The United Kingdom continued its official period of mourning Monday, exactly one week before the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
King Charles III in Parliament
First, the two houses of the British Parliament came together in London’s Westminster Hall for members to express their condolences directly to the new monarch, King Charles III, and his wife Camilla, the queen consort, on their personal loss.
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“Parliament is the living and breathing instrument of our democracy,” the king told the gathered politicians. “While very young, her late majesty pledged herself to serve her country and her people and to maintain the precious principles of constitutional government which lie at the heart of our nation. This vow she kept with unsurpassed devotion. She set an example of selfless duty which, with God’s help and your counsels, I am resolved faithfully to follow.”
Travel to Edinburgh
King Charles and Camilla then left London to fly to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, where the queen’s coffin arrived yesterday after a long journey by car from her highland estate in Balmoral.
There, Charles was given the ceremonial keys to the city at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the royal palace in Edinburgh.
Procession along Royal Mile
Queen Elizabeth’s coffin processed down Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, a thoroughfare through the old city, to St. Giles’ Cathedral. King Charles followed on foot, along with his three siblings, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Prince Andrew.
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The royal siblings were all wearing military uniforms, apart from Prince Andrew. Only working members of the royal family were allowed to process in uniform, and Andrew stepped back from public life after a scandal involving his connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Along the route, thousands gathered to see the royal family and say goodbye to the queen. Cannons fired from Edinburgh Castle at one-minute intervals.
A service then took place at St. Giles’ Cathedral to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s life and her connection to Scotland. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss both attended the service.
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Lying in state
The queen’s coffin will lie in rest in St. Giles’ Cathedral for 24 hours, offering members of the public their first opportunity to visit and pay their respects in person.
After another motion of condolence is made by the Scottish Parliament, Queen Elizabeth’s children, including the king, will hold a vigil around her coffin Monday afternoon.
