Sombre Edinburgh readies to receive the queen

Sombre Edinburgh readies to receive the queen

Mourners paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II as Edinburgh prepared to receive her coffin
Mourners paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II as Edinburgh prepared to receive her coffin. Photo: Lesley Martin / AFP
Source: AFP

Sadness, drizzle and a strange frisson filled the Edinburgh air as the Scottish capital prepared to receive the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II this weekend.

The monarch died at her Scottish Balmoral estate on Thursday and the coffin's arrival in Edinburgh will be the first stage on its journey to a state funeral in London.

Against a damp wall at Holyroodhouse, the royal palace in Edinburgh, the mass of flowers continued to grow.

Gary Millar, a 45-year-old technician, added a bouquet to the pile that started to build when news broke of the queen's death.

He stepped back and paused in a silent moment of contemplation.

Millar had arrived early in the morning to show his "respects" and "to honour the lady".

PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!

Read also

Buckingham Palace becomes shrine for a grieving nation

"She honoured us her whole reign by doing her duty and I think it's time that the public gave that back a little," he said, his voice tight with emotion.

In Scotland, led by a government that wants independence from the United Kingdom, the queen is much more popular than the monarchy itself.

For Millar, the late sovereign "held the country together".

"She was the figurehead of our union of Great Britain. She's been around all my life," he continued, praising her "hard work" and "dedication".

'Right monarch for the times'

Holyroodhouse is expected to receive Queen Elizabeth's coffin over the weekend.

Her body will then be carried in a procession along the Royal Mile, the main artery of the Scottish capital, to St Giles Cathedral for a religious service.

The queen's children are expected to hold a "Vigil of the Princes" while the coffin lies in the cathedral. Members of the public are due to be allowed in later to pay their respects.

Read also

The queen's last hours as family dashed to deathbed

The coffin will then be transported by plane to London.

Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral, her beloved Scottish Highland retreat
Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral, her beloved Scottish Highland retreat. Photo: Lesley Martin / AFP
Source: AFP

At the foot of the wall, gardeners were preparing the lawn for the occasion. The palace grounds rang to the sound of mowers and a damp smell of motor fuel and cut grass hung in the air.

Moved to tears, Rebecca Evans, 44, said simply that she was "sad".

"She just welcomed the new prime minister on Tuesday and to go from Tuesday to be well, and then to Thursday to leave us, it's just very, very sad," she sobbed.

"There's so much going on in the UK right now," said Evans, listing Brexit, the energy crisis and the predicted recession.

"I think we're notoriously grumpy people in Scotland," she added. "But... we do love the queen. We do love the royal family."

Evans, who works for a think tank on global warming, predicted King Charles III would be "the right monarch for these times".

Read also

Death of Queen Elizabeth II: What happens next?

"He was ridiculed for his views but this is a time for action, for people to stand up and say we need to do things about climate change," she said.

'Never on strike'

The fact the queen's coffin will rest in Edinburgh is a source of great local pride, Evans said, "because so many things in the UK are focused on London".

"Especially when you've seen the mountain behind in the mist. It's so beautiful and I can't think of a nicer way to go than to just pass away peacefully in the mountains," she added, visibly moved.

The late queen's coffin is expected to arrive at  Edinburgh's Holyroodhouse over the weekend
The late queen's coffin is expected to arrive at Edinburgh's Holyroodhouse over the weekend. Photo: Oli SCARFF / AFP
Source: AFP

Out of respect for the queen, postal workers and railway workers have called off planned strikes.

"That's maybe the most British response you can find... that rail workers and postal workers don't strike because she never went on strike, did she?," added Evans.

Orla Bell, a 48-year-old Irishwoman living in Edinburgh, came to lay flowers because her mother, who is a "big fan of the royal family".

Read also

'Our hearts are broken': UK newspapers mark queen's death

Twenty five years ago she and her mother left a bouquet when Princess Diana died.

"The queen was like a mum to everybody in the country," she said.

"Even if you're not a fan of the royal family or you're not British, I think it's important to everybody."

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.