Back home in Buckingham Palace: Queen's final night with her family before procession to Westminster
13 September 2022, 16:23 | Updated: 14 September 2022, 02:55
The Queen's coffin has arrived at Buckingham Palace after its final journey down from Edinburgh.
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Mourners cheered and clapped as the hearse travelled down Constitution Hill and around the Queen Victoria Memorial before driving through the gates of the palace and through the central arch into the quadrangle.
The hearse slowed down as it approached the gates.
Outriders stopped with their heads bowed at the end of the journey, while a police officer at the gate saluted.
The coffin was received by King Charles and the Queen Consort, who were also joined by Prince William, Kate and Harry, among other royals.
The family will have one final evening with the monarch, with her coffin set to rest in the Bow Room at the palace.
It was flown from Scotland by Royal Air Force aircraft from Edinburgh Airport, arriving at RAF Northolt earlier in the evening.
The coffin was accompanied on the journey by The Princess Royal, Princess Anne.
She said it had been "an honour and a privilege" to accompany the Queen on her final journey.
She added in a statement: "I was fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest mother's life.
"It has been an honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys.
"Witnessing the love and respect shown by so many on these journeys has been both humbling and uplifting.
"We will all share unique memories. I offer my thanks to each and every one who share our sense of loss.
"We may have been reminded how much of her presence and contribution to our national identity we took for granted.
"I am also so grateful for the support and understanding offered to my dear brother Charles as he accepts the added responsibilities of the monarch.
"To my mother, The Queen, thank you."
Rain poured as the Royal Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft carrying the Queen's coffin touched down at RAF Northolt below dark skies.
Its landing was witnessed by Prime Minister Liz Truss and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who stood in sombre silence in the drizzle among a delegation assembled to welcome those on board.
Her Majesty's coffin had lay-in-state in St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh since Monday and was removed this afternoon.
A guard of honour by the King's Bodyguard for Scotland and pipers followed the Cortege towards Edinburgh Castle and on to the airport.
On Wednesday afternoon, the coffin will be borne in Procession on a Gun Carriage of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster, where the Queen will lie-in-state in Westminster Hall until the morning of the state funeral on Monday September 19.
The procession will travel via Queen’s Gardens, The Mall, Horse Guards and Horse Guards Arch, Whitehall, Parliament Street, Parliament Square and New Palace Yard.
After the coffin arrives at Westminster Hall, The Archbishop of Canterbury will conduct a short service assisted by The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster, and attended by The King and Members of the Royal Family, after which the lying-in-state will begin.
During the lying-in-state, members of the public will have the opportunity to visit Westminster Hall to pay their respects to the Queen.
On the morning of Monday September 19, the lying-in-state will end and the coffin will be taken in procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey, where the state funeral service will take place.
Following the state funeral, the coffin will travel in procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch.
From Wellington Arch, the Coffin will travel to Windsor and once there, the State Hearse will travel in procession to St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle via the Long Walk.
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A Committal Service will then take place in St George's Chapel.Scottish officials earlier announced details of public viewings as the coffin is moved from Balmoral to Edinburgh on Sunday.
There will be opportunities for the public to view the Royal Hearse and pay their respects at civic events as it passes through Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen and Dundee on Sunday.
The cortege will then follow the A93 and enter Aberdeen at around 11am, following North Deeside Road and then travelling through Cults.
It will proceed along Great Western Road, Holburn Street and Great Southern Road passing Duthie Park.
Members of the public have been invited to pay their respects at the ceremony at Great Southern Road by Duthie Park or on a footpath along the route.
The cortege will then follow the A90 to Dundee, arriving at the boundary around 2pm, before proceeding west on the Kingsway to the Swallow roundabout.
Public viewing areas will be set up along the A90 Forfar Road and Kingsway, where there are numerous safe standing areas along both sides of the road.
