London in the morning, Edinburgh in the afternoon: Charles III. travels from the British to the Scottish capital on Monday. Thousands line the route at a funeral procession in Edinburgh’s Old Town.
Thousands of Scots descended on Edinburgh on Monday to say goodbye to the late Queen.
Before King Charles III. and his wife Camilla flew to Scotland, they received the condolences of the UK Parliament at a ceremony in London this morning. The two were received by MPs from the Houses of Commons and Houses of Lords at Westminster Hall, where Elizabeth II’s coffin is due to be laid out from Wednesday.
Several hours in advance, citizens of Edinburgh secured seats on the Royal Mile to watch the procession carrying the coffin in the afternoon. While heavy rain was still falling in Edinburgh on Sunday evening, the sun was shining on Monday.
procession and worship
Charles (73) and Camilla (75) arrived in the afternoon. The King intends to lead the funeral procession from the royal residence, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, to St Giles Cathedral. According to the media, Charles and other members of the royal family want to walk through the old town of Edinburgh.
The royals then attend a church service. The Scots then have 24 hours to say goodbye to the Queen in the church.
Prince Harry pays tribute to Queen as ‘Compass’
Queen’s grandson Prince Harry paid tribute to his late grandmother Elizabeth II as a “compass” and a role model for service and duty. “Her unwavering grace and dignity lingered throughout her life and is now her eternal legacy,” Harry wrote in a statement posted to his foundation’s Archewell website on Monday.
The 37-year-old assured his father of his support. The relationship between Harry and his father and his brother Prince William is considered to be heavily burdened. Harry’s announcement of honoring Charles in his new role could mean a peace gesture.
Charles’ trip to Scotland, during which he will also receive the local Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon and receive expressions of condolence in the Scottish Parliament, is part of the so-called “Operation Spring Tide”, which envisages visits by Charles as the new king to all four parts of the country. It’s Northern Ireland’s turn on Tuesday.
Two million expected at wake in London
The transfer of the Queen’s body by plane to London is also planned for Tuesday, where the deceased is to be laid out for several days. On Wednesday, King Charles leads the funeral procession through the British capital, from Buckingham Palace to Parliament. There the coffin will be laid out on a scaffolding known as a catafalque in Westminster Hall from 5 p.m. (local time). Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend the wake. A Conservative MP even spoke of up to two million people.
Until the day of the state funeral, the British public has the opportunity to pay their Queen one last visit and say goodbye. The state funeral, to which Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also wants to travel for Germany, is scheduled for Monday, September 19th. The British get an extra holiday for this. Until then, national mourning applies, official events and parliamentary operations are suspended.
New Zealand declares a one-time public holiday
The New Zealand government has meanwhile declared September 26 as a one-time public holiday. Exactly one week after the Queen’s state funeral, the Pacific state wants to commemorate the monarch. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that a service would be held in Wellington Cathedral, which would also be televised. New Zealand is part of the Commonwealth. A day after the proclamation ceremonies in London, Charles III. officially appointed the new head of state in New Zealand on Sunday.
A representative survey by the opinion research institute Yougov showed that in Germany the mourning of the Queen is only of interest to some people. 42 percent of respondents said they wanted to follow the days of mourning and the Queen’s state funeral in the media. Also 42 percent planned not to do so. 15 percent did not provide any information. Respondents aged 55 and over and women were therefore more likely to follow media reports.
Source: Stern
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