The Crown of Scotland sits atop the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II during a Service of Prayer and Reflection for her life at St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, Monday, Sept. 12, 2022. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — As Queen Elizabeth II’s four children walked silently behind, a hearse carried her flag-draped coffin along a crowd-lined street in the Scottish capital Monday to a cathedral, where a service of thanksgiving hailed the late monarch as a “constant in all of our lives for over 70 years.”

Four days after the 96-year-old queen died at her beloved Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands, a military bagpiper played as her oak coffin, draped in the red-and-yellow Royal Standard of Scotland, was borne from the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh under late-summer sunshine.

King Charles III, dressed in army uniform, and Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward walked behind as the hearse traveled to St. Giles’ Cathedral, flanked by a bearer party of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and a detachment of the Royal Company of Archers, the king’s ceremonial bodyguard in Scotland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6RF9oaQ4QE&t=9s

Inside, the coffin was placed on a wooden stand an topped with the golden Crown of Scotland, encrusted with 22 gems and 20 precious stones along with freshwater pearls from Scotland’s rivers.

“And so we gather to bid Scotland’s farewell to our late monarch, whose life of service to the nation and the world we celebrate. And whose love for Scotland was legendary,” said the Rev. Calum MacLeod.

Because the queen died at her summer home of Balmoral, Scotland has been the focus of the world’s attention for the first part of Britain’s 10 days of national mourning. Scenes of large crowds lining the route as her coffin journeyed south have underscored the deep bond between the queen and Scotland, which persisted even as relations between the Conservative U.K. government in London and the pro-independence administration in Edinburgh have soured.

In a homily, Church of Scotland Moderator Iain Greenshields said that “most of us cannot recall a time when she was not our monarch.”

“Committed to the role she assumed in 1952 upon the death of her beloved father, she has been a constant in all of our lives for over 70 years,” he said. “She was determined to see her work as a form of service to others, and she maintained that steady course until the end of her life.

The coffin will remain at the cathedral until Tuesday so members of the public can pay their respects. Thousands lined the 0.7-mile (1 kilometer) route between palace and cathedral, some arriving hours ahead of the service to catch a glimpse of the coffin.

“I just wanted to be here, just to show … last respects. I cannot believe she is dead,” said Marilyn Mclear, a 70-year-old retired teacher. “I know she was 96, but I just cannot believe the queen’s dead.”

One man appeared to shout angrily at the passing hearse, while others called out: “God save the king!” But the procession was greeted mostly with a respectful silence under a blue sky flecked with white clouds.

Charles, Anne and Edward all wore military uniforms during the procession, but Andrew did not. The Royal Navy veteran was stripped of his honorary military titles and was removed as a working royal over his friendship with the notorious U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Charles later donned a kilt as he visited the Scottish parliament, where he was greeted by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Earlier, the queen’s grandson, Prince Harry, hailed her as a “guiding compass” and praised her “unwavering grace and dignity.”

The government, meanwhile, announced the nation will observe a minute of silence on Sunday, the evening before the queen’s funeral. The “moment of reflection” will take place at 8 p.m. (1900 GMT, 3 p.m. EDT). People were encouraged to mark the silence at home or at community events.

Before flying to Scotland, Charles received condolences at Parliament and told lawmakers he would follow his late mother’s example of “selfless duty.”

Hundreds of lawmakers crowded into the 1,000-year-old Westminster Hall for the service, rich in pageantry, in which Parliament offered its condolences to the king. A trumpet fanfare greeted him and Camilla as they entered.

Charles told members of the House of Commons and House of Lords that he would follow his late mother in upholding “the precious principles of constitutional governance” that underpin the U.K.’s political system.

“As I stand before you today, I cannot help but feel the weight of history which surrounds us and which reminds us of the vital parliamentary traditions to which members of both Houses dedicate yourselves, with such personal commitment for the betterment of us all,” Charles said.

The ceremony was held in Westminster Hall because monarchs are not allowed inside the House of Commons. That rule dates from the 17th century, when King Charles I tried to enter and arrest lawmakers. That confrontation between crown and Parliament led to a civil war which ended with the king being beheaded in 1649.

In a personal tribute to his grandmother, Prince Harry said he cherished their times together “from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved greatgrandchildren.”

Amid acrimony in the House of Windsor, Harry quit as a senior royal and moved to the U.S. two years ago. On Saturday, there was a possible sign of a reconciliation as Harry and his wife Meghan joined his brother Prince William and sister-in-law Catherine in meeting mourners outside Windsor Castle.

Harry’s statement ended on a poignant note alluding to the death last year of his grandfather, Prince Philip, saying that, “We, too, smile knowing that you and grandpa are reunited now, and both together in peace.”

The queen’s coffin will be flown Tuesday to London, where it will lie in state at the Houses of Parliament Palace from Wednesday afternoon until the morning of her funeral on Sept. 19. U.S. President Joe Biden is due to attend the service at Westminster Abbey, along with heads of state and royalty from around the world.

Authorities already have issued rules and guidelines for people wanting to pay their respects in London.

Judging by the size of the crowd in Edinburgh, the line is expected to be long.

Rosamund Allen, 67, came from from Rothbury in northern England to be part of the moment.

“It was very moving. It was very quiet,” she said. “I felt very sorry for the family itself to be on show. They are very brave to do that. And I really hope and pray that they get something out of today and have a chance to mourn themselves.

Español:

La Reina Isabel II, aclamada en el servicio como una “constante en todas nuestras vidas”

La Corona de Escocia se sienta sobre el ataúd de la reina Isabel II durante un Servicio de Oración y Reflexión por su vida en la Catedral de St Giles, Edimburgo, el lunes 12 de septiembre de 2022. (Jane Barlow/PA vía AP)

EDIMBURGO, Escocia (AP) — Mientras los cuatro hijos de la reina Isabel II caminaban en silencio detrás, un coche fúnebre llevó su ataúd cubierto de bandera a lo largo de una calle llena de multitudes en la capital escocesa el lunes a una catedral, donde un servicio de acción de gracias elogió a la difunta monarca como una “constante en todas nuestras vidas durante más de 70 años”.

Cuatro días después de que la reina de 96 años muriera en su amado Castillo de Balmoral en las Tierras Altas de Escocia, un gaitero militar tocó mientras su ataúd de roble, envuelto en el estandarte real rojo y amarillo de Escocia, nacía del Palacio de Holyroodhouse en Edimburgo bajo el sol de finales de verano.

El rey Carlos III, vestido con uniforme del ejército, y la princesa Ana, el príncipe Andrés y el príncipe Eduardo caminaban detrás mientras el coche fúnebre viajaba a la Catedral de St. Giles, flanqueado por un grupo de portadores del Regimiento Real de Escocia y un destacamento de la Compañía Real de Arqueros, el guardaespaldas ceremonial del rey en Escocia.

En el interior, el ataúd se colocó en un soporte de madera y se remató con la corona dorada de Escocia, incrustada con 22 gemas y 20 piedras preciosas junto con perlas de agua dulce de los ríos de Escocia.

“Y así nos reunimos para despedir a Escocia de nuestro difunto monarca, cuya vida de servicio a la nación y al mundo celebramos. Y cuyo amor por Escocia era legendario”, dijo el reverendo Calum MacLeod.

Debido a que la reina murió en su casa de verano de Balmoral, Escocia ha sido el foco de atención del mundo durante la primera parte de los 10 días de luto nacional de Gran Bretaña. Las escenas de grandes multitudes que bordean la ruta mientras su ataúd viajaba hacia el sur han subrayado el profundo vínculo entre la reina y Escocia, que persistió incluso cuando las relaciones entre el gobierno conservador del Reino Unido en Londres y la administración independentista en Edimburgo se han agriado.

En una homilía, el moderador de la Iglesia de Escocia, Iain Greenshields, dijo que “la mayoría de nosotros no podemos recordar un momento en que ella no fuera nuestra monarca”.

“Comprometida con el papel que asumió en 1952 tras la muerte de su amado padre, ha sido una constante en todas nuestras vidas durante más de 70 años”, dijo. “Estaba decidida a ver su trabajo como una forma de servicio a los demás, y mantuvo ese curso constante hasta el final de su vida.

El ataúd permanecerá en la catedral hasta el martes para que los miembros del público puedan presentar sus respetos. Miles de personas se alinearon en la ruta de 0.7 millas (1 kilómetro) entre el palacio y la catedral, algunos llegaron horas antes del servicio para echar un vistazo al ataúd.

“Solo quería estar aquí, solo para mostrar … últimos respetos. No puedo creer que esté muerta”, dijo Marilyn Mclear, una maestra jubilada de 70 años. “Sé que tenía 96 años, pero no puedo creer que la reina esté muerta”.

Un hombre pareció gritar enojado al coche fúnebre que pasaba, mientras que otros gritaron: “¡Dios salve al rey!” Pero la procesión fue recibida principalmente con un respetuoso silencio bajo un cielo azul salpicado de nubes blancas.

Carlos, Ana y Eduardo usaron uniformes militares durante la procesión, pero Andrés no. El veterano de la Royal Navy fue despojado de sus títulos militares honorarios y fue removido como miembro de la realeza por su amistad con el notorio delincuente sexual estadounidense Jeffrey Epstein.

Más tarde, Carlos se puso un kilt mientras visitaba el parlamento escocés, donde fue recibido por la primera ministra Nicola Sturgeon.

Anteriormente, el nieto de la reina, el príncipe Harry, la aclamó como una “brújula guía” y elogió su “gracia y dignidad inquebrantables”.

El gobierno, por su parte, anunció que la nación guardará un minuto de silencio el domingo, la noche antes del funeral de la reina. El “momento de reflexión” tendrá lugar a las 20 horas (1900 GMT, 15.00 horas EDT). Se alentó a las personas a marcar el silencio en casa o en eventos comunitarios.

Antes de volar a Escocia, Charles recibió sus condolencias en el Parlamento y dijo a los legisladores que seguiría el ejemplo de su difunta madre de “deber desinteresado”.

Cientos de legisladores se agolparon en el Westminster Hall, de 1.000 años de antigüedad, para el servicio, rico en boato, en el que el Parlamento ofreció sus condolencias al rey. Una fanfarria de trompeta lo saludó a él y a Camilla cuando entraron.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6RF9oaQ4QE&t=5s

Charles told members of the House of Commons and House of Lords that he would follow his late mother in upholding “the precious principles of constitutional governance” that underpin the U.K.’s political system.

“As I stand before you today, I cannot help but feel the weight of history which surrounds us and which reminds us of the vital parliamentary traditions to which members of both Houses dedicate yourselves, with such personal commitment for the betterment of us all,” Charles said.

The ceremony was held in Westminster Hall because monarchs are not allowed inside the House of Commons. That rule dates from the 17th century, when King Charles I tried to enter and arrest lawmakers. That confrontation between crown and Parliament led to a civil war which ended with the king being beheaded in 1649.

In a personal tribute to his grandmother, Prince Harry said he cherished their times together “from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved greatgrandchildren.”

Amid acrimony in the House of Windsor, Harry quit as a senior royal and moved to the U.S. two years ago. On Saturday, there was a possible sign of a reconciliation as Harry and his wife Meghan joined his brother Prince William and sister-in-law Catherine in meeting mourners outside Windsor Castle.

Harry’s statement ended on a poignant note alluding to the death last year of his grandfather, Prince Philip, saying that, “We, too, smile knowing that you and grandpa are reunited now, and both together in peace.”

El ataúd de la reina será trasladado el martes a Londres, donde estará en estado en el Palacio de las Casas del Parlamento desde el miércoles por la tarde hasta la mañana de su funeral el 19 de septiembre. El presidente de Estados Unidos, Joe Biden, asistirá al servicio en la Abadía de Westminster, junto con jefes de estado y miembros de la realeza de todo el mundo.

Las autoridades ya han emitido reglas y pautas para las personas que desean presentar sus respetos en Londres.

A juzgar por el tamaño de la multitud en Edimburgo, se espera que la fila sea larga.

Rosamund Allen, de 67 años, vino de Rothbury, en el norte de Inglaterra, para ser parte del momento.

“Fue muy conmovedor. Fue muy tranquilo”, dijo. “Sentí mucha pena por la propia familia de estar en el programa. Son muy valientes para hacer eso. Y realmente espero y rezo para que saquen algo de hoy y tengan la oportunidad de llorarse a sí mismos.

“Fueron muy amables al permitirnos ser parte de su tristeza”.