Weeping mourners stand in mile-long queue to see the Queen in Edinburgh

Thousands of sorrowful mourners camped overnight to pay their final respects to the Queen in Edinburgh as well-wishers and royal fans from all across Scotland – and even as far south as London – stood in a mile-long queue that wound around the capital to bid a final farewell to Britain’s longest reigning monarch.

Around 26,000 people have filed past Her Majesty’s oak coffin at St Giles’ Cathedral since it was carried 1,200 yards up the Royal Mile from the Palace of Holyroodhouse yesterday during a solemn military procession led by King Charles III and his grief-stricken siblings.

The Scottish Government said that the queue to view the late monarch – which wound down the Royal Mile, up George IV Bridge and past the National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street – has now closed and that further efforts will be made to ensure all those already waiting will be able to pay their respects before the lying at rest in Edinburgh ends at 3pm.

The Queen is lying in rest in the Scottish capital until the late monarch is flown to London from Edinburgh Airport by the RAF at 6pm. She will stay at Buckingham Palace overnight, then will lie in state at the Palace of Westminster for four days before her state funeral at Westminster Abbey and burial at St George’s Chapel in Windsor on Monday, September 19.

Mourners described being ‘overwhelmed with the power and emotion of the occasion’ with many wiping away tears as they briefly stood in prayer looking at the coffin. Most bowed or curtseyed when they arrived. Dozens came to queue after travelling from England. Some came from London, believing that it would be easier to see her in Scotland with 30-hour queues predicted in the English capital.

Corey Burgher joined the very back of the queue with his stepdaughter Giovanna Giambastiani at 2.30am. He said: ‘We wanted to say our goodbyes to the boss. I’m in the military, I work on the submarines. Was surprised how much the news hit me. I didn’t know her personally, but I met her when I was a kid. I got quite emotional about it, it was quite a shock.’ 

Dawn Legge, from Manchester said: ‘I needed to come. We needed to pay our respects and mourn our Queen before we want to celebrate our King’. Catherine Gray, from London, said with tears in her eyes that she had made the 800-mile round trip because she felt ‘weird’ without Her Majesty in her life. She said seeing the coffin was ‘surreal’ and ‘one of the most emotional moments of my life’.

And one man in the Edinburgh queue said this morning: ‘If she could do 70 years, I can do 12 hours’. 

Hundreds filed past the casket last night when King Charles III and his three siblings staged a silent 10-minute vigil at the four corners of Her Majesty’s oak coffin. 

Mitch Stevenson, who queued for just under five hours with his sister, made it into the cathedral at just after 1am. He said: ‘It was a very important occasion for us – we lost our mum earlier this year and she would have loved to have been able to go, so we went for her memory also’.

Luke McIlwain, 34, joined the queue with his partner Felicity Baines, 31, at just after 3am. He said: ‘It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. We might never see another Queen’. He said it was very cold, adding: ‘We wanted to join the line overnight to avoid the crowds – unsuccessfully’.

Mourners raced to central Edinburgh early this morning to pay their respects.

Those wanting to see the Queen’s coffin must first obtain a coloured wristband in George Square before they join the queue.

At 7am numbers had dwindled overnight so members of the public were able to walk to the cathedral doors almost uninterrupted.

But by 9am a steady flow footfall had grown but mourners had to wait no more than an hour.

Among those queuing were Tom and Jane Baker from York.

Tom, 42, a security guard, explained: ‘We really wanted to pay our respects and it’s not that much longer to drive to Edinburgh than it is to London so we drove up last night.

‘We stayed in a little hotel outside the city but we’re here now and hopefully we’ll get to take part in the vigil shortly.

‘The Queen has always been there for me. I was a Cub Scout, a Scout and I served in the British Army.

‘This is the least I can do to serve my Queen.’

Jane, 38, added: ‘The Queen was a wonderful woman. Christmas Day will not be the same without the Queen’s Speech.’

People traveled from across Scotland, the UK and the Commonwealth to offer prayers to the Queen as she lay at rest.

Council workers Janet Mattheson and Danielle Gartland-Quinn got up early to did the monarch farewell before going to work this morning.

Janet, 55, from Edinburgh told MailOnline: ‘It felt very peaceful to be so close to the Queen and to see her for the last time.

‘There is a feeling of quiet serenity in the church. It was very moving to see her coffin with the crown.’

Danielle, 29, from Edinburgh, added: ‘It was very peaceful.’

Friends Jenny Baker and Cathie Paterson had traveled from the west coast of Scotland to pay their respects for the last time.

Jenny, 74, from Loch Lomond told MailOnline: ‘We are royalists and have always supported the monarchy.

‘So we decided to get up early this morning and vibe to pay our respects. She has been such a constant presence in our lives we wanted to say goodbye. She is being really well looked after and that was great to see.’

Cathie, 82, from the Isle of Lewis, said: ‘I have always followed the royal family and do I felt I had to come and pay my respects to the Queen. We are in Scotland but we will always fly the Union Jack.’

Amanda Rawlins and her family learned of the Queen’s death as the flew to London from Melbourne, Australia.

Amanda, 52, told MailOnline: ‘We were on the plane to London when we learned that the Queen had died. So we decided we wanted to come to Edinburgh to pay our respects to our monarch. We felt that this was a moment in history and we wanted to witness it first hand.

‘I was very impressed by the vigil – the sense of tradition, respect and love. It was so moving.’

Amanda was accompanied by her husband Shaun Kempton, 49 and children Ruby, 14, and Max, 12.

Sharon Baum, 53, and her partner Alison Evans, 50, were at the front of the queue yesterday, as members of the public paid personal tributes to the beloved monarch. 

The couple queued up for nearly 11 hours and told MailOnline of their extraordinary experience on an historic day at St Giles’ Cathedral. 

Mrs Baum, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire said: ‘It was really serene and peaceful and solemn. 

‘We feel so privileged to be allowed to see it and do what we did. 

‘We felt like we were involved in a little bit of history. 

‘You can’t prepare yourself for how you are going to feel when you go through the door. I knew I would be upset. 

‘As soon as you are there it brings it all home. We are really big Royalists. 

‘I shed a tear — several. I said a little prayer and bowed my head. We probably could have stayed a little bit longer. 

‘There was nobody rushing you but there were so many people waiting. 

‘It was one of the most memorable and sad experiences of my life. I will remember it until my dying day. It was so emotional.’

The couple set off from their home at 10pm on Saturday and drove through to travel to Ballater near Balmoral at 5am as the Queen made her final journey from the castle. 

Last night the couple were returning home but are hoping to be in London for the Queen’s funeral.

Eleanor Wardrop, 72, and her twin sister Jennifer Davis were among the first in the queue arriving at 8am yesterday. 

The former executive PA said: ‘It was a priceless moment. It really was very, very special. It was completely serene, just so dignified and quiet. It was just so beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

‘People were taking their time, walking slowly. Men were saluting to the Queen, bowing to the Queen and the women were curtseying. 

‘I did a little curtsy as I went past. I was so glad that I was able to honour her in that way.

‘It was very quiet. There were two ministers on duty saying prayers as we walked through. It was very dignified. 

‘There were the archers standing there with their heads bowed and there were police guards as well.’

Describing the experience Eleanor said: ‘We wanted to come to the vigil to pay a personal tribute. We grew up with the Queen. She has been a constant in our lives. She was our true north. 

‘She took an oath and she stood by it her whole life. As a young woman she promised to do her duty and she did that right to the end. 

‘She was a remarkable woman and nobody else will ever be like her. She has been a role model to us all.’

Peter Binder, 60, travelled down with wife Georgina from the north of Scotland arriving at 7am. 

He said: ‘There were literally half a dozen people but that changed very quickly. It’s been a very long day but it has certainly been worthwhile.

‘There has been a very good spirit in the crowd. Everyone has got to know each other. We have been supporting each other and there has been a good camaraderie. I suppose we are proud British monarchists. It has been a very moving experience.’

King Charles III, his sister the Princess Royal and brothers the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex all arrived at St Giles’ Cathedral after the sun had set over the Scottish capital, then kept a vigil by their mother’s coffin from 7.46pm until 7.56pm while members of the public walked past silently. 

The King’s warring sons, the Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales, did not attend.

The King, who was wearing the Prince Charles Edward Stuart tartan and white heather in his lappelle from Balmoral, kept his hands joined and looked towards the floor as he stood alongside four suited members of the Royal Company of Archers, who were standing guard dressed in long-feathered hats and armed with arrows and quivers. 

Afterwards, tears appeared to fill his eyes as the monarch completed an emotional day which began with him addressing MPs in the Palace of Westminster. 

As the Queen’s four children completed their vigil, they silently left the cathedral while mourners queueing outside applauded the royals. 

The King then smiled and waved to royal fans before leaving the cathedral. Outside, he was greeted by the Queen Consort, before the royal couple were driven in a state Rolls-Royce back to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where earlier the monarch had performed his first official engagement as head of state and also held an audience with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. 

Members of the crowd cheered as Charles arrived at the cathedral, and as he departed. As he drove past them, they took pictures and video and said: ‘Here he is. Here he is. It’s the King.’

One woman was heard to say: ‘I missed him earlier and travelled up from Glasgow to see him. I waited five hours – I finally saw him.’

The tradition has been honoured since the death of King George V in 1936, with Princess Anne becoming the first female royal to take part. 

Charles and Camilla had earlier been at the Scottish Parliament to receive condolences over the late monarch’s death after leading a solemn military procession carrying the Queen’s body from the Palace of Holyroodhouse up the Royal Mile to the cathedral.

Members of the public queued up for up to five hours before being given white wristbands. They were led to a second queue close to the cathedral and were able to hear the service taking place before going through an airport-style security search in a marquee which was set up for the occasion. 

Sharon, a retail manager for a local charity, said: ‘We arrived at 7.30am and we were surprised to find ourselves right at the front of the queue. You have to go a little way into the cathedral and the Queen is on the left hand side. It was all really well organised. 

‘They didn’t have much time to organise it but everyone knew what we were doing. We’re glad we arrived when we did because the queue just got longer and longer.’ 

Alison said: ‘It was so emotional. We felt very privileged that we could show our respects. We just wanted to be a part of it.’ 

The couple set off from their home at 10pm on Saturday and drove through to travel to Ballater near Balmoral at 5am as the Queen made her final journey from the castle. On Sunday night, the couple were returning home but are hoping to be in London for the Queen’s funeral. 

Eleanor Wardrop, 72, and her twin sister Jennifer Davis were among the first in the queue arriving at 8am. 

Eleanor, a former executive PA, said: ‘It was a priceless moment. It really was very, very special. It was completely serene, just so dignified and quiet. It was just so beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. 

‘People were taking their time, walking slowly. Men were saluting to the Queen, bowing to the Queen and the women were curtseying. 

‘I did a little curtsy as I went past. I was so glad that I was able to honour her in that way. It was very quiet. There were two ministers on duty saying prayers as we walked through. It was very dignified. There were the archers standing there with their heads bowed and there were police guards as well.’ 

Describing the experience Eleanor said: ‘We wanted to come to the vigil to pay a personal tribute. ‘We were surprised when we arrived that we would be so far up the queue but it soon started to build up and became very busy. We queued from 8am to 1pm before we were given wristbands. 

‘They guided us up to barriers near the cathedral where we were able to hear the service.’ 

She added: ‘We grew up with the Queen. She has been a constant in our lives. She was our true north. She took an oath and she stood by it her whole life. As a young woman she promised to do her duty and she did that right to the end. She was a remarkable woman and nobody else will ever be like her. She has been a role model to us all.’ 

Peter Binder, 60, travelled down with wife Georgina from the north of Scotland arriving at 7am. He said: ‘There were literally half a dozen people but that changed very quickly. It’s been a very long day but it has certainly been worthwhile. 

‘There has been a very good spirit in the crowd. Everyone has got to know each other. We have been supporting each other and there has been a good camaraderie. I suppose we are proud British monarchists. It has been a very moving experience.’ 

Karen Whitehouse left her home in Loweswater, Cumbria, at 2am yesterday morning to start queuing to pay her respects to the late monarch in the Scottish capital.

Speaking about her moment with the royal coffin this evening, the 64-year-old said: ‘It was surreal. It was very quiet, everyone was very still. It was like they were all statues. I can’t believe I’ve done it and I was that close. I paid my respects, it was just beautiful.’

Ms Whitehouse said the Queen’s coffin was lying on a tall plinth inside the cathedral.

She added: ‘The wreath was on the top, and a cushion, and the crown on top of that. There’s a lot of officials in there, in their robes. Everyone is very still, it’s a beautiful experience. It was worth the 12 hours to get here.’

Amy Calvert, from Stoke-on-Trent, is on holiday in Edinburgh and was one of the first in line to pay her respects to the late Queen at a vigil in the Scottish capital.

She said: ‘It’s really surreal. I haven’t quite taken it in that we are here. But I can’t wait to pay my respects. It will be a time for reflection. The example she’s set within her faith is just incredible.’

Hundreds of thousands of Scots had earlier crammed into Edinburgh’s narrow streets to catch a glimpse of the Queen’s coffin yesterday as King Charles led senior royals in a solemn military procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse – where the late monarch’s body had been resting overnight after the 180-mile drive from Balmoral yesterday – to the cathedral.

The King walked solemnly in step with his younger brothers and sister behind the Queen on the march up the Scottish capital’s Royal Mile. The assembled well-wishers fell silent as the hearse appeared. The crowd then broke out in spontaneous applause as the cortège approached and many shouted God Save the King and God Save the Queen.

Around 30 minutes later the Queen arrived at St Giles’ Cathedral and Her Majesty’s coffin was lifted out of the hearse and brought into the place of worship – with the King, his wife the Queen Consort, the Princess Royal, her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of York, and the Earl and the Countess of Wessex all walking behind. 

The Crown of Scotland – which was made in 1540 for King James V – was then placed upon the coffin, which was draped with the Royal Standard in Scotland and dressed with a wreath of flowers consisting of white Spray Roses, white Freesias, white button chrysanthemums, dried white heather from Balmoral, spray eryngium, foliage, rosemary, hebe, and pittosporum.

Before arriving at the cathedral, the procession was greeted by the Guard of Honour and Band in front of the fountain, with the High Constables and the Baillie’s Guard in position under the Colonnade. When the coffin arrived, the guard of honour gave a royal salute and the band played one verse of the national anthem.

The bearer party, found by the Royal Regiment of Scotland, then took up their flanking position. The escort party, found by the King’s Body Guard for Scotland, and royal cars, flanked by members of the royal family, walked at the rear of the procession, and took their positions close to the hearse.

The guard of honour was accompanied by a pipe band with drums, draped and muffled.

The crowd outside the cathedral joined in with the congregation during the national anthem – some singing God Save the King while others sang God Save the Queen. There was then spontaneous applause from many of those gathered at the end of the hour long service. There was more applause as King Charles left the cathedral in a waiting car. 

Her Majesty’s coffin was lifted out of the hearse and brought into the place of worship, with the King, the Queen Consort, the Princess Royal, her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of York, and the Earl and the Countess of Wessex walking behind.

As the coffin made its way through the cathedral the choir sang Thou Wilt Keep Him In Perfect Peace, Whose Mind Is Stayed On Thee.

The Queen’s coffin was placed on a wooden catafalque as the congregation continued to stand.

The King, Queen Consort, and other members of the royal family, then walked to their seats alongside the coffin.

The King had his wife to his left and the Duke of York to his right.

At the beginning of the service, Reverend Calum MacLeod welcomed the royal family, ‘representatives of our nation’s life’ and ‘people whose lives were touched by the Queen in so many unforgettable ways’.

He said: ‘And so we gather to bid Scotland’s farewell to our late monarch, whose life of service to the nation and the world we celebrate.

‘And whose love for Scotland was legendary.’

The Queen’s coffin arrived at St Giles’ Cathedral followed by her four children on a sorrowful journey through the Scottish capital lined by hundreds of thousands of mourners who stood in silent revelry punctuated by the sound of gun salutes from the city’s castle.

Led by a lone piper from Balmoral playing a lament, Her Majesty was carried from the Palace of Holyroodhouse where she was lying in rest since a six-hour journey from her Aberdeenshire home on Sunday. 

As the national anthem played the coffin was gently lowered into the hearse, watched by a visibly emotional King Charles and his siblings, Anne, the Princess Royal, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, who then marched dolefully for 1,200 yards behind their beloved mother. 

The Duke of York was not in military uniform like his siblings after Her Majesty stripped him of his titles because of the Epstein scandal. He was briefly heckled during the procession. Police Scotland said a 22-year-old man had been arrested.

Hundreds of thousands lined the streets and applauded as the Queen was taken to the cathedral where her family, and a congregation drawn from all areas of Scottish society, attended a service of thanksgiving for her life. 

Bagpipes played the National Anthem from Holyrood Palace as the Queen’s coffin cortege began the walk up the Royal Mile. The hearse was flanked by a Bearer Party found by The Royal Regiment of Scotland and The King’s Body Guard for Scotland. Mounted police in ceremonial dress rode ahead of the parade. 

Earlier the King met with well-wishers who lined the streets of Edinburgh to see him yesterday in an unplanned walkabout as Scotland’s capital welcomed the new monarch and mourned the Queen – with so many people turning up that police were forced to turn many away. 

Senior church officials stood patiently at the entrance to the church as the procession made its way up the Royal Mile from the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Crowds packed in 10 deep along the narrow pavements of the historic old town while others took up positions in windows along the route during the solemn procession.

Military personnel saluted as two police officers on horseback signalled the arrival of the Queen’s body.

All four of the Queen’s children led by the new King Charles followed close by as the hearse arrived at the iconic place of worship.

Princess Anne’s husband was also among the party.

Camilla, the Queen Consort and Prince Edward’s wife Sophie arrived in a following car.

The silence was perfectly preserved during a pause as military guards removed the flag draped casket from the vehicle before carrying it into the cathedral with the Royal party following close by.

Sophia Bruce, from Edinburgh, said: ‘It was very moving to be here and watch the Queen followed by her children enter St Giles for the last time.

‘There was an dignified silence from the whole crowd. You could have heard a pin drop.

‘It was very respectful with everyone wanting to say their last goodbye. I’ve been here for three hours and there had been a tremendous camaraderie amongst the whole crowd.’

Enormous queues of royal fans were seen lining up with Union Flags and colourful homemade signs outside St Giles’ Cathedral as the sun’s first light began to break through the morning clouds yesterday.

But by midday, Police Scotland officers were preventing any newcomers from joining the swelling crowds that had lined the narrow streets around the 12th-century stone cathedral as city officials warned of significant disruption ahead of the proceedings.

The coffin was lifted out of the hearse and brought into the place of worship, with the King, the Queen Consort, the Princess Royal, her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of York, and the Earl and the Countess of Wessex walking behind.

As the coffin made its way through the cathedral the choir sang Thou Wilt Keep Him In Perfect Peace, Whose Mind Is Stayed On Thee.

The Queen’s coffin was placed on a wooden catafalque as the congregation continued to stand.

The King, Queen Consort, and other members of the royal family, then walked to their seats alongside the coffin.

The King has his wife to his left and the Duke of York to his right.

At the beginning of the service, Reverend Calum MacLeod welcomed the royal family, ‘representatives of our nation’s life’ and ‘people whose lives were touched by the Queen in so many unforgettable ways’.

He said: ‘And so we gather to bid Scotland’s farewell to our late monarch, whose life of service to the nation and the world we celebrate.

‘And whose love for Scotland was legendary.’

The Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields told the congregation: ‘It is clearly evident and without doubt that the Queen’s Christian faith was genuine, and often gave clear and sincere expression when there were those remarkable Christmas broadcasts.

‘She spoke unashamedly of her trust in God and of the example and teaching of Jesus Christ whom she sought to follow as best she could – indeed of that faith, she said she had no regret.

‘Her focus on family, on community, on reaching across divisions and differences were evident to us throughout these short yet meaningful festive messages.

‘For 70 years, she reigned as our Queen. She has been present among us as a follower of Christ and a member of his church. And for that and much else beside we give thanks to God together here this day.

‘Today we mourn her passing. But we also celebrate the long and happy reign that we experience with her.

‘And we pray God’s blessing upon King Charles who will surely draw strength from his mother’s example and the many affectionate tributes of these days and from our assurance to him as a church of our steadfast prayers at all times and of our unstinting support to him, as was offered to his mother, the Queen.’

During the St Giles’ Cathedral service, Morag Mylne, Elder of the Church of the Scotland, said: ‘Most gracious God, with all our hearts we thank you for the long life, the shining example, the steadfast commitment to duty, the strong faith, and the good humour of our wise and great Queen.

‘We thank you for the deep love she has inspired from all her subjects, for the myriad ways in which she met and welcomed people from all walks of life, for the diplomacy with which she resolved conflict, and for the stability she brought to her realms and to the Commonwealth.’

The national anthem, God Save The King, was sang near the end of the service.

The Queen Consort, Duke of York, Earl of Wessex, Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence could be seen singing as they stood alongside the King in front of the late Queen’s coffin.

Members of the public will be able to view the coffin to pay their respects for 24 hours before it is taken to London to lie in state.

At 7.20pm the King and his brothers will perform the Vigil of The Princes. The coffin is expected to be flown to London this evening, again with Princess Anne accompanying her mother.

On arrival at RAF Northolt in west London at 6.55pm, the coffin will be transferred to the State Hearse. At Buckingham Palace, a guard of honour will receive the coffin. 

A bearer party of the Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, will carry it to the Bow Room where it will be placed on trestles, witnessed by King Charles and the Queen Consort. Chaplains to the King will keep watch over the coffin.