Queen elizabeth death scottish public first opportunity to view coffin 20220913 p5rcfj.html – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
Advertisement
Advertisement
This was published 4 years ago

Scottish public get first opportunity to pay respects at Queen's coffin

A Current Affair Staff

Powered by
A Current Affair

Four days since Queen Elizabeth II's death, the general public have had their first opportunity to say a final farewell.

The queues outside Edinburgh's St Giles' Cathedral stretched long into the night on Monday with a 21-hour window to view her coffin inside.

At one point, Her Majesty's casket was guarded by King Charles III and his three siblings as they held a solemn vigil for their mother.

Advertisement

Four days since Queen Elizabeth II's death, the general public have had their first opportunity to say a final farewell. A Current Affair

READ MORE: The King's former Aussie classmates reveal what he was really like

At a pub down the road, the Clark family reflected on the momentous event and Robert Clark said he even shed a few tears.

"I don't cry often," Robert told A Current Affair.

"I'm very proud to be Scottish and to have her in Scotland with us," Sheryl Clark said.

King Charles III. A Current Affair

The queues near Edinburgh's St Giles' Cathedral. A Current Affair

Advertisement

READ MORE: Aussie landscaper reveals surprise encounter with the Queen

The family queued for six hours before they gathered in the pub to cheer on the King.

Earlier in the day, a gun salute fired from atop Edinburgh Castle to mark the King's arrival in town.

A military bagpiper then began the funeral processions and the Queen's casket departed Holyrood Palace to make the journey down the Royal Mile, where tens of thousands packed in to catch a glimpse.

Advertisement
Advertisement

The Clark family. A Current Affair

Robert Clark. A Current Affair

READ MORE: Most memorable meetings and faux pas with the Queen

People stood silently as the procession moved past.

Advertisement

King Charles III and his siblings followed the coffin on foot.

The King, his sister Princess Anne and youngest brother Prince Edward were dressed in military uniforms. Prince Andrew, who's been stripped of his duties as a working royal, was only permitted to wear civilian clothes.

The final goodbye to the English Queen whose love of Scotland endured until her final breath won't be forgotten and tears flowed among many who witnessed the solemn occasion.

Sheryl Clark. A Current Affair

Advertisement
Advertisement

Rochan Miller, is from Perth. A Current Affair

READ MORE: How the Queen communicated through her fashion choices during reign

Rochan Miller, who is from Perth but now lives in Glasgow, made the one-hour trip to be part of history.

"I'm texting my mum and my aunty back home and they're like 'we're watching it on TV, are you there?' I'm like, 'yep'," Miller said.

Advertisement

The only unexpected part of the event was a heckler who was heard shouting "you're a sick old man" at Prince Andrew.

The heckler was bundled away by police.

Most viewed in A Current Affair

More to explore