which is scheduled to drive from Buckingham Palace to Parliament. The coffin will then be placed on a scaffold known as a catafalque in Westminster Hall from 5pm local time. Hundreds of thousands of mourners are expected to attend the ceremony. A Conservative MP spoke out for up to two million people on Monday.

Until the day of the funeral, residents have the opportunity to visit the Queen for the last time and bid her farewell. The state funeral, which Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier wants to travel to Germany, is scheduled for Monday, September 19. The British get an extra holiday for this. Until then, national mourning applies and official events and parliamentary processes are suspended.

The government in London also called on the people of Great Britain to observe a minute’s silence for the Queen the day before the scheduled state funeral. The celebration should take place on Sunday evening at 8 pm local time (9 pm German time).

holiday in New Zealand

Meanwhile, the New Zealand government has declared September 26 a one-time public holiday. A week after the state funeral, the Pacific State wants to commemorate the king. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a prayer service at Wellington Cathedral, which will also be broadcast on TV.

New Zealand is one of the so-called Commonwealth realms in which the Queen was the head of state. A day after the proclamation ceremony in London, Charles III. He was formally appointed New Zealand’s new head of state on Sunday. Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday at her country home in Scotland, Balmoral Castle. She sat on the throne for more than 70 years. She was 96 years old.