By DAVID KEYTON, JILL LAWLESS and MIKE CORDER

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — As Queen Elizabeth II’s 4 youngsters walked silently behind, a hearse carried her flag-draped coffin Monday alongside a crowd-lined avenue within the Scottish capital to a cathedral, the place a service of thanksgiving hailed the late monarch as a “fixed in all of our lives for over 70 years.”

4 days after the 96-year-old queen died at Balmoral Fortress within the Scottish Highlands, a navy bagpiper performed as her oak coffin, draped within the red-and-yellow Royal Customary of Scotland, was borne from the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh in a solemn procession.

King Charles III, wearing military uniform, and his siblings Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward walked behind because the hearse traveled to St. Giles’ Cathedral, flanked by a bearer occasion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and a detachment of the Royal Firm of Archers, the king’s ceremonial bodyguard in Scotland.

Contained in the church, the coffin was positioned on a picket stand and topped with the golden Crown of Scotland, encrusted with 22 gems and 20 treasured stones together with freshwater pearls from Scotland’s rivers.

“And so we collect, to bid Scotland’s farewell to our late monarch, whose lifetime of service to the nation and the world we rejoice. And whose love for Scotland was legendary,” stated the Rev. Calum MacLeod.

As a result of the queen died at her summer time house of Balmoral, Scotland has been the main focus of the world’s consideration for the primary a part of Britain’s 10 days of nationwide mourning. Giant crowds have lined the route as her coffin journeyed from the citadel to Edinburgh, underscoring the deep bond between the queen and Scotland. That bond endured whilst relations soured between the Conservative U.Ok. authorities in London and the pro-independence Scottish administration in Edinburgh.

Church of Scotland Moderator Iain Greenshields stated “most of us can’t recall a time when she was not our monarch.”

“Dedicated to the function she assumed in 1952 upon the demise of her beloved father, she has been a relentless in all of our lives for over 70 years,” he stated. “She was decided to see her work as a type of service to others.”

The coffin will stay on the cathedral till Tuesday so the general public pays their respects. Hundreds of individuals lined the 0.7-mile (1 kilometer) route between palace and cathedral, some arriving hours early to catch a glimpse.

“I simply wished to be right here, simply to indicate … final respects. I can’t imagine she is lifeless,” stated Marilyn Mclear, a 70-year-old retired instructor. “I do know she was 96, however I simply can’t imagine the queen’s lifeless.”

One man shouted on the passing hearse, whereas others known as out: “God save the king!” However the procession was greeted principally with a respectful silence underneath a blue sky flecked with clouds.

Charles and his siblings later stood in silent vigil on the church, decreasing their heads as they stood at 4 sides of their mom’s oak coffin alongside members of the Royal Firm of Archers. As they carried out the normal vigil, members of the general public filed previous.

Charles, Anne and Edward all wore navy uniforms, however Andrew didn’t. The Royal Navy veteran was stripped of his honorary navy titles and was eliminated as a working royal over his friendship with the infamous U.S. intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Charles later donned a kilt as he visited the Scottish parliament, the place he was greeted by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

“The queen, like so many generations of our household earlier than her, discovered within the hills of this land and within the hearts of its individuals a haven and a house,” Charles informed Scottish lawmakers.

Earlier, the queen’s grandson, Prince Harry, hailed her as a “guiding compass” and praised her “unwavering grace and dignity.”

The federal government, in the meantime, introduced the nation will observe a minute of silence on Sunday, the night earlier than the queen’s funeral. The “second of reflection” will happen at 8 p.m. (1900 GMT, 3 p.m. EDT).

Earlier than flying to Scotland, Charles acquired condolences at Parliament on Monday and informed lawmakers he would observe his late mom’s instance of “selfless obligation.”

A whole lot of lawmakers crowded into the 1,000-year-old Westminster Corridor for the service, wealthy in pageantry, through which Parliament supplied its condolences to the king. A trumpet fanfare greeted him and Camilla, the Queen Consort.

Charles informed the Home of Commons and the Home of Lords that he would observe his late mom in upholding “the valuable rules of constitutional governance” that underpin the U.Ok.’s political system.

“As I stand earlier than you as we speak, I can’t assist however really feel the burden of historical past, which surrounds us and which reminds us of the very important parliamentary traditions to which members of each Homes dedicate yourselves, with such private dedication, for the betterment of us all,” Charles stated.

The ceremony was held in Westminster Corridor as a result of monarchs will not be allowed contained in the Home of Commons since King Charles I attempted to enter and arrest lawmakers. That confrontation led to a civil conflict which ended with the king being beheaded in 1649.

In a private tribute to his grandmother, Prince Harry stated he cherished their occasions collectively “from my earliest childhood reminiscences with you, to assembly you for the primary time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the primary second you met my darling spouse and hugged the one that you love great-grandchildren.”

Amid acrimony within the Home of Windsor, Harry stop as a senior royal and moved to the U.S. two years in the past. On Saturday, there was a doable signal of a reconciliation as Harry and his spouse Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, joined his brother Prince William and sister-in-law Catherine, the Princess of Wales, in assembly mourners exterior Windsor Fortress.

Harry’s assertion alluded to the demise of his grandfather, Prince Philip, final 12 months: “We too smile, understanding that you just and grandpa are reunited now and each collectively in peace.”

The queen’s coffin can be flown Tuesday to London, the place it’s going to lie in state on the Homes of Parliament from Wednesday afternoon till the morning of her funeral on Sept. 19. U.S. President Joe Biden is among the many world leaders and dignitaries planning to attend the service at Westminster Abbey.

Authorities have already got issued guidelines for individuals desirous to pay their respects in London.

Vanessa Nathakumaran confirmed up greater than two days early to stake out a spot. “I actually, actually need to be a part of it,” she stated.

Judging by the scale of the group in Edinburgh, the road behind Nathakumaran can be lengthy.

Rosamund Allen, 67, got here to Edinburgh from Rothbury in northern England to be a part of historical past.

“It was very shifting. It was very quiet,” she stated. “I felt very sorry for the household itself to be on present. They’re very courageous to try this. And I actually hope and pray that they get one thing out of as we speak and have an opportunity to mourn themselves.

“They had been very variety to permit us to be a part of their unhappiness.”

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Corder and Lawless reported from London.

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Comply with AP tales on the demise of Queen Elizabeth II and Britain’s royal household at https://apnews.com/hub/queen-elizabeth-ii