Queen Elizabeth II: Coffin to travel by road from Balmoral to Edinburgh

KATHMANDU: The Queen’s coffin is to make a six-hour journey from Balmoral to her palace in Edinburgh on Sunday.

The cortege will begin the 175-mile journey at 10:00 and then make its way through Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen, Angus and Tayside before reaching Edinburgh.

The Queen will then lie at rest in The Palace of Holyroodhouse overnight.

Transport Scotland said it expected tens of thousands of people to line the route.

Officials have warned the event is going to be “of unprecedented scale” and urged onlookers to choose a safe vantage point.

There will be designated viewing locations along the route in Ballater, Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh.

Key points in the procession

• coffin leaves Balmoral Castle at 10:00 and head east through Royal Deeside and then through the suburbs of Aberdeen.
• from Aberdeen the cortege will take the coast road south, past Portlethen and Stonehaven, and then inland through the Angus countryside and past Brechin.
• when the procession reaches Dundee it will go around the city on the Kingsway, and from there to Perth and across the Friarton Bridge and down the M90 and over the Queensferry Crossing towards Edinburgh.
• In the capital the procession will enter from the west of the city, skirt by Edinburgh Castle and down the full length of the Royal Mile to the The Palace of Holyroodhouse by about 16:00.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it would be a chance for people to “gather together publicly and begin to mark our country’s shared loss”.

“Her Majesty’s death at Balmoral Castle means Scotland has lost one of its most dedicated and beloved servants,” she said.

“The grief we have seen across the world has been profound and deeply touching. It will be especially poignant to see Her Majesty’s coffin begin its journey from her Aberdeenshire home to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

“We anticipate many, many people will be keen to pay their respects and we ask them to observe public safety messaging to ensure the safety of all.”

Laybys and access roads along the route will be temporarily closed. Those wishing to leave flowers have been asked to do so at designated areas along the route and mourners have been asked not to throw flowers at the convoy as it passes.

Stein Connelly, Transport Scotland operator manager, said: “Even the recent COP26 gathering in Glasgow cannot match the amount of preparation and planning that has gone into this operation.

“Every effort will be made to minimise disruption to the travelling public, but significant delays are expected. There will be an enormous influx of people into Edinburgh, Dundee, Perth wanting to stand to see the cortege passing.

“Check the route and if you want to travel to a suitable location to show your respects then plan ahead, make sure you give plenty of time for your journey and make sure it is safe where you are going.”

The first minister and opposition party leaders will gather at the Scottish parliament to observe the coffin passing.

Pay respects

On Monday, there will be a procession from the palace to St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh where the coffin will rest for 24 hours to allow people to pay their respects.

The following day The Queen’s coffin will be transported by road from the cathedral to Edinburgh Airport and then flown to RAF Northolt before going on to Buckingham Palace.

It is expected that King Charles will travel to Edinburgh on Monday.

The procession of The Queen’s coffin from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral is expected to include members of the royal family.

There will be a service in the cathedral and then members of the public will be able to file past the coffin for a 24 hour period.

Keep safe

Dep Ch Con Malcolm Graham said: “We understand that the public will want to show their respects to Her Majesty and we would urge them to do so safely.

“If you are attending to view the Queen’s cortege, please do not leave your vehicle at the side of the road as this poses a risk to public safety. Please only park in designated areas and follow the directions of stewards and police officers.

“We would also urge people not to stand in unsafe areas and to keep off the carriageway at all times. There will be rolling road closures along the route.

“Other roads close to the route are expected to be significantly affected as large numbers of people from across Scotland and beyond come to pay their respects. ”

-BBC