SILENCE fell as King Charles followed the Queen’s coffin for a solemn procession today.
The Monarch looked emotional as the grieving royals left Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh for St Giles’ Cathedral.
There was a hush across the usually-bustling city as the King followed his “darling mama’s” coffin to a black hearse.
The silence was punctuated only by a single gun firing from the top of Edinburgh Castle in a salute to Her Majesty and a bagpipe that played as the coffin left Holyroodhouse.
Charles will be joined by the Queen’s other children, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward for the sombre walk.
It comes as…
The Queen Consort and Sophie Wessex will follow behind the procession in a car.
Thousands who lined the streets the pay tribute to the Queen wept as the cortege passed this afternoon.
The royals will later attend a poignant vigil together inside the cathedral at 7.20pm.
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King Charles was given a gun salute as he arrived Holyroodhouse today before a rendition of the national anthem was played.
He also attended a Ceremony of the Keys on the forecourt as he was welcomed to his “ancient and hereditary kingdom of Scotland”
King Charles met with the crowds before sharing a solemn moment as he looked at tributes to his mother with Camilla.
The Queen left Balmoral for the final time yesterday morning for a six-hour drive to Edinburgh.
The streets were packed with well-wishers, who wept and threw flowers in a tribute to Her Majesty.
A sea of fans had waited for hours on the famous Royal Mile to say a final goodbye to the Queen.
The coffin was met at Holyroodhouse by Prince Andrew, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex.
Anne, who had made the sombre six-hour journey behind the hearse, looked mournful as bowed to her late mother.
Her Majesty’s oak coffin remained in the throne room, which is familiar to her, overnight.
The Queen will lie in state for 24 hours, allowing Scots to come to pay their respects.
On Tuesday night, the Princess Royal will accompany her mother from Edinburgh Airport to RAF Northolt.
The coffin will be met by a Guard of Honour from the King’s Guard as it arrives at Buckingham Palace.
King Charles and Queen Camilla will watch as it is carried to the Bow Room where chaplains will keep watch.
On Wednesday, there will be a horse and carriage procession through the streets of London at 2.22pm to Westminster Hall.
One million mourners are expected to visit her coffin as the Queen lies in state for four full days.
Details on how to attend will be released in the coming days but it is expected to operate on a first come first served basis.
Soldiers will guard the coffin around the clock as the streams of mourners file past.
Members of the Royal Family are also expected to take turns standing guard in a tradition known as the Vigil of the Princes.
Prince Edward and Charles both stood watch over the Queen Mother’s coffin in 2002.
Her Majesty will then be laid to rest on Monday, September 19, at 11am.
The state funeral has officially been declared as a Bank Holiday with a two minute’s silence to be held across the nation on Sunday.
The Queen’s final resting place will be the King George VI memorial chapel where her mother and father were buried along with the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret.
Prince Philip’s coffin will move from the Royal Vault to the memorial chapel to join his beloved wife of 73 years.
