Princess Anne will remain by Queen’s side for journey from Scotland to London today
The Princess Royal will remain by the Queen’s side as she embarks on the next leg of her historic journey to her final resting place.
Princess Anne, the late monarch’s only daughter, will accompany her coffin as it leaves Scotland for London on a flight at 6pm today.
The 72-year-old, pictured, was the only one of the Queen’s four children to accompany the funeral cortege on its six-hour road journey from Balmoral to Edinburgh.
The coffin will leave St Giles’ Cathedral, where it has been lying in state, by hearse at 5pm.
The Princess Royal will remain by the Queen’s side as she embarks on the next leg of her historic journey to her final resting place. Pictured: Anne in the procession as the Queen’s coffin is moved to St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh yesterday
At the city’s airport, a bearer party of the RAF will carry it to a military aircraft for the flight to RAF Northolt, west London, where it is due to land shortly before 7pm.
King Charles and the Queen Consort will be waiting with a guard of honour before the coffin is driven in the State Hearse into the capital.
The Prince and Princess of Wales will be at Buckingham Palace this evening to greet the coffin.
The 72-year-old, pictured, was the only one of the Queen’s four children to accompany the funeral cortege on its six-hour road journey from Balmoral to Edinburgh
Throughout the historic procedure, words of command will be given as quietly as possible while remaining consistent with their being heard by the guard of honour.
The bearer party will then carry the Queen’s coffin to the Bow Room where it will be placed on trestles in the centre, witnessed by King Charles and the Queen Consort.
Here the Queen will spend a final night at Buckingham Palace where a rota of Chaplains to the King, who were formerly appointed by the Queen, will keep watch over her whilst she rests.
Tomorrow, the coffin carried on a gun carriage will be conveyed to the Palace of Westminster where it will lay in state for four days until the funeral.
Princess Anne, the late monarch’s only daughter, will accompany her coffin as it leaves Scotland for London on a flight at 6pm today. Pictured: King Charles and Princess Anne in the procession in Edinburgh yesterday
While the Queen is being accompanied by his sister on the flight, the newly appointed King will be carrying out his new duties as monarch with the first part of his tour of the nations.
King Charles will be visiting Belfast and will travel to Hillsborough Castle where he will be met with a royal salute of 21 rounds before viewing an exhibition on the late Queen’s long association with Northern Ireland.
The King will also meet the Secretary of State and party leaders before receiving a message of condolence led by the Speaker of Northern Ireland Assembly at 1.20pm.
After a short reception, the King and Queen Consort will travel to St Anne’s Cathedral for a service of reflection where they will be joined by the Prime Minster.
They will then meet leaders from major faiths in Northern Ireland before leaving for London to arrive in time to meet the Queen’s coffin.