Crowds lined the roadside on Sunday to pay tribute to their late monarch in the first of a series of solemn events leading up to Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.

Six gamekeepers placed the oak coffin in a hearse. The coffin was covered with the royal standard of Scotland and topped by a wreath of flowers.

For the next few hours the cortege slowly made its way through small towns and villages to Edinburgh.

One well-wisher, Elizabeth Alexander said, “I think it would be very emotional for everyone saying goodbye. And we don’t know how you’re going to feel when you see it. But it was important for us just to be here.”

It was a sentiment shared by her son and successor on Saturday as Charles was officially proclaimed king.

“I know how deeply you sympathise with me in the irreparable loss we have all suffered”, King Charles III said.

The new sovereign and Queen Consort Camilla have been much in evidence in the past few days, meeting some of the thousands of mourners at Buckingham Palace.

United by grief

Charles’ two sons William and Harry also made an appearance with Kate and Meghan by their side. Apparently overcoming their recent estrangements to greet and console people outside Windsor Castle on Saturday.

In Edinburgh on Sunday evening and across Britain, the royal family and the public were beginning a long and emotional week of preparation and veneration.

After resting at St Giles’ Cathedral in the Scottish capital, the queen’s coffin will be flown to London on Tuesday.

The monarch will then lie in state for four days at Westminster Hall. Here, thousands of mourners are expected to pay their respects, before an elaborate state funeral set for Monday 19th September.