Queen Elizabeth II's flag-draped coffin arrives in Scottish capital: 'An extraordinary woman'

EDINBURGH, Scotland – Queen Elizabeth II's flag-draped coffin has arrived at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the British monarchy’s residence in the Scottish capital city of Edinburgh.

The arrival followed a slow, somber and regal procession through the Scottish countryside on Sunday. Mourners had packed city streets and lined rural roads to take part in a historic goodbye to the monarch who reigned for 70 years.

The hearse drove past piles of bouquets and other tributes as it led a seven-car cortege from her beloved summer estate Balmoral Castle, where the queen died Thursday at age 96, for a six-hour trip through Scottish towns to the palace in Edinburgh. The late queen’s coffin was draped in the Royal Standard for Scotland and topped with a wreath made of flowers from the estate, including sweet peas, one of the queen’s favorites.

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Members of the Royal Regiment of Scotland carried the coffin past the queen’s only daughter, Princess Anne, and into the throne room. It will remain there until Monday afternoon so residence staff can pay their last respects.

“A sad and poignant moment as Her Majesty, The Queen leaves her beloved Balmoral for the final time,” the first minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon tweeted. “Today, as she makes her journey to Edinburgh, Scotland will pay tribute to an extraordinary woman.”

King Charles III and his Queen Consort Camilla will travel to Edinburgh on Monday to take the coffin to St. Giles Cathedral on the city’s Royal Mile. The coffin will remain there for 24 hours before being flown to London on Tuesday. The coffin will be moved from Buckingham Palace on Wednesday to the Houses of Parliament to lie in state until a state funeral at Westminster Abbey on Sept. 19.

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In the Scottish village of Ballater, where residents regard the royal family as neighbors, hundreds of people watched as the hearse it passed.

“She meant such a lot to people in this area. People were crying, it was amazing to see,” said Victoria Pacheco.

The procession was mostly met with muted scenes of respect. People stood in silence; some clapped politely, others pointed their phone cameras.

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In Ballater, the Rev. David Barr said locals consider the royals as “neighbors” and try to treat them as locals when they spend summers in the Scottish Highlands.

When Elizabeth arrived at her summer estate, the royal part of her mostly stayed outside, he said. “She was able to be a wife, a loving wife, a loving mum, a loving gran and then later on a loving great-gran – and aunty – and be normal.”

Elizabeth Taylor of Aberdeen had tears in her eyes after the hearse passed through Ballater.

“It was very emotional. It was respectful,” she said. “She certainly gave service to this country, even up until a few days before her death.”

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Protest breaks out in Edinburgh to 'abolish the monarchy'

Just before the proclamation of King Charles III was read Sunday in Edinburgh, a protester appeared with a sign condemning imperialism and urging leaders to “abolish the monarchy.” She was taken away soon after by police. Reaction was mixed. One man shouted, “Let her go! It’s free speech!” while others yelled, “Have some respect!”

Still, there was also some booing in Edinburgh when Joseph Morrow, Lord Lyon King of Arms, finished his proclamation with the words “God save the king!”

Ann Hamilton, 48, said she thought it was “absolutely terrible” that people booed the royal family during the proclamation.

“There’s tens of thousands of people here today to show their respect. For them to be here, heckling through things, I think it was terrible. If they were so against it, they shouldn’t have come,” she said.

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President Biden praises Queen Elizabeth II on anniversary of 9/11

While marking the 21st anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, President Joe Biden paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II for her support of the United States on that fateful day.

In a speech at the Pentagon, Biden cited the queen's message to the U.S. shortly after the 9/11 attacks: “Grief is the price we pay for love."

Earlier Sunday, Biden said he has not yet spoken to King Charles III since the death of his mother.

"I’ve spoken to him many times but I haven’t spoken to him since he’s become king," Biden told reporters as he left Delaware to return to Washington for the 9/11 commemoration.

Biden is scheduled to travel to London, accompanied by first lady Jill Biden, to attend the queen's funeral.

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Prince William promises to serve Wales with 'humility and great respect'

Prince William, the new Prince of Wales, has told the First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, he will serve the country “with humility and great respect.”

William was given the title when his father, King Charles III, the previous Prince of Wales, ascended to the throne following the death Thursday of Queen Elizabeth II.

William told Drakeford that he and his wife, Kate, have a “deep affection for Wales, having made their first family home in Anglesey, including during the earliest months of Prince George’s life.”

He said the couple would travel to Wales “very soon” and want “to do their part to support the aspirations of the Welsh people and to shine a spotlight on both the challenges and opportunities in front of them.”

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King Charles III formally proclaimed new monarch in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland

King Charles III has been formally proclaimed the new monarch in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The move came Sunday in the rest of the United Kingdom, a day after the same proclamation was made in London at a pomp-filled accession ceremony steeped in ancient tradition and political symbolism.

In Belfast, bells chimed and a bugler played before the proclamation was read. It was followed by a 21-gun salute and a military band playing the anthem, “God Save the King.” In Wales, a regimental mascot goat accompanied the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Welsh regiment at the ceremony at Cardiff Castle.

Earlier, proclamations were held in other parts of the Commonwealth – the group of former British Empire colonies – including Australia and New Zealand.

Even as he mourned Elizabeth, Charles was getting down to work. He met at Buckingham Palace with the secretary-general and other representatives of the Commonwealth, a group of nations that grapples with affection for the queen and lingering bitterness over their own colonial legacies, ranging from slavery to corporal punishment in African schools to looted artifacts held in British institutions.

Contributing: David Jackson, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Queen Elizabeth II's coffin arrives in Scottish capital before London