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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Jennifer Newton

Queen's beloved daughter Princess Anne accompanies her mum's coffin on final journey

The Queen's beloved daughter Princess Anne is accompanying her mother's coffin as it starts its final journey through Scotland.

Shortly after 10am, a hearse carrying the Queen's coffin emerged through the gates of Balmoral, where Her Majesty died on Thursday aged 96. It was draped with the yellow Royal Standard of Scotland with a wreath of flowers made up from the Balmoral estate on top - including sweet peas. And following directly behind the hearse in the procession is a grief-stricken Anne, who is accompanied by her husband Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. Also in the convoy is Kenneth Mackenzie, the minister of Crathie Kirk, the church the royals attend when they staying in Balmoral, along with a representative of the Lord chamberlain’s Office.

Princess Anne with her husband Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence - who are in the procession as the Queen's coffin travels to Edinburgh from Balmoral (PA)

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

Her oak coffin had been carried to the he by six of the Balmoral estate’s gamekeepers, who were tasked with the symbolic gesture.

Draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland and with a wreath of flowers on top, it had remained at rest in the Balmoral ballroom so the late monarch’s loyal estate workers can say their last goodbyes.

When the coffin emerged, a small gathering of well-wishers stood in silence as they lined the end of the route out of the estate to watch while the Queen’s coffin passed by.

The gentle rush of the flowing water through the River Dee could be heard as the cortege moved over the bridge.

The Queen's coffin is driven out of Balmoral today, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland and with a wreath of flowers on top (Samir Hussein/WireImage)
The procession passes through Aberdeen on its way to Edinburgh (PA)

The sun shone on what was a calm and still morning in an area that had been one of the Queen’s most beloved retreats.

Hundreds also lined the main street as the Queen’s coffin was driven slowly through Ballater, the village closest to the Balmoral estate, where many locals considered her a neighbour.

The Queen and her family were often seen in the village on her beloved Royal Deeside, which she had visited since childhood and where the royal family are allowed space to be themselves.

The Queen and Princess Anne on engagement together in July (PA)
The Queen and Prince Philip with their children Anne, Charles, Andrew and Edward in 1968 (Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)

Many shops in the picturesque Victorian village are displaying photographs of the Queen in their windows in tribute.

The hearse passed Glenmuick Church where the Rev Davi Barr had rung the church bells 70 times after her death was announced.

At 4pm the cortege will arrive in Edinburgh, where First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and other party leaders in Scotland are expected to observe the coffin as it goes past the Scottish parliament.

From there, the coffin will be taken into the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where it will remain for the night.

People line the street as the hearse carrying the coffin passes through the village of Ballater (REUTERS)
People line the streets of Ballater to pay their respects (Daily Mirror/Andy Stenning)

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the "poignant" journey, which will see the Queen's coffin transported to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, would give the public a chance to come together to "mark our country's shared loss".

Yesterday, the royal family received the condolences of well-wishers when they viewed floral tributes left in memory of the late Queen at her homes of Balmoral and Windsor Castle.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Prince and Princess of Wale s were reunited in grief when they went on a walkabout meeting the public close to the Berkshire castle.

Earlier that day, King Charles III was formally confirmed as the nation's new monarch during a meeting of the Accession Council.

* 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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