King Charles III led a funeral procession through Edinburgh on Monday for his mother Queen Elizabeth II before addressing the Scottish Parliament and promising to lead by her “inspiring example.”
“If I might paraphrase the words of the great Robert Burns, my dear mother was the friend of man, the friend of truth. The friend of age, and guide of youth,” the king said in his short remarks to parliament members dressed in mourning black.
“While still very young, the Queen pledged herself to serve her country and her people and to maintain the principles of constitutional government,” he continued. “As we now mark with gratitude a promise most faithfully fulfilled, I am determined with God’s help and with yours to follow that inspiring example.”
His remarks came after the somber 73-year-old monarch was joined by his three siblings, Princes Andrew and Edward and Princess Ann as her hearse traveled from Edinburgh’s Palace of Holyroodhouse to St. Giles’ Cathedral for a vigil.
Queen Elizabeth II’s children slowly followed the black Mercedes hearse bearing her flag-draped coffin as it made its way along the Royal Mile lined with thousands of spectators waving flags and occasionally crying out “God save the king!”
King Charles III, Princess Ann, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward walk behind their mother the Queen’s hearse to St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. REUTERSThe funeral cortege was flanked by a company of Royal Archers and the royal Scottish bodyguards, who were preceded by mounted police.
Unlike his royal siblings who donned military uniforms, Prince Andrew was not permitted to wear his during the procession, having been stripped by the Queen of his “His Royal Highness” status and all his honorary military honors over his friendship with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
A Scottish man heckled the disgraced prince during the procession, telling the Queen’s son he is a “sick old man” and calling him “disgusting” before being arrested.
Andrew will be permitted to wear his uniform during the final vigil for his mother at Westminster Hall in London as a special mark of respect.
The Queen’s flag-draped coffin in the back of a Mercedes hearse along the Royal Mile flanked by thousands of mourners. REUTERSThe funeral procession in Edinburgh ended at St. Giles’ Cathedral, where a service was held in her honor and was attended by the king and his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, and the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss.
Queen Elizabeth’s crown was placed on her coffin during the vigil in a symbolic gesture to her coronation 70 years ago.
She was presented with the same crown — made in 1540 and encrusted with more than 40 gems and precious stones — when she toured Scotland after becoming the Queen.
The funeral procession left the Palace of Holyroodhouse and terminated at St. Giles’ Cathedral, where a service will be held. REUTERSFollowing the service, members of the public lined up to view her coffin before it travels before the Queen’s body is flown to London on Tuesday.
Thousands gathered to file past Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin as she lies in state for 24 hours.
The Queen, Britain’s longest reigning monarch, died on Thursday after 70 years on the throne.
