Queen Elizabeth's Coffin Begins Journey to Final Resting Place

Queen Elizabeth II's coffin is officially on its way to its final resting place.

The monarch's oak coffin left Balmoral Castle this morning, three days after the queen died at 96 years old. At 10 a.m. local time, it was loaded onto a hearse by six Balmoral gamekeepers, and began its six-hour drive south to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, where it will lie-at-rest to give the people of Scotland a chance to pay their respects.

The coffin was draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland and a wreath of flowers picked from the Balmoral estate, which included dahlias, sweet peas, phlox, white heather, and pine fir.

In photos, crowds of mourners stand along the route as the queen's hearse passes through the villages near Balmoral.

The monarch's daughter, Princess Anne, also made the journey in a car following the hearse, accompanied by her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence.

Balmoral Castle's Twitter account shared an update at the same time the coffin began its journey, posting a statement alongside a picture of the Queen smiling while surrounded by white horses. "Her Majesty the Queen has started her journey to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Rest in peace your Majesty. Long live the King," the message reads.

Once it arrives at in Edinburgh, the coffin will lie in the Throne Room at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Tomorrow, a Procession will form at the palace to take the coffin to St Giles' Cathedral, with King Charles and members of the royal family taking part. Once it arrives at the cathedral, the coffin will lie-in-rest for one day, before continuing on to London by plane.

Buckingham Palace announced yesterday that the monarch's funeral will take place on Monday, September 19, at Westminster Abbey. Ahead of the funeral, the coffin will lie-in-state at Westminster Hall for several days to allow the public to pay their respects. Following the service, it will continue on to St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, where the queen will be buried next to her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip.

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