A GRIEVING Princess Anne was comforted by Sophie Wessex when her mother, the Queen, was brought to Holyroodhouse.
Anne followed Her Majesty’s oak coffin on a 6½-hour drive to Edinburgh where she was joined by brothers Andrew and Edward plus The Countess of Wessex.
Anne, the Queen's second child and only daughter looked tearful alongside her husband Admiral Sir Tim Laurence for the emotional journey through Scotland.
She appeared sorrowful as she looked on at the crowds gathered outside for the long journey.
Eventually, at 4pm they arrived in Edinburgh where The coffin, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, was carried into the palace by a military bearer party.
Outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse Sophie, 57, the wife of the Queen's youngest son Prince Edward, 58, was seen putting her hand on the Princess Royal’s back in a touching gesture of support.
And in a beautiful sign of respect for her beloved mum, Anne curtsied to the coffin as it went through the doors.
It comes as…
- William & Harry could walk side by side behind the Queen’s coffin at her funeral
- Princess Anne curtsied to her beloved mum as Her Majesty's coffin left Balmoral for the final time
- Thousands left flowers outside royal residences across the country
- King Charles III was proclaimed as King across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- King Charles' relentless schedule was revealed – where he always skips one meal a day
- Details of The Queen's sombre final journey back to London emerged
- A new Bank Holiday to mark The Queen's funeral on September 19 was established
A royal procession will today move the coffin to nearby St Giles’ Cathedral.
The Queen will lie in state there for a day before being taken to London.
Yesterday, the first leg of her final journey, saw adoring crowds pack the streets of Scottish towns on the route of her black Mercedes hearse, with tens of thousands paying tribute in Edinburgh.
Flowers were thrown into the road in front of the vehicle as Britain began the long grieving process for its treasured monarch.
Ros Kain, 46, travelled from England to be among crowds applauding on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and said: “It was our way of saying thank you for a lifetime of service.
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"It was incredibly sad but beautiful that her people were able to say goodbye.”
On Friday, in his first speech as king, Charles III had said: “And to my darling Mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late Papa, I want simply to say this: Thank you.
“Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years.”
The Queen had left Balmoral at 10.06am for a 175-mile journey to Edinburgh which would normally take less than three hours.
She finally arrived at 4.22pm due to the huge crowds on the route.
Every time the hearse passed through a town or city it slowed to walking pace to allow the thousands of well-wishers to pay their respects.
The biggest reception was on the Royal Mile where people had waited for hours 15-deep in places to catch a glimpse of the final journey.
The city had been transformed in the past 48 hours in readiness with roads closed and hundreds of barriers in place to control crowds.
Security was tight with hundreds of officers deployed across the city.
Armed police took up sniper positions on balconies and rooftops along the Royal Mile.
Thankfully the day passed without incident as the Queen arrived safely at the monarch’s official residence in Scotland.
She was met by a guard of honour formed by the King’s Bodyguard for Scotland, the Royal Company of Archers, before her coffin — with a single wreath made from flowers cut from the Balmoral estate on top — was taken to the palace’s throne room.
Andrew, Edward and Sophie stood outside to greet her as the hearse arrived.
Around 50 palace staff also gathered in the courtyard.
Charles arrives in Edinburgh today, meaning all four of the Queen’s children will be at her side.
Scottish leaders were proud that their country was able to play a role in her final journey, due to her deep love of the country.
Last year at the opening of the Scottish parliament, she said: “I have spoken before of my deep and abiding affection for this wonderful country and of the many happy memories Prince Philip and I always held of our time here.
“It is often said that it is the people that make a place. And there are few places where this is truer than in Scotland.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that seeing her on television leave Balmoral for the last time yesterday was “sad and poignant”.
She added: “Her Majesty’s death at Balmoral Castle means Scotland has lost one of its most dedicated and beloved servants.
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"The grief we have seen across the world has been profound and deeply touching.
"Today, as she makes her journey to Edinburgh, Scotland will pay tribute to an extraordinary woman.”
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