Summary
- The Queen’s coffin has arrived at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh after being greeted by thousands of people on the city’s Royal Mile
- Along the six-hour journey from Balmoral Castle, thousands of onlookers threw flowers in the path of the cortege and applauded
- On Monday a procession will take the coffin to St Giles’ Cathedral, where the public can pay their respects
- The coffin will be flown to London on Tuesday, and the Queen will lie in state at Westminster Hall
- The Queen’s funeral will be held in Westminster Abbey on Monday 19 September – it will be a bank holiday
- Charles III was proclaimed King at an elaborate ceremony on Saturday, with further proclamations taking place in UK nations on Sunday
One of the Queen’s last 100th birthday messages
For anyone approaching their 100th birthday, a letter from the Queen has always been a long-anticipated honour. But for Gwendolyn Hoare from Essex, who turned 100 over the weekend, all hopes of congratulations from the Queen had gone.
Yet on Friday, the day after Her Majesty’s death, the postman knocked on her door with a very special delivery: her letter from Queen Elizabeth II – one of the last to be sent.
Her family contacted the BBC’s special tributes live page to tell us about the special delivery.Quote Message: My Aunt, Gwendolyn Betty Hoare, is 100 today [10 September]. For decades she talked about receiving a telegram from the Queen and was devastated to hear the news… but her telegram arrived yesterday and she was ecstatic. from Sue Beckett
My Aunt, Gwendolyn Betty Hoare, is 100 today [10 September]. For decades she talked about receiving a telegram from the Queen and was devastated to hear the news… but her telegram arrived yesterday and she was ecstatic.Sue BeckettQuote Message: I think I am very privileged to have it. And I – being a royalist which I am – very much admired her and all she did. So when she went it was a sad moment but she didn’t go before she sent me this. I wasn’t sure that I would get it but I was thrilled when I did. from Gwendolyn Hoare
I think I am very privileged to have it. And I – being a royalist which I am – very much admired her and all she did. So when she went it was a sad moment but she didn’t go before she sent me this. I wasn’t sure that I would get it but I was thrilled when I did.Gwendolyn Hoare
Sue BeckettCopyright: Sue BeckettArticle share tools
Posted at 23:57 11 Sep23:57 11 Sep
Biden confirms he will attend the funeral
The White House has confirmed that US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden have accepted a formal invitation to attend the Queen’s funeral on Monday 19 September.
Biden first met Queen Elizabeth in 1982 when he was a senator, and they met again last year at the G7 summit in Cornwall, England.
“She charmed us with her wit, moved us with her kindness, and generously shared with us her wisdom,” the president said in his tribute to the Monarch.
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Posted at 23:29 11 Sep23:29 11 Sep
Watch: Steel pan drums in Brixton for the new King
Across the UK – and indeed the world – there have been ceremonies to proclaim the new King Charles III.
Florence Eshalomi, MP for Vauxhall in south London, shared this video of a steel pan orchestra performing at one of those ceremonies.
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Posted at 23:16 11 Sep23:16 11 Sep
‘The memories will live forever’
Tributes are still pouring in from around the world.
Rachel Smith remembers seeing the Queen being driven through Somerset.
“She was dressed in a light green suit and hat with flowers on and looked completely beautiful. She had that amazing ability to make you feel she had directly seen you and was waving to you alone. The moment lasted a few seconds but the memories will live forever,” she says.
Ten-year-old Ruby Barry from Yorkshire says she felt really sad when she learned of the Queen’s death, so decided to draw a picture of the monarch because “drawing makes me feel happier”.
You can read more of these tributes on our special BBC live page, and send us your own via the online form.
Ruby BarryCopyright: Ruby BarryArticle share tools
Posted at 22:53 11 Sep22:53 11 Sep
What is Holyroodhouse?
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
The Queen’s coffin is lying in state at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Located at the opposite end of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle, Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the monarchy in Scotland.
First built in 1128 as an Augustinian monastery, it has been a royal residence for over 500 years
Successive kings eschewed the colder Edinburgh Castle and instead resided in Holyroodhouse, cementing its position.
Learn more about the history of Holyroodhouse here.Article share tools
Posted at 22:29 11 Sep22:29 11 Sep
Caroline Kennedy remembers running races at Windsor Castle
After the assassination of US President John F Kennedy in 1963 the Queen granted an acre of land at Runnymede – near to Windsor Great Park – as a memorial for his family.
The president’s daughter Caroline – then aged seven – was at the ceremony in 1965 where the Queen dedicated the Portland stone memorial.
Ms Kennedy – now US ambassador to Australia – told Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that for Americans the Queen has been a constant presence in their lives. She says the alliance with Britain has endured and the Queen is the embodiment of that relationship.
She says her father was an admirer of the UK and spent a lot of time there – and was part of the same generation as the Queen.
Ms Kennedy said she remembers having lunch at Windsor Castle before the ceremony, and that she and the other children had running races to keep them occupied while the adults ate.Article share tools
Posted at 22:01 11 Sep22:01 11 Sep
Welsh politicians pay tribute during parliament session
Welsh politicians have paid tribute to the “remarkable life” of the Queen in a special session of the Senedd.
Leading tributes, First Minister Mark Drakeford praised her “personal commitment to Wales and its democratic institutions”.
The event in the Welsh Parliament comes after a proclamation ceremony in Cardiff.
Proceedings opened with a minute’s silence.
Drakeford said the Queen had lived a “remarkable life” with an “overriding sense of duty.”
Read more here.Article share tools
Posted at 21:34 11 Sep21:34 11 Sep
Sporting figures pay tribute
A number of sporting figures have paid tribute to the Queen, recalling the times they had met her. Quote Message: I was very fortunate, I got to meet her a few years ago and she couldn’t have been nicer and it was a wonderful moment for me. I have the picture of that in my house alongside my MBE which I am very proud of as well. This day was going to come but I think everyone would agree she will be very fondly remembered for everything she’s done including improving the relations between Ireland and Great Britain during her visit a few years ago. from Rory McIlroy, golfer
I was very fortunate, I got to meet her a few years ago and she couldn’t have been nicer and it was a wonderful moment for me. I have the picture of that in my house alongside my MBE which I am very proud of as well. This day was going to come but I think everyone would agree she will be very fondly remembered for everything she’s done including improving the relations between Ireland and Great Britain during her visit a few years ago.Rory McIlroy, golfer
Quote Message: She had that great sense of humour. She always made a detour if someone in the room was from racing. She was more comfortable talking to people of my sport than people that she didn’t know. We’ve lost our greatest ambassador. from Frankie Dettori, horseracing jockey
She had that great sense of humour. She always made a detour if someone in the room was from racing. She was more comfortable talking to people of my sport than people that she didn’t know. We’ve lost our greatest ambassador.Frankie Dettori, horseracing jockeyQuote Message: Her passion was perhaps horses [more] than horsepower. I recall the privilege of having lunch with her and the Duke of Edinburgh. Over the lunch, she asked why my drivers weren’t getting on with each other, ‘what’s the issue?’ She was very engaging. It wasn’t long after they had done the filming for the Olympics. She was recalling the helicopters at the palace and Daniel Craig and the corgis. She had a great sense of humour and made you feel immediately at ease. She will go down in history as one of the greatest monarchs of all time. from Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing
Her passion was perhaps horses [more] than horsepower. I recall the privilege of having lunch with her and the Duke of Edinburgh. Over the lunch, she asked why my drivers weren’t getting on with each other, ‘what’s the issue?’ She was very engaging. It wasn’t long after they had done the filming for the Olympics. She was recalling the helicopters at the palace and Daniel Craig and the corgis. She had a great sense of humour and made you feel immediately at ease. She will go down in history as one of the greatest monarchs of all time.Christian Horner, Red Bull RacingArticle share tools
Posted at 20:55 11 Sep20:55 11 Sep
What happens next?
The Queen’s coffin will now lie in the Palace of Holyroodhouse’s Throne Room until Monday afternoon.
On Monday morning, the King and the Queen Consort will travel to Wesminster Hall in London – where both Houses of Parliament will express their condolences, and the King will “make his reply”.
The King and Queen Camilla will then travel to Edinburgh.
Here’s what we’re expecting:
Ceremony of the keys
After inspecting the guard of honour, the Ceremony of the Keys will take place on the forecourt of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The Ceremony of the Keys sees a British monarch being handed the keys of the city of Edinburgh. It has traditionally marked the start of Holyrood Week – a yearly occasion which would see the Queen spend a week visiting various Scottish regions.
Tomorrow’s Ceremony of the Keys will be the first time the symbolic Keys will be handed over to Charles.
The procession to St Giles
A solemn procession will follow the ceremony, setting off from Holyroodhouse at around 14:30.
It will be accompanied by the King and his siblings as it travels up the Royal Mile to St Giles’ Cathedral for a service expected to last about an hour. Anne’s husband, the Queen Consort and the Countess of Wessex will also be in attendance.
Mourners will then be permitted to view the Queen’s coffin at the cathedral from about 17:00.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Vigil of Royal Family members
King Charles will meet First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at Holyroodhouse, before attending the Scottish Parliament.
In the evening, members of the royal family, including the King, will stand vigil beside the coffin at St Giles’ Cathedral.
The public will be able to pay their respects to the Queen at St Giles’ until Tuesday evening, when the coffin will be flown to London on an RAF plane ahead of her state funeral.
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Posted at 20:32 11 Sep20:32 11 Sep
In pictures: Sea of flowers in Green Park
Hundreds of people have made their way to Green Park in London – next to Buckingham Palace – to leave floral tributes and messages to Queen Elizabeth II.
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Posted at 20:17 11 Sep20:17 11 Sep
King Charles focuses on Commonwealth
Paul Adams
BBC Diplomatic correspondent
With the eyes of the country fixed on his mother’s final journey through Scotland, King Charles spent a second day in London, attending to the business of state.
Today it was all about the Commonwealth. A chance for the new King to underline his commitment to a core component of his mother’s legacy. Lady Scotland, the Commonwealth’s Secretary General, said Queen Elizabeth had built the Commonwealth brick by brick.
At Buckingham Palace, King Charles met the secretary general, as well as High Commissioners from the 14 Commonwealth countries which still regard the monarch as their head of state – including Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The new King knows that there will be moments during his reign when, like Barbados last year, members decide to question or cut their ties to the monarchy and declare themselves republics. Jamaica, and Antigua and Barbuda could be among the first.
But the Commonwealth remains a large family of nations, which still attracts new members. Gabon and Togo both joined just this summer.Article share tools
Posted at 20:00 11 Sep20:00 11 Sep
If you’re just joining us…
Thank you for joining our coverage as the nation continues to mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Here’s a look back at what’s happened so far today:
- A cortege took Her Majesty’s coffin on the six-hour journey from Scotland’s Balmoral Castle to the capital Edinburgh
- Crowds lined the route to pay their respects to Britain’s longest-serving monarch, clapping and throwing floral tributes in the procession’s path
- The coffin will now lie at rest in The Palace of Holyroodhouse overnight
- The Queen’s children Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward are in Edinburgh, while King Charles III will travel to the city on Monday
- The King, meanwhile, spent the afternoon at Buckingham Palace where he met Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland
- Proclamation ceremonies were held in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, marking King Charles’ ascension to the throne
- Prince William spoke to Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford and vowed to serve the Welsh people with “humility and great respect” in his new role as the Prince of Wales
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Posted at 19:45 11 Sep19:45 11 Sep
King Charles meets Commonwealth guests at Buckingham Palace
King Charles III has hosted an audience with Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland at Buckingham Palace.
After the meeting took place, he also hosted high commissioners and their partners from countries where he is head of state.
He left Buckingham Palace to cheers from the crowds after the meetings.
He will begin his day tomorrow with a visit to Westminster Hall, where both Houses of Parliament will meet to express their condolences.
Accompanied by Camilla, the Queen Consort, the King will then travel by air to Edinburgh.
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Posted at 19:20 11 Sep19:20 11 Sep
Princess Anne’s journey with the cortege
Paul Campbell/PA WireCopyright: Paul Campbell/PA Wire
The Princess Royal – along with her husband Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence – accompanied her mother’s coffin throughout its six-hour journey from Balmoral to Edinburgh.
After winding its way through the countryside, numerous villages and small towns, it has now reached the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and will move to London later this week.Article share tools
Posted at 18:56 11 Sep18:56 11 Sep
The Royal Standard for Scotland explained
AFPCopyright: AFP
Her Majesty’s coffin will now lie at rest in The Palace of Holyroodhouse overnight, and then proceed to St Giles Cathedral tomorrow, to allow people to pay their respects for 24 hours.
As we’ve been reporting, her coffin is draped with the Royal Standard for Scotland – a flag that represents the Sovereign.
Unlike the Royal Standard used in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and elsewhere, the Royal Standard for Scotland features two quadrants for Scotland as opposed to just one on the Royal Standard.
Those quadrants are made up of a gold banner with the Scottish red lion.
It is flown at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Balmoral Castle when the monarch is not present. When they are in residence, the Royal Standard of the UK is flown instead.
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Posted at 18:37 11 Sep18:37 11 Sep
Watch: Applause along the Royal Mile
Crowds applauded as the Queen’s coffin was slowly driven along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
You can watch the historic moment in the video below.
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Posted at 18:32 11 Sep18:32 11 Sep
Queen’s coffin moves into Holyroodhouse, as her children look on
The Queen’s coffin was greeted with a guard of honour before being carried into Holyroodhouse. The Queen will remain in the throne room of the palace overnight.
As the coffin was taken into the palace, three of the Queen’s children looked on – Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
King Charles is currently in London but will travel to Edinburgh tomorrow.Article share tools
Posted at 18:23 11 Sep18:23 11 Sep
The Queen’s coffin reaches Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Queen’s procession has now reached the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh – the end of today’s six hour journey.
The coffin will remain at Holyroodhouse overnight and it will proceed to St Giles’ Cathedral on Monday afternoon.
The coffin will remain under continuous vigil for 24 hours, with the public able to pay their respects.
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Posted at 18:16 11 Sep18:16 11 Sep
Cortege travels down the Royal Mile
Ripples of applause can be heard as the Queen’s funeral cortege travels through central Edinburgh.
As we mentioned earlier, huge crowds of people have turned out to see Her Majesty’s final journey.
The procession will now head to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
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Posted at 18:10 11 Sep18:10 11 Sep
On the Royal Mile: ‘It’s an awful loss’
Niall McCracken
Reporting from Edinburgh
BBCCopyright: BBC
Thousands of people have waited for hours in Edinburgh to pay their respects as the procession makes its way to the palace of Holyroodhouse.
“I’ve a flight to catch later, but we had to come and pay our respects while we were here,” said Dillon Hay, who is visiting Scotland from Bangor in Northern Ireland.
“I’ve actually found it emotional on behalf of my nanny, I rang her and she was in floods of tears.”Quote Message: It’s an awful loss, I mean you can see the city is absolutely packed with people who have been affected.”
It’s an awful loss, I mean you can see the city is absolutely packed with people who have been affected.”
BBCCopyright: BBC
Ian Upritchard is also visiting Edinburgh from Northern Ireland, and describes himself as a “royalist”.
“It’s part of history being here when the King is crowned.
“We went to Holyrood Palace and [we’ve] seen all the floral tributes, it was pretty special.”Quote Message: It feels unreal to be here, I never dreamt that I’d be present for the Queen’s last journey.”
It feels unreal to be here, I never dreamt that I’d be present for the Queen’s last journey.”Article share tools
HICGI News Agency 