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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Jennifer Newton

Inside historic palace room where Queen's coffin is resting as staff pay respects

The Queen has begun her final journey with her coffin now resting at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh after travelling from Balmoral in the Scottish Highlands.

After the 180-mile trip, the cortege was greeted by a guard of honour from the King’s Bodyguard for Scotland (Royal Company of Archers) as it entered the palace. There to receive it were her children Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, along with his wife Sophie Wessex. Her daughter Princess Anne travelled with in the procession. Now it has been placed in the throne room at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where staff there will be given the chance to pay their final respects.

The Throne Room at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, where the Queen's coffin is resting overnight (rct.uk)

For the latest updates as the world mourns the Queen and King Charles III's reign begins, follow our live blog.

And the room where the coffin, which has been draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland and adorned with a beautiful wreath, will rest until tomorrow afternoon is one steeped in history.

The room is usually reserved for receptions and state occasions, with the room's focal point a pair of ornate thrones commissioned by the Queen's grandfather George V in 1911.

It is furnished with a deep red carpet, gold chandeliers and several portraits hang on the walls. Those portraits include ones of Charles II and James VI and I.

The Queen's coffin is carried from the hearse into the Palace of Holyroodhouse (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The palace, located at the bottom of Edinburgh's famous Royal Mile, is the monarch's official Scottish residence and has been home to monarchy since the 16th Century.

During her reign, Elizabeth II spent a week at the end of June every year at the palace while conducting the annual Holyrood Week of engagements, which usually celebrate Scottish culture and achievement.

Just under three months ago at the end of June, the Queen carried out her final Holyrood Week, which saw several engagements celebrating her Platinum Jubilee year.

The coffin was greeted by the Queen's children Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward as well as Sophie Wessex and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence (PA)

Tomorrow, the coffin travel in a procession to St Giles’ Cathedral along the Royal Mile with King Charles and the late Queen’s other children Anne, Andrew and Edward following behind on foot, along with Anne’s husband Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

Camilla, now Queen Consort and Sophie will follow by car and also attend the service in St Giles.

The Queen's coffin passes St Giles Cathedral, where a service will take place tomorrow honouring her life (Getty Images)
The coffin is driven through the streets of Edinburgh (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The people of Scotland then will be able to pay their respects when the coffin lies at rest there for 24 hours guarded by Vigils from The Royal Company of Archers, in what will be seen as a mini lying in state.

Continuous vigils will be kept, including one by the King and members of the royal family at 7.20pm – a tradition known as the Vigil of the Princes.

When the Queen’s coffin is flown to London by RAF aircraft to RAF Northolt on Tuesday evening, it will be accompanied by the late monarch’s only daughter the Princess Royal, before being moved to rest at Buckingham Palace’s Bow Room.

* This weekend, the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror celebrate the life of Her Majesty the Queen with a commemorative special filled with all the key moments from Britain’s longest reigning monarch. Be sure to pick up your copy of the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror to get poth pullouts.

You can leave your tributes to Queen Elizabeth II here.

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