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King Charles III and the Queen Consort arriving at Buckingham Palace on Friday.

What happens now? The 10 days of events after death of Queen Elizabeth II

Plans include ceremonial processions, period of lying in state and King’s formal proclamation

  • Accession of King Charles and death of Queen Elizabeth – latest updates

D+0 (Friday 9 September)

Charles III and the Queen Consort arrive in London from Balmoral. The King holds his first audience with the prime minister, Liz Truss. He is also expected to meet the Earl Marshal, the position held by the Duke of Norfolk, who is in charge of the accession and of the state funeral. The carefully choreographed plans include Operation Unicorn, the contingency in the event of the Queen dying in Scotland.

The King will make a televised address to the nation and the Commonwealth, which he will have pre-recorded earlier in the day.

The prime minister and senior government will attend a public service of remembrance at St Paul’s Cathedral.

The King declares that royal mourning, observed by the royal family, their households, and ceremonial troops, will last until seven days after the funeral, which will be on Monday 19 September. The day of the funeral will be a public holiday and a day of national mourning.

Under the official plans – codenamed London Bridge – Thursday, the day of the Queen’s death, would have been D-day or D+0, but this changed due to the announcement being late in the day.

D+1 (Saturday 10 September)

The accession council meets at St James’s Palace to formally proclaim Charles as the new sovereign. The privy council gathers first without the King to proclaim him the new monarch. The King then holds his first privy council, accompanied by Camilla, the Queen Consort, and William, who are also privy counsellors, and makes his personal declaration and oath. Proclamations are made at the City of London. Charles will hold an audience with the prime minister and the cabinet.

The Queen’s coffin remains at Balmoral.

D+2 (Sunday 11 September)

Proclamations in the devolved nations are expected to be made simultaneously at noon in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. The Queen’s coffin will be driven from Balmoral Castle to Edinburgh. It will rest in the Throne Room at the Palace of Holyroodhouse until Monday afternoon.

The King will meet the Commonwealth secretary-general at Buckingham Palace before hosting realm high commissioners and their spouses in the Bow Room.

D+3 (Monday 12 September)

The King and Queen Consort will appear at Westminster Hall where members of the Commons and Lords will meet to express their condolences.

The pair will then fly to Edinburgh, where they will visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the King will inspect the guard of honour. A ceremony of the keys on the forecourt of the palace will follow.

The King will then attend a service of prayer and reflection for the life of the Queen at St Giles’ Cathedral, before returning to Holyrood.

There, the King will have an audience with the first minister, followed by an audience with the presiding officer of the Scottish parliament.

Charles and Camilla will then attend the Scottish parliament to receive a motion of condolence.

That afternoon, a ceremonial procession will form on the forecourt of the palace of Holyroodhouse to convey the coffin to St Giles’ Cathedral. The King and members of the royal family will take part in the procession.

Her Majesty’s coffin will lie at rest in the cathedral, guarded by vigil from the Royal Company of Archers, to allow people to pay their respects.

That evening, the King will hold a vigil with members of the royal family at St Giles’ Cathedral.

D+4 (Tuesday 13 September )

The Princess Royal will accompany the Queen’s coffin as it is flown to London by Royal Air Force aircraft from Edinburgh airport. It will arrive at RAF Northolt later that evening where it will then be driven to Buckingham Palace, where her coffin will rest in the Bow Room.

The King and Queen Consort will fly to Belfast, where they will visit Hillsborough Castle and view an exhibition on the Queen’s long association with Northern Ireland.

Charles will meet the secretary of state for Northern Ireland and party leaders and receive a message of condolence led by the Speaker of the Northern Ireland assembly.

After a short reception at Hillsborough, Charles and Camilla will travel to St Anne’s Cathedral for a service of prayer and reflection. Before the service, the King will meet leaders from all the major faiths in Northern Ireland. The pair will then head back to London.

D+5 (Wednesday 14 September)

This will see the first big ceremonial in London as the Queen’s coffin is borne on a gun carriage from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall for her lying in state. The King will lead the procession, which will travel via Queen’s Gardens, the Mall, Horse Guards and Horse Guards Arch, Whitehall, Parliament Street, Parliament Square and New Palace Yard.

A short service inside Westminster Hall, conducted by the archbishop of Canterbury, is expected to be attended by members of the royal family.

The lying in state begins, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to file past the coffin to pay their respects over the next five days. At some stage, senior members of the royal family are expected to stand guard around the coffin, the tradition known as the Vigil of the Princes.

D+6 (Thursday 15 September)

The Queen’s lying in state continues.

D+7 and D+8 (Friday 16 and Saturday 17 September)

The King continues with visits to the UK nations, heading to Wales on Friday, and meetings in London. The Queen’s lying in state continues, and is expected to end on the morning of her funeral.

D+9 (Sunday 18 September)

Heads of state and members of foreign royal families are expected to start arriving in London for the state funeral.

D+10 (Monday 19 September)

The Queen’s state funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey. Her coffin will be taken in a procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey, with members of her family processing on foot behind. The service will be televised, and a national two minutes of silence held.

After the funeral, the Queen’s coffin will travel in procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch. From there, it will travel to Windsor Castle. The coffin will be lowered into the royal vault, and her final resting place will be the King George VI memorial chapel at St George’s chapel, Windsor. A private burial interment service will be attended by senior members of the royal family.

  • Queen Elizabeth II
  • King Charles III

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Queen's coffin

The Queen’s body is being flown to London

She'll return to Buckingham Palace tomorrow evening

India Lawrence

On Thursday September 8 Queen Elizabeth II passed away after 70 years on the throne. Having died at Balmoral in Scotland, arrangements are being made to have her body returned to London for the state  funeral , which is taking place on Monday September 19. The original plan, as laid out in ‘ Operation London Bridge ’, was to have her body transported back to London on the Royal Train, but this has now changed. We now know that she’ll be flown back to London. 

RECOMMENDED: Our guide to remembering Queen Elizabeth II

Where is the Queen now?

A six-hour procession took her from Balmoral Castle to Edinburgh yesterday, where she now rests at Holyroodhouse Palace.

How will the Queen be transported back to London?

Her body will be flown to London. The plane is expected to take off from Edinburgh Airport at 6pm and land at RAF Norhtholt just before 7pm. Princess Anne, the Queen’s only daughter, will be on the flight too. 

What time will the Queen’s coffin arrive at Buckingham Palace?

When her coffin arrives in London at around 7pm she'll be met by King Charles and Camilla before the hearse travels to Buckingham Palace. She’ll then stay there before being taken to lie in state at Westminster Hall the next day. 

Will I be able to view the cortege?

You’ll be able to watch the procession go past on Tuesday evening and there are expected to be crowds lining the streets. The official procession, however, starts on Wednesday afternoon. Leaving the Palace just after 2pm, the hearse will travel through central London passing Queen's Gardens, The Mall, Horse Guards and Horse Guards Arch, Whitehall, Parliament Street, Parliament Square and New Palace Yard.

A bank holiday has been declared for the day of the Queen's funeral.

We met the mourners outside Buckingham Palace.

  • India Lawrence Contributing writer

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The Queen: The route the Royal Train will take to bring the Queen back to London

The Queen died this afternoon at Balmoral surrounded by her family

  • 19:09, 8 SEP 2022
  • Updated 19:26, 8 SEP 2022

queen travel back to london

After the death of The Queen at Balmoral this afternoon (September 8), Operation Unicorn, the formal plan for what happens if the monarch dies in Scotland, will be beginning to be put into place. It has previously been reported that the Queen's body will be returned to Buckingham Palace on the Royal Train.

If this is confirmed, large crowds can be expected along the route which is likely to be along the classic East Coast Main Line route along the spine of the country. The final part of the route from Hitchin to King's Cross where the train will arrive, was the same route she used later in life when between her homes in London and Sandringham.

The Royal Train procession is expected to be very slow so people along the route can pay homage and share tributes. Level crossings, bridges and embankments are expected to be so overwhelmed with floral tributes that The Guardian reports railway officials plan to send a sweeper train behind to clear and tidy up the tracks behind it.

There will be a high police presence from local police forces and the British Transport Police with part of King's Cross station to be closed off to the public to allow for the Queen's transfer off the train.

READ MORE: Tributes flood in for the Queen as Buckingham Palace confirms she has died

The Royal Train will have absolute priority meaning passenger trains which are travelling along the line at the time of its journey will be moved out of its way. It has not been confirmed if the train will make any stops on its 393-mile journey from Edinburgh through the Borders, Newcastle, Durham, York, Doncaster, Peterborough, Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and Potters Bar before entering London.

The London stations the train will pass through are:

  • Hadley Wood
  • Oakleigh Park
  • New Southgate
  • Alexandra Palace
  • Finsbury Park

Access to these stations will be restricted when the Royal Train passes, so anyone wishing to pay their respects may be best to go to Buckingham Palace, where flowers are already being laid this evening.

The Queen's body, once back in London, will be transferred to the throne room at Buckingham Palace. There will then be hundreds of ceremonial procedures carried out in preparation for a formal state funeral. "Operation London Bridge", the wider plan for the Queen's funeral will also now be starting to get under way.

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queen travel back to london

Operation London Bridge: What happens next after the Queen’s death, from period of mourning to state funeral

The accession council will meet at st james’s palace to proclaim charles the new king, watched by hundreds of privy councillors.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: Puddles form in front of Buckingham Palace on March 10, 2021 in London, England. On Tuesday evening, the Palace issued a statement on behalf of the Queen responding to the recent interview that Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, gave to American TV personality Oprah Winfrey, describing their troubled relationship with other members of the royal family. The statement read that "The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan. The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much-loved family members." (Photo by Rob Pinney/Getty Images)

A meticulously planned operation codenamed London Bridge has swung into action following the death of Queen Elizabeth II , with a period of mourning to be declared as the nation prepares for what is expected to be the biggest state funeral since the death of Queen Victoria.

The operation has been decades in the planning, but an army of courtiers, aides and Government officials are now finalising the details as the nation mourns the passing of a monarch who spent seven decades on the throne.

Of all the potential eventualities considered under the operation, the plans for the return of the Queen’s body to London from Balmoral, where she had been spending her usual summer break, are the most complicated.

Under Operation Unicorn , which forms part of Operation London Bridge, the Scottish Parliament is immediately suspended before the Queen is taken to the Palace of Holyroodhouse for a short period, and then St Giles’ Cathedral on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Her body will then be returned to London.

The nation has already heard from King Charles III as he addressed 2.5 billion people across the Commonwealth.

In a written statement on the Queen’s passing, he said: “The death of my beloved mother, Her Majesty the Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.

“We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.

“During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the Queen was so widely held.”

Under the original plans, the day of the Queen’s death would have been known as D-Day, with each day that follows up to the Queen’s funeral known as D plus the number of days that have passed.

But the announcement came late in the day – at about 6.30pm on Thursday – meaning plans have been shifted a day to allow the complex arrangements to be put in place, so D+0 will be considered to be Friday.

This is how Operation London Bridge will unfold:

World is told of the Queen’s death

The world was told by Buckingham Palace that the Queen was under medical supervision at Balmoral at around midday on Thursday after doctors became concerned for her health.

The new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, who met the Queen at Balmoral on Tuesday, was in the Commons announcing the Government’s new energy policy when that news was made public. She was told of the Queen’s death by the Cabinet Secretary at 4.30pm while she was working in Downing Street.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were already in Scotland and left Dumfries House to head to Balmoral earlier in the morning, with the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Sussex, Prince Edward, Edward’s wife Sophie the Countess of Wessex, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne also travelling to be at the Queen’s bedside.

The news of the Queen’s death was announced to the world at 6.30pm in an official notification from the Royal Family, which was then posted on the gates of Buckingham Palace.

It said: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and the Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”

On BBC1, Huw Edwards announced the Queen’s death to viewers as he Union Flag could be seen being lowered on the roof of Buckingham Palace.

He said: “In the last few minutes, Buckingham Palace has announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II.”

Flags were immediately lowered to half-mast at royal residences and in Whitehall, including on the roof of Downing Street, with Government websites showing a black banner.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are now to be known as the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge.

Crowds began to gather outside the gates of Buckingham Palace in heavy rain, with the first floral tributes being laid. A line of hackney Ccarriages stopped in the Mall to pay tribute. Applause rang out outside the palace, and at one point three cheers.

The floral tributes started as a trickle and will flood every inch of ground outside the gates of the Royal palaces. Bells began to toll at Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and Windsor Castle.

Security officers guard the gates of Balmoral Castle, amid concerns over Britain Queen Elizabeth's health, in Balmoral, Scotland, Britain September 8, 2022. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

A statement from the King

It will be up to King Charles to decide on the length of mourning for members of the Royal Household, but this is expected to last a month.

It is a tradition introduced by Queen Victoria following the death of Prince Albert, when she began to correspond with stationery with a black border. Following the death of Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II used a black rather than a red crest on her stationery.

The King and his wife Camilla remained at Balmoral on Thursday night and returned to London on Friday.

Gun salutes took place across the country to mark each of the 96 years of the Queen’s life.

There were 11 saluting stations around the UK, including at Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, Woolwich, Cardiff, Belfast, Plymouth, Dover Castle and York, as well as in Gibraltar. A national minute’s silence will be announced.

At a time to be confirmed, Ms Truss will meet the new King before he makes the hardest and most emotional public statement of his life. It is expected to take place at 6pm on Friday.

During the televised speech, King Charles will pay tribute to his mother’s service in the decades since she succeeded to the throne in 1952. He will also seek to reassure a nation and a Commonwealth in mourning.

There is likely to be a service of remembrance at St Paul’s Cathedral, where members of the public are expected to gather to pray for the Queen. The Prime Minister and senior ministers are expected to attend.

The Accession Council meets

The Accession Council is due to meet at St James’s Palace on Saturday, the official seat of the Royal Court, which was built between 1531 and 1536 by Henry VIII. The palace stands next door to Clarence House.

The council is formed of all Privy Counsellors, Great Officers of State, the Lord Mayor of London, the Realm High Commissioners and senior civil servants.

Since the Act of Settlement of 1701, a new monarch succeeds automatically, and the Accession Council confirms by name the identity of the heir who has succeeded .

The gathering will proclaim Charles the new sovereign. Members of the council will be expected to wear morning dress or lounge suits with black or dark ties. No military decorations are to be worn.

Monarchs are required to make an oath to “maintain and preserve” the Church of Scotland. Once Charles has made the oath, the Garter King of Arms will step onto the Proclamation Gallery overlooking Friary Court to proclaim him King.

In 1952, the council met twice so that the Queen could give the oath when she returned from Kenya.

According to Operation London Bridge documents leaked in September 2020, the accession proclamation will be read at St James’s Palace and at the Royal Exchange in the City of London after a copy is taken by hand to Mansion House. It will also be read in Edinburgh and Cardiff and at Stormont in Northern Ireland.

While “the Queen is dead, long live the King” is commonly believed to be part of the official proclamation, it is only tradition that causes it to be recited after the proclamation is read aloud by town criers.

King Charles will also hold his first Privy Council meeting, accompanied by Camilla and the Duke of Cornwall and Cambridge, who are Privy Counsellors. Around the country, Union Flags will go back up to full-mast and remain there for 24 hours in honour of the proclamation before returning to half-mast.

MPs offer messages of condolence

The House of Commons will sit at midday on Friday to pay tribute to the Queen, with memories and praise expected to be shared until 10pm. This will commence again on Saturday afternoon.

This could last more than one day as the 650 members take turns to speak. On the day of George VI’s death, Winston Churchill offered his condolences in a short message in the Commons, which have been recorded in black-bordered pages in Hansard, the official parliamentary record.

“The House will have learned of the death of His Majesty King George VI. We cannot at this moment do more than record the spontaneous expression of grief,” he said.

The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are expected to hold an audience with the new King to help him prepare and confirm arrangements for the days ahead.

Visitors walk past Buckingham palace, central London, on September 8, 2022. - Fears grew on September 8, 2022 for Queen Elizabeth II after Buckingham Palace said her doctors were "concerned" for her health and recommended that she remain under medical supervision. The 96-year-old head of state -- Britain's longest-serving monarch -- has been dogged by health problems since last October that have left her with difficulties walking and standing. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)

The Queen’s body will be brought back to London

Operation London Bridge takes in Operation Unicorn, the contingency plans for the scenario of the Queen dying in Scotland.

Under the original plans, the Queen’s body would have been carried by Royal Train to London from Waverley station in Edinburgh, but it is now thought that she will be flown to the UK’s capital on Tuesday after people in Scotland have had chance to pay their respects.

It is likely that St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh will be the main place for the public to pay their respects in Scotland, with the Queen taken to the Palace of Holyroodhouse beforehand. Ahead of this, the coffin, covered with the royal standard of Scotland, will remain at Balmoral to give staff a chance to pay their respects.

Ms Truss and senior ministers are expected to meet the Queen’s coffin on arrival in London before she is taken to Buckingham Palace.

The undertakers are expected to be Leverton and Sons, based in Camden. The firm has been an independent funeral directors for 230 years and was last called upon by the Royal Family when Prince Philip died in April 2021.

It is thought the Queen’s casket was made by Henry Smith in Battersea and was inherited by Leverton. Like Philip’s lead-lined coffin, it is likely to be made of English oak.

The new King tours the UK

After King Charles III receives a motion of condolence at Westminster Hall, the plan is for him to tour the UK in the days before the Queen’s funeral.

In an operation known as Spring Tide, his tour is expected to begin with a visit to the Scottish Parliament and a service at St Giles’ Cathedral.

He will then visit Northern Ireland, where he will receive another motion of condolence at Hillsborough Castle and attend a service at St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast.

Next, he will head to Wales for another motion of condolence at the Welsh Parliament and to attend a service at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff.

King Charles will then return to London for the Queen’s funeral . He will join hundreds of thousands of people from across the UK in paying his respects to the Queen at the lying in state.

The lying in state

Before the lying in state, the Queen’s coffin will proceed from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster on Wednesday. This section has been codenamed Operation Lion.

The procession will be watched on television by millions of people. It is expected the Queen will then lie in state at the Palace of Westminster for four days – this period is codenamed Operation Feather.

The Archbishop of Canterbury will perform a short service following the coffin’s arrival. VIPs will be given tickets to avoid having to queue, with others queuing to view the coffin up to 23 hours a day.

It is likely, as happened when the Queen Mother died, that people will sleep in line overnight for a chance to pay their respects.

The Queen’s coffin will lie on a raised box known as a catafalque in the middle of the hall, and each corner will be guarded around the clock.

One notable event at the lying in state of King George V was the Vigil of the Princes, with the four sons of the late king standing guard together for a time.

The vigil was recalled 65 years later at the lying in state of the Queen Mother, when her grandsons – the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex and Viscount Linley – stood guard together.

When the Queen Mother died in 2002, she lay in state for three days, with an estimated 200,000 people visiting to pay their respects.

When Sir Winston Churchill died aged 90 in 1965, more than 320,000 filed past his coffin. Edward Bacon, a reporter from the Illustrated London News , described the procession through the hall as having “the mesmeric effect of a river flowing past”.

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The Queen’s funeral

The Queen’s funeral is to take place at Westminster Abbey in around 10 days’ time, before a committal service at St George’s Chapel.

The day will be declared a public holiday in the form of a National Day of Mourning. It is expected to have a similar feel to the Queen Mother’s funeral in 2002.

On the eve of the funeral, heads of state and royals will fly in to Heathrow from around the world.

Businesses will halt and shops will close as billions of people across the country and around the world gather around their TV screens.

The Queen Mother’s funeral was watched by an estimated 10 million people in the UK, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral in April 2020 by 13.6 million.

It is expected that well over a million people will pour into London to line the streets for the procession. In a striking assessment of how the public could react, previously leaked plans for Operation London Bridge suggested that London could become “full” for the first time ever as huge numbers travel to the capital, with public transport, policing and basic services stretched to breaking point and a vast security operation to manage crowds.

State funerals changed greatly after the death of Queen Victoria, who wanted a much more military event than previous monarchs.

It was Victoria who requested that her body be carried on a gun carriage as she wanted to be buried as “a soldier’s daughter”. Since that time it has been tradition for the gun carriage to be drawn by a Royal Guard of sailors.

A more recent tradition of state funerals has been the ringing of Big Ben before 10am, with as many strokes as there were years of the monarch’s life. It last happened on the death of George VI.

The original plan has long been for the Queen to be carried on a gun carriage to Westminster Abbey, with the sailors using ropes rather than horses to pull the carriage along.

Senior members of the family are expected to follow behind, as they did for the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, and the Duke of Edinburgh.

The military will line the streets and also join the procession.

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Heads of state, prime ministers and presidents, European royals and key figures from public life will be invited to gather in the abbey, which can hold a congregation of 2,000.

The same day as the funeral, the Queen’s coffin will be taken to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle for a televised committal service. Later in the evening, there will be a private interment service with senior members of the Royal Family.

The Queen’s final resting place will be the King George VI Memorial Chapel in the Windsor Castle grounds. The tiny chapel is also the resting place of the Queen’s father and mother, and the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret.

Prince Philip’s coffin will move from the Royal Vault to the memorial chapel to join the Queen’s.

The Queen and her consort, who were married for 73 years, will be together once again.

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Queen’s final return home to London

Queen Elizabeth II death

The Queen was on Tuesday making her final journey home after her unprecedented 70-year reign which touched so many people in countries all around the world.

Huge crowds were expected to line the streets of London on Tuesday evening to pay their respects as her coffin is driven to Buckingham Palace , the symbolic seat of the monarchy. It will rest in the Bow Room overnight before being taken to Westminster Hall on Wednesday to lie in state, ahead of Monday’s funeral.

Britain’s longest-serving monarch was born in a townhouse belonging to her Scottish grandparents, in Bruton Street, Mayfair, on April 21, 1926.

Final preparations were being made on Tuesday for her lying-in-state. Before the sun rose and as the city slept, thousands of soldiers in ceremonial uniform took part in a rehearsal for the procession of her coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.

At around 4am, a black coffin was placed on a gun carriage pulled by seven black horses through Queen’s Gardens, The Mall, Whitehall, Parliament Street, Parliament Square and into New Palace Yard. Ahead of the real procession on Wednesday, Major General Christopher Ghika, of the Household Division and who is responsible for organising the ceremonial aspects of the funeral, said: “It’s a very sad day, but it’s our last opportunity to do our duty for the Queen and it’s our first opportunity to do it for the King, and that makes us all very proud.”

Hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom were prepared to wait 30 hours, were from tomorrow due to file past her coffin in the medieval Westminster Hall.

A massive security operation was being stepped up for presidents, prime ministers and other royalty who were due to fly to London for the funeral in Westminster Abbey on Monday before the Queen is taken to Windsor and her final resting place in the King George VI Memorial Chapel.

At Windsor Castle, locals continued to pay tribute and reflect on their own personal memories of their “neighbour”. Anna Hewitt, who visited with her three teenage children, said she had gone to “pay my respects to the Queen, who absolutely felt like a neighbour to all of us”.

Troops stage early-morning rehearsal for Queen’s coffin procession

Queen Elizabeth II death

The Queen, 96, passed away at Balmoral Castle in the Highlands last Thursday. On Monday evening King Charles and the Queen’s three other children staged a silent vigil around her coffin at rest in Edinburgh’s St Giles’ Cathedral. With their heads bowed, the new monarch, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and Earl of Wessex stood guard.

Queen says Charles is doing very well as she completes Northern Ireland visit

Queen says Charles is doing very well as she completes Northern Ireland visit

Belfast boy ‘steals the show’ as Queen visits local bakery

Belfast boy ‘steals the show’ as Queen visits local bakery

Fashion exhibition using plant waste from King’s garden to go on display

Fashion exhibition using plant waste from King’s garden to go on display

Enter the AXA Startup Angel competition to win £25,000

Enter the AXA Startup Angel competition to win £25,000

Tens of thousands of mourners in Scotland’s capital queued for up to 12 hours to pay their respects to the Queen as she lay in state.

Earlier, King Charles led the royal family in a procession behind her coffin along the Royal Mile from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to the cathedral.

Lord Ian Duncan, a deputy speaker in the House of Lords, said crowds along the Royal Mile were “10-deep”.

He added: “That is an extraordinary outpouring of respect, grief, celebration of an extraordinary woman.”

HM Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin arrives in Edinburgh after long journey from Balmoral

queen travel back to london

The Queen’s coffin was due to leave the cathedral at 5pm to start the journey to London. An hour later, the Queen was due to be given a royal guard of honour, when her coffin was carried onto an RAF Globemaster C-17, made up of 96 gunners from the RAF Regiment, the Queen’s Colour Squadron.

She was then leaving Scotland for the last time to be flown back to RAF Northolt in west London, accompanied by the Princess Royal and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. “Today is the day that we have long, long planned for but hoped would never come,” Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, head of the Royal Air Force, told BBC Breakfast. The flight’s arrival at RAF Northolt was scheduled for 6.55pm.

Her coffin was then to be transported on a state hearse, accompanied by Anne and Vice-Admiral Sir Tim, to Buckingham Palace. The route was to be along the A40. It was to then travel along Eastbourne Terrace, Lancaster Gate, Bayswater Road, Marble Arch, Park Lane to Hyde Park Corner and Constitution Hill before returning through the centre gate arch of Buckingham Palace.

Waiting to receive the coffin at the palace will be the King and Queen Consort, who this morning flew from Scotland to Northern Ireland before returning to London. The Prince and Princess of Wales will also be present.

A guard of honour formed of three officers and 96 soldiers from The King’s Guard will be mounted in the Palace Quadrangle. At 2.22pm tomorrow, the 38-minute procession taking the Queen to the Palace of Westminster will leave Buckingham Palace. King Charles, members of the royal family and senior staff of both households are expected to walk behind the coffin. Following the state funeral on Monday, the coffin will be taken again in procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch. From there it will travel to Windsor in procession to St George’s Chapel via the Long Walk and a committal service will take place in the chapel.

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Queen Elizabeth II's body begins its journey to London on Sunday

Frank Langfitt

Frank Langfitt

The coffin will pass through Edinburgh, Scotland, where people are sharing their differing views on the monarchy.

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

We're going to start tonight in the U.K., where preparations for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral are underway. Her remains begin the long journey back to London tomorrow in preparation for her funeral the following week. A hearse will carry her coffin from Balmoral Castle down to the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, which is where we find NPR's Frank Langfitt, who has been talking to people about the queen, the new king and the monarchy. He's with us now. Frank, thanks so much for joining us.

FRANK LANGFITT, BYLINE: Hi, Michel.

MARTIN: So where did you go today, and what did you hear?

(CROSSTALK)

LANGFITT: I headed north along the - basically in the rolling green mountains of the highlands, which is a beautiful area - rivers, distilleries. And I went to this town called Pitlochry. And because there was a festival going on, I ended up meeting a variety of people from around Scotland. What I heard was definitely respect for the queen, which is I think widespread throughout the U.K., but some skepticism about the monarchy. I was in a park, talked to a woman named Heather McGrath. She works as a chef in Glasgow, and I asked her what she thought about the monarchy. This is what she said.

HEATHER MCGRATH: I think they're redundant, to be fair, in the country. We don't really need them, and it's just like it's a tourist attraction more than anything, and they don't actually get involved as much. You know, OK, they have their charities and everything like that, but personally, I don't think we need them anymore.

LANGFITT: And part of the reason, Michel, I think that you get some of this particular skepticism about the monarchy up here in Scotland is this is literally another nation. There are four nations, of course, in the United Kingdom - England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. And there's been a push over the years, which we've covered, for Scotland to become independent of the U.K. Heather's one of those people who wants independence and wants the country to break away from the United Kingdom. So I asked her this question.

When you look at the royal family, do you see them as representing Scotland?

MCGRATH: No, no, no.

LANGFITT: What do you think they represent?

MCGRATH: England. That's it. Yeah. Yeah. It's just an English thing. You know God save the queen? I don't care.

MARTIN: I don't care. That is pretty blunt. Have you heard...

LANGFITT: It is.

MARTIN: Have you heard more of that in Scotland, Frank?

LANGFITT: Well, I did. I mean, it was interesting. She was blunter than some. I talked to another couple that was on a bench nearby, and they felt that this story that we're covering is getting too much attention, but they didn't want to say this publicly because they were afraid of criticism. And this is a departure for Scots. Most Scots, they're known for speaking their mind, just as Heather McGrath spoke to me earlier today.

MARTIN: So you heard skepticism in Scotland for the monarchy, probably more so than in other parts of the realm, as it were. So did - were there people that you spoke with who thought the monarchy would last?

LANGFITT: Actually, everybody did, Michel. Even the critics. And partly it's you know, it's deep rooted in this society. This is a very tradition-bound society. It's hard to change things here. But there were also people I talked to who feels - you know, who feel the monarchy plays an important role. There was a guy I met named Alberto Massimo. He was eating ice cream by the side of the road, and he hosts a classical music radio station up here. And he says the monarchy helps unite this country of these very different nations. And it's really important now because you have here in Scotland, the government wants to hold another referendum for independence. The - this would be the second since 2014. They want to hold it next year. And there's been a widespread concern that Northern Ireland will eventually reunite with Ireland down the road. And this is what Alberto said.

ALBERTO MASSIMO: The monarchy is an institution which should represent the whole of these islands. They are, in some way, the glue. The queen, because of her great age and also her experience, managed to ride that through, whereas now with a new king, this is going to be a very, very difficult thing. And he has to always remind himself that he needs to be seen a lot more in Scotland.

LANGFITT: And I should add that Massimo did have good things to say about King Charles III. He thought that particularly with the U.K. and Europe facing soaring energy prices that Charles' longtime support of the environment and renewable energy would actually help him with people.

MARTIN: So briefly, Frank, signs of support in Scotland beyond the queen herself - what do you think?

LANGFITT: I think more for the monarchy but definitely a lot for the queen, and we'll be out tomorrow along the roads to see people coming out to see the queen's remains, as you say, head south through these little towns in Scotland towards Edinburgh.

MARTIN: NPR's Frank Langfitt in Edinburgh, Scotland. Frank, thank you.

LANGFITT: Good to talk, Michel.

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NBC New York

Queen Elizabeth II's Coffin Takes Long Road Through Scotland

Queen elizabeth ii's coffin is leaving balmoral castle for holyroodhouse palace in edinburgh, scotland today, the first stop on her route back to london as the british people say goodbye to their queen, by david keyton and mike corder • published september 11, 2022 • updated on september 11, 2022 at 2:29 pm.

In a somber, regal procession, Queen Elizabeth II’s flag-draped coffin was driven slowly through the Scottish countryside Sunday from her beloved Balmoral Castle to the Scottish capital of Edinburgh. Mourners packed city streets and highway bridges or lined rural roads with cars and tractors to take part in a historic goodbye to the monarch who had reigned for 70 years.

The hearse drove past piles of bouquets and other tributes as it led a seven-car cortege from Balmoral, where the queen died Thursday at 96, for a six-hour trip through Scottish towns to Holyroodhouse palace in Edinburgh. The late queen's coffin was draped in the Royal Standard for Scotland and topped with a wreath made of flowers from the estate, including sweet peas, one of the queen's favorites.

The procession was a huge event for Scotland as the U.K. takes days to mourn its longest-reigning monarch, the only one most Britons have ever known. People turned out hours early to grab a space by the police barricades in Edinburgh. By afternoon, the crowds were 10 people deep.

“I think she has been an ever-constant in my life. She was the queen I was born under, and she has always been there,” said Angus Ruthven, a 54-year-old civil servant from Edinburgh. “I think it is going to take a lot of adjusting that she is not here."

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Silence fell on the packed Royal Mile in Edinburgh as the hearse carrying the queen arrived. But as the convoy vanished from view, the crowd spontaneously started clapping.

“A very historic moment. I am quite speechless actually,” said Fiona Moffat, a 57-year-old office manager from Glasgow. “She was a lovely lady. Great mother, grandmother. She did well. I am very proud of her.”

When the hearse reached Holyroodhouse, members of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, wearing green tartan kilts, carried the coffin past the queen's youngest three children —Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — into the throne room, where it was to remain until Monday afternoon so staff can pay their last respects.

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King Charles III and his Queen Consort Camilla will travel Monday to Edinburgh to join another solemn procession that takes the queen's coffin to St. Giles Cathedral on the city’s Royal Mile. There the coffin will remain for 24 hours so the Scottish public can pay their respects before it is flown to London on Tuesday.

The first village the cortege passed through was Ballater, where residents regard the royal family as neighbors. Hundreds of people watched in silence. Some threw flowers in front of the hearse.

“She meant such a lot to people in this area. People were crying, it was amazing to see,” said Victoria Pacheco, a guest house manager.

In each Scottish town and village, the entourage was met with respect. People stood mostly in silence; some clapped politely, others pointed their phone cameras at the passing cars. In Aberdeenshire, farmers lined the route with an honor guard of tractors.

Along the route, the cortege passed through locations laden with House of Windsor history. Those included Dyce, where in 1975 the queen formally opened the U.K.’s first North Sea oil pipeline, and Fife, near St. Andrews University, where her grandson Prince William, now the Prince of Wales, studied and met his future wife, Catherine.

Sunday's solemn drive came as the queen’s eldest son was formally proclaimed the new monarch — King Charles III — in the rest of the United Kingdom: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It came a day after a pomp-filled accession ceremony in England.

“I am deeply aware of this great inheritance and of the duties and heavy responsibilities of sovereignty, which have now passed to me,” Charles said Saturday.

Just before the proclamation was read Sunday in Edinburgh, a protester appeared with a sign condemning imperialism and urging leaders to “abolish the monarchy." She was taken away by police. Reaction was mixed. One man shouted, “Let her go! It’s free speech!” while others shouted: “Have some respect!”

Still, there was some booing in Edinburgh when Joseph Morrow, Lord Lyon King of Arms, finished his proclamation with “God save the king!”

That upset Ann Hamilton, 48.

“There’s tens of thousands of people here today to show their respect. For them to be here, heckling through things, I think it was terrible. If they were so against it, they shouldn’t have come," she said.

Still, it was a sign of how some, including people in Britain's former colonies, are struggling with the legacy of the monarchy — and its future.

Earlier in the day, proclamations were read in other parts of the Commonwealth, including Australia and New Zealand.

Charles, even as he mourned his late mother, got to work at Buckingham Palace, meeting with the secretary-general and other Commonwealth envoys. Many in those nations are grappling with both affection for the queen and lingering bitterness over their colonial legacies, which ranged from slavery to corporal punishment in African schools to looted artifacts held in British cultural institutions.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is in favor of an Australian republic, said Sunday that now was not the time for a change but for paying tribute to the late queen. India, a former British colony, observed a day of state mourning, with flags lowered to half-staff.

Amid the grief enveloping the House of Windsor, there were hints of a possible family reconciliation. Prince William and his brother Harry, together with their respective wives, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, delighted mourners near Windsor Castle with a surprise joint appearance Saturday.

The queen's coffin was taking a circuitous journey back to the capital. After it is flown to London on Tuesday, the coffin will be moved from Buckingham Palace on Wednesday to the Houses of Parliament to lie in state until a state funeral at Westminster Abbey on Sept. 19.

In Ballater, the Rev. David Barr said locals consider the royal family as neighbors.

“When she comes up here, and she goes through those gates, I believe the royal part of her stays mostly outside," he said of the queen. “And as she goes in, she was able to be a wife, a loving wife, a loving mum, a loving gran and then later on a loving great-gran — and aunty — and be normal."

Elizabeth Taylor, from Aberdeen, had tears in her eyes after the hearse passed through Ballater.

“It was very emotional. It was respectful and showed what they think of the queen," she said. “She certainly gave service to this country, even up until a few days before her death.”

Corder reported from London.

Follow AP coverage of Queen Elizabeth II at https://apnews.com/hub/queen-elizabeth-ii

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queen travel back to london

Watch CBS News

King Charles III returns to London amid outpouring of grief and thanks for Queen Elizabeth II

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By Tucker Reals, Haley Ott

Updated on: September 9, 2022 / 11:38 PM EDT / CBS News

London — People in Britain and its commonwealth nations woke up on Friday with a new monarch for the first time in most of their lives. King Charles III returned to London from Scotland to meet the prime minister and address the British people for the first time as their monarch. 

Buckingham Palace announced that Charles had requested a formal "period of Royal Mourning" for his mother,  Queen Elizabeth II , who died on Thursday after a record 70-year reign. The U.K.'s longest-reigning monarch , one of the world's most enduring and instantly recognizable personalities, died at her beloved summer home in Scotland, Balmoral Castle, at the age of 96. 

The following week and a half will see a meticulously orchestrated process of both mourning and constitutional transition play out across Great Britain. It will be colored by the grief of a grateful nation mourning a queen with whom many felt a deep connection.  

Tributes continued to pour in from leaders, dignitaries and celebrities from across the globe Friday as thousands of people flocked to Buckingham Palace and the queen's other homes to lay flowers and notes of thanks for Elizabeth's lifetime of dedication and service. King Charles showed up with his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, to shake the hands of well-wishers in front of Buckingham Palace.

Follow the latest developments below, as a new era dawns in Great Britain.

The world pays respects to Queen Elizabeth II

British public pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth

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Mothers bring daughters to honor Queen Elizabeth II

As we walked through the crowds at Buckingham Palace, we couldn't but notice the mothers and daughters who came to honor the only monarch many of them have ever known.

"It's a great inspiration for me, for my child," one mother told CBS News about what it meant to have a woman reign for so long.Other women also brought their daughters to lay flowers.

"When we found the news out yesterday, the little ones were uncontrollably crying," a mother said. "A great loss. And obviously, even in their generation, in their lifetime, we're probably never going to see a queen again."

"It's like someone that's always been there, like a grandma," another mother said, adding that the message for all the girls in her family is "that anything's possible, isn't it?"

Queen Elizabeth was not just a monarch but a matriarch for the United Kingdom. She was a source of strength and inspiration for many of the women at Buckingham Palace on Friday.

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Former royal aide on how roles of King Charles, Prince William and Princess Kate will change

The former communications director for then-Prince Charles thinks the now king will carry on the passion he had for certain issues as he takes the throne.

In an interview with "CBS Evening News" anchor and managing editor Norah O'Donnell on Friday, Julian Payne, who is also a CBS News contributor, said King Charles could have spent the last few decades doing very little, but he chose to campaign "for the things he was passionate about."

"I absolutely am certain that he will take the spirit of that into the monarchy now as king," Payne said.

Payne said the king has "always been a modernizer," explaining that Charles put "a recycling bin in Buckingham Palace in the early 1980s and got everybody recycling their bottles."

"This is not somebody who has sat on tradition and never, never changed," he said. "He actually is always, always pushing forward."

O'Donnell also asked Payne how the roles of Prince William and his wife, Kate, will change. They became the prince and princess of Wales.

"That is quite a powerful moniker to carry. What I think you'll see, is they will naturally follow into that role as people that are putting philanthropy at the heart of their work," Payne said. "But I think what you can expect is for that work really to kick up a notch. And also, don't forget the prince of Wales, now as he is, he also has the Duchy of Cornwall to look after. This is the estate which brings in the revenue that pays for the prince of Wales and his family. So that's a huge job as well."

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Elton John pays tribute to Queen at his final Toronto show

Elton John paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at his final concert in Toronto on Thursday night, saying he was inspired by her and is sad she is gone.

"She led the country through some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace and decency and genuine caring," John said.

Queen Elizabeth II Elton John

"I'm 75 and she's been with with me all my life and I feel very sad that that she won't be with me anymore, but I'm glad she's at peace," he said. "I'm glad she's at rest and she deserves it. She worked bloody hard."

The singer-songwriter then performed his 1974 track "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me."

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Charles: Queen's death is "the moment I've been dreading"

King Charles III told British Prime Minister Liz Truss Friday that the death of his mother was a moment he's been "dreading" but said he had to "keep everything going."

"It has been so touching. ... All those people, come to give their condolences," he told Truss during their meeting.

"It's the moment I've been dreading, as I know a lot of people have," he added, referring to his mother's death. "But you try and keep everything going."

Read more here

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5 things to know about Queen Elizabeth II's wealth

The  passing of Queen Elizabeth II  involves not only the  transfer of the crown  to King Charles III but also a shift of her personal wealth and the ownership in trust of a massive portfolio of assets that range from iconic castles to the Crown Jewels.

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Charles meets with Prime Minister Liz Truss

The royal family posted a picture of King Charles III holding an audience with new Prime Minister Liz Truss on Friday.

This afternoon, The King held an Audience at Buckingham Palace with the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Liz Truss MP. pic.twitter.com/G3h0ALT6It — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 9, 2022

Earlier this week, Truss met with Queen Elizabeth II to be officially appointed as Boris Johnson 's successor after she was selected to lead the British government.

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Charles expresses love for Harry and Meghan in address

King Charles III expressed love for his son Prince Harry and Harry's wife Meghan in his address Friday.

He wished the couple well "as they continue to build their lives overseas."

Meghan, 41, and Harry, 37, have been in a tense relationship with Britain's royal family since they stepped away from royal duties and left the U.K. in early 2020, citing what they said were the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media.

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Biden says he'll attend Queen Elizabeth II's funeral

President Biden on Friday said he'll be going to the funeral of  Queen Elizabeth II  whenever it takes place.

"Yes," Mr. Biden said, asked by a reporter in Ohio if he'll attend the funeral. "I don't know what the details are yet, but I'll be going."

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Charles: "My beloved mother was an inspiration"

In his address Friday, King Charles III called Queen Elizabeth II "an inspiration."

"Throughout her life, Her Majesty the Queen, my beloved mother, was an inspiration, an example to me and to all my family, and we owe her the most heartfelt debt any family could owe to their mother," Charles said.

He paid tribute to his mother's dedication to her country.

"That promise of lifelong service I renew to you all today," Charles said.

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Charles names William and Kate "our new Prince and Princess of Wales"

During his first address to the British people since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III named his son Prince William and William's wife Kate "our new Prince and Princess of Wales."

The king said they "will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the center ground, where vital help can be given."

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"She loved America, and we loved her"

Jane Hartley, the U.S. ambassador to the U.K., told "CBS Mornings" that there was no closer ally to the United States than Queen Elizabeth II.

"I think she loved America, and we loved her. When I first arrived, it was right before the  Platinum Jubilee , and I was amazed at the number of people on the street that just adored her. And there was so much respect. But there were many, many Americans there," Hartley said.

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Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's seven-decade love story

Queen Elizabeth II spent her entire 70-year reign at the helm of Britain's royal family with her longtime love Prince Philip by her side. Their story began when they were just children and lasted until April 9, 2021, the day Philip died.   

Click here for a look back at the couple's remarkable royal love story. 

Queen & Duke of Edinburgh Diamond Wedding Anniversary

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Harry and Meghan's children Archie and Lillibet are now a prince and princess

Archie and Lillibet, the children of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have become a prince and princess after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

When they were born, the two children were too far down the line of succession to be given those titles under rules set out by King George V in 1917. 

Britain Prince Harry

Archie was given the title Earl of Dumbarton when he was born. He could have had the title of "Lord," but his parents chose for him to be called "Master Archie" instead, according to Buckingham Palace.

It is possible for King Charles III, the new monarch, to change the rules to take the His and Her Royal Highness (HRH), the prince and princess titles, away from his grandchildren, but veteran royal correspondent and CBS News contributor Roya Nikkhah said it was unlikely he would do so.

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"The Crown" pauses production "as a mark of respect" for queen

" The Crown ," Netflix's acclaimed series about Queen Elizabeth II and her family, has paused production due to the monarch's death. A spokesperson for the series said production was paused on Friday "as a mark of respect" and will also be suspended on the day of the queen's funeral. 

The show, which has won 22 Emmy Awards so far, is in production on its sixth season. Its first two seasons focused on the early years after the queen ascended to the throne and has gradually moved closer to current events. 

Its fifth season, with Imelda Staunton playing the queen, will premiere later this year.  

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Somber Scottish capital prepares to receive queen's coffin

Sadness, drizzle and a strange frisson filled the Edinburgh air as the Scottish capital prepared to receive the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II this weekend. The monarch died at her Scottish Balmoral estate Thursday and the coffin's arrival in Edinburgh will be the first stage on its journey to a state funeral in London.

Against a damp wall at Holyroodhouse, the royal palace in Edinburgh, the mass of flowers continued to grow. Gary Millar, a 45-year-old technician, added a bouquet to the pile that started to build when news broke of the queen's death.

Scottish Daily Politics

Millar had arrived early in the morning to show his "respects" and "to honour the lady."

"She honoured us her whole reign by doing her duty and I think it's time that the public gave that back a little," he said, his voice tight with emotion.

BRITAIN-ROYALS-QUEEN-DEATH

In Scotland, led by a government that wants independence from the United Kingdom, the queen is much more popular than the monarchy itself. For Millar, the late sovereign "held the country together."

"She was the figurehead of our union of Great Britain. She's been around all my life," he continued, praising her "hard work" and "dedication."

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King Charles and Camilla greet well-wishers at Buckingham Palace

King Charles III and his wife Camilla, the queen consort, arrived at Buckingham Palace in central London on Friday and greeted crowds gathered outside the palace gates.

Britain Queen

The new king flew back to London from Scotland just after 1:30 p.m. local time (8:30 a.m. Eastern).

King Charles was due to meet the U.K.'s new Prime Minister Liz Truss later in the day, and deliver his first message to the nation as its monarch early in the evening.  

Britain Queen

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Accession Council for new King Charles III to be televised for 1st time ever

Clarence House, the former home and official office of Britain's new King Charles III, said Friday that the centuries-old ceremony by which the U.K. government will formally recognize his reign would be televised.

The broadcast of the two-part Accession Council , which will take place on Saturday at St. James's Palace in London, will be a first. The Council has been convened for British governments to formally acknowledge new monarchs for around 1,000 years. It is the oldest part of Britain's government.

The process comes in two parts, the first of which takes place without the new king, as "Privy Counsellors" and a bevy of other dignitaries "formally announce the death of the Monarch and proclaim the succession of the new Sovereign."

Charles will then join the council along with his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, and his son and heir, Prince William, who are also members, to attend his first session of the gathering and to declare his support for the British constitution and the Church of Scotland, of which the monarch is the official head. 

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French president: "To you, she was your Queen. To us, she was THE Queen."

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed "deep sadness" and a sense of "emptiness" after the passing of the monarch and praised her "great affection for France."

Macron said in a video message that the queen mastered "our language, loved our culture and touched our hearts."

Macron described her as a "great head of state," and said that with her, Britain and France share "a warm, sincere and loyal partnership."

To you, she was your Queen. To us, she was The Queen. She will be with all of us forever. pic.twitter.com/PaL1DRmlHK — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) September 9, 2022

Speaking in English, the French president said: "To you, she was your Queen. To us, she was THE Queen."

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U.K. leader lauds queen as "rock on which modern Britain was built" as MPs pay tribute

Members of the United Kingdom's parliament gathered in the House of Commons on Friday to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. Prime Minister Liz Truss called the queen, who died the previous day at the age of 96, "the rock on which modern Britain was built," and "one of the greatest leaders the world has ever known."

"We remember the pledge she gave on her 21st birthday to dedicate her life to service," Truss said. "The whole house will agree, never has a promise been so completely fulfilled."

"She was the rock on which modern Britain was built" UK Prime Minister Liz Truss pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, calling her "one of the greatest leaders the world has ever known" https://t.co/dhbqfe9lNu pic.twitter.com/Qxfslt3ZRW — BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) September 9, 2022

"As the longest-serving monarch this country has known she would have been assured of a notable entry in our history books even if it were not for the magnificence in which she undertook the role as Queen," the speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, said.

"She was the most devoted monarch. As well as Queen, she was a wife, a mother, a grandmother and great grandmother — roles she carried out with the same sense of occasion and human kindness as the role of Queen," Hoyle said.

The tributes on the floor of the House of Commons were expected to continue until about 10 p.m. local time.

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Nelson Mandela Foundation reflects on his close bond with the queen

Nelson Mandela was on first-name basis with Queen Elizabeth II, a rare privilege contravening royal etiquette, the late anti-apartheid hero's foundation said Friday, sharing anecdotes of their fond relationship.  

"By his own admission, Nelson Mandela was an anglophile, and in the years after his release from prison cultivated a close relationship with the Queen," the Nelson Mandela Foundation wrote in a statement, sending condolences to the royal family. "They also talked on the phone frequently, using their first names with each other as a sign of mutual respect as well as affection."

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Fondly known to South Africans as Madiba, Mandela spent decades in prison before leading his country from white minority rule to a multi-racial democracy. He died in 2013 aged 95 .

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King Charles III expected to address the nation today

King Charles III left Balmoral Castle on Friday to travel back to London to meet Prime Minister Liz Truss and then deliver a televised speech to the nation in the early evening. Charles and the queen's three other children, and her grandsons Prince William and Prince Harry, all rushed to Balmoral on Thursday to be by her side.

Britain Queen

A service of prayer and reflection will be held at London's St. Paul's Cathedral at 6 p.m. local time (1 p.m. Eastern), which the public will be allowed to attend and which will also be televised. The prime minister and the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan were expected to attend.

If the timing of the king's speech coincides with the service, it is expected that the speech will be played to the audience inside St. Paul's Cathedral.

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British sports come to halt to mourn queen

The Premier League has postponed its upcoming round of matches as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, adding to the cancellation of high-profile golf, cricket and horse racing events across Britain on Friday.

England's top-flight soccer clubs held a meeting Friday and said they wanted to "pay tribute to Her Majesty's long and unwavering service to our country."

The English Football League - the three divisions below the Premier League - also called off their games scheduled for the weekend. 

Important golf, cricket and horse racing events scheduled to take place on Friday have been postponed or canceled.

The England and Wales Cricket Board announced there would be no play on Friday in the third and deciding test between England and South Africa. There was no immediate update on whether play would be resuming over the weekend.

Other events called off included cycling's Tour of Britain, which also canceled the final two stages of the race scheduled for the weekend, and the third day of horse racing's St. Leger festival in Doncaster. The St. Leger, one of British racing's classics, will now take place on Sunday, organizers said Friday.

Horse racing was the queen's favorite sport.

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Palace says "period of Royal Mourning" to last until 7 days after queen's funeral

Buckingham Palace said Friday that King Charles III had requested a formal "period of Royal Mourning be observed from now until seven days after The Queen's Funeral."

The palace has not yet confirmed the date for Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral, but it is expected to be held on Monday September 19 .

"Royal Mourning will be observed by Members of the Royal Family, Royal Household staff and Representatives of the Royal Household on official duties, together with troops committed to Ceremonial Duties," the palace said in a statement.

The palace also confirmed that gun salutes would be fired Friday afternoon in London's Hyde Park and at the Tower of London, with one round being fired for each year of the queen's 96 years.

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"Our hearts are broken": U.K. newspapers mark queen's death

Poignant photographs of Queen Elizabeth II dominated the front pages of Britain's grieving newspapers Friday, charting her journey from coronation to matriarch of the nation.

A picture of the 27-year-old Elizabeth taken at her 1953 coronation, full of regal splendor clasping the Sovereign's Orb and Scepter in the vaulted walls of Westminster Abbey, covered the front pages of The Times, Guardian, Daily Star and Independent.

The Sun, Daily Telegraph, Daily Express and Daily Mirror instead chose images of the white-haired monarch as she neared the end of her record-breaking 70-year-reign.

The Telegraph carried a quote made by the queen for the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks. "Grief is the price we pay for love," it said.

Most tabloids marked the occasion with subdued black-and-white front pages, although the Sun splashed its header in royal purple, above the headline "We loved you Ma'am."

"Rest in peace, Ma'am. The Sun and our readers loved you. We are proud you were our Queen," it added.

The Daily Express carried the headline "Our Beloved Queen is Dead," while the Daily Mirror simply wrote "Thank you."

"Our hearts are broken", said the Daily Mail headline. "How to find the words? Our grief is a hundred different emotions, all of them hard to grasp," said its front-page splash.

"As God Save the Queen played on the radio and TV, as we heard that our beloved monarch had died, a nation's heart broke," it added.

The story unsurprisingly filled the inside pages of the souvenir edition papers, with most dedicating at least 20 pages to the seismic events.

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U.K. prime minister was told of queen's passing 2 hours before the world

Britain's new Prime Minister Liz Truss was told at 4:30 p.m. local time (11:30 a.m. Eastern) on Thursday that Queen Elizabeth II had died. 10 Downing Street, the premier's office, confirmed that the Cabinet Secretary had informed Truss of the monarch's passing almost two hours before Buckingham Palace told the world.

It was Truss' second day on the job. She was chosen to take over the prime minister's office by members of her Conservative Party following the resignation of Boris Johnson, who was forced out by a succession of scandals.

The new prime minister was notified of Elizabeth's passing about four hours after the palace issued an extremely rare statement about the queen's health, saying doctors were "concerned," and had put her under medical supervision at her Scotland home, Balmoral Castle. The announcement caused immediate concern, and as every senior member of the royal family rushed to Balmoral to be by her side, it quickly became clear that the situation was serious.

Queen Elizabeth Greets Incoming PM Liz Truss

When Buckingham Palace did tell the world about Elizabeth's passing at about 6:30 p.m., it said only that she had "died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon."

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U.K. labor unions call off strikes "out of respect for" the queen

British railway and postal workers, at the forefront of sector-wide strikes over a cost-of-living crisis, have halted upcoming walkouts following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The Communication Workers Union had planned to continue a 48-hour stoppage Friday but this has been called off "out of respect for" the queen, CWU general secretary Dave Ward said in a statement late Thursday.

The RMT rail union said it was suspending walkouts planned the next week and the TSSA transport union has called off its September strikes. Train drivers union Aslef has also suspended a planned stoppage.

"RMT joins the whole nation in paying its respects to Queen Elizabeth," its general secretary Mick Lynch said in a statement. "The planned railway strike action on 15 and 17 September is suspended... We express our deepest condolences to her family, friends and the country."

Network Rail, which manages Britain's railways, said it welcomed "the unions' decision to call off" strikes.

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Putin, Xi offer condolences

Among the many world leaders sending condolences to Great Britain were Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.

Putin sent a telegram to King Charles III saying in part, "For many decades, Elizabeth II rightfully enjoyed the love and respect of her subjects, as well as authority on the world stage. I wish you courage and perseverance in the face of this heavy, irreparable loss."

And Xi offered "sincere sympathies to the British government and people," noting that the queen was the first British monarch to visit China.

Elizabeth's death came amid increasingly tense relations between Britain and China. Xi said he's willing to work with Charles on promoting "healthy and stable" bilateral ties.

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Empire State Building honors the queen

David Caplan, executive editor of digital content for the two all-news radio stations in New York, WCBS and WINS, noted a special salute to the late Queen Elizabeth II:

Empire State Building glittering purple + silver for Queen Elizabeth II @1010WINS @wcbs880 pic.twitter.com/agLoODOTAW — David Caplan (@DavidCaplanNYC) September 9, 2022
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What to know about King Charles III

With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II Thursday, her first son Charles has ascended the throne. Charles, 73, had been the Prince of Wales — the title reserved for future British kings-in-waiting — for longer than anyone else in the history of the United Kingdom's monarchy.

Buckingham Palace confirmed that the new monarch would be known as King Charles III.

In many ways, Charles has been the first modern heir to the British throne: He was sent off to school rather than being tutored privately at the palace, and after that he went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree at Cambridge.

The young prince then served in both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy, being deployed on several warships during the 1970s.

CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips takes an in-depth look at Charles role in the royal family up to this point, his rocky love life and some of his "bonkers" pursuits. Read the full story here . 

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U.K. will likely get revamped national anthem, new look for its currency

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, decades of symbols in Her Majesty's honor – from the national anthem to currency – will likely see a shift. 

The national anthem, "God Save the Queen," will likely be reversed to "God Save the King," its original title. The first verse of the song will now be recited as, "God save our gracious King! Long live our noble King! God save the King! Send him victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the King."

Another change will be the currency, which currently includes an image of the queen facing toward the right. Now, with King Charles III in charge, all new coins will likely have his image, and facing toward the left, as is tradition.

Other similar changes are likely for the U.K.'s stamps and flags. Read the full story here .

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Japanese PM calls queen's death "a great loss"

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called the queen's death a "great loss" in a statement on social media early Friday morning.  

"I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family, the government and the people of the United Kingdom," Kishida said. "The loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is a great loss not only to the British people but also to the international community. Japan's thoughts are with the United Kingdom as the British people overcome this deepest sadness."

The loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is a great loss not only to the British people but also to the international community. Japan’s thoughts are with the United Kingdom as the British people overcome this deepest sadness. — 岸田文雄 (@kishida230) September 9, 2022
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U.S. Open holds moment of silence for Queen Elizabeth II

The U.S. Tennis Association held a moment of silence before the first U.S. Open women's semifinal match Thursday night — won in straight sets by Ons Jabeur over Caroline Garcia.

"We would like to pause to remember Queen Elizabeth II," the stadium announcer said. "Our thoughts are with the people today of the United Kingdom. Remember to be part of us in a second of silence."

U.S. Open moment of silence for queen

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What to expect in the days leading up to Queen Elizabeth II's funeral

For years, the U.K. government has had a detailed plan – codenamed Operation London Bridge – in place for what happens after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Although it was a closely guarded secret, following the queen's death Thursday, the plan was widely reported by the British media.

The government plan refers to the day of the queen's death as D-Day, or D+0. However, since the queen's death came so late Thursday, the schedule was shifted, and D-Day was pushed to Friday.

This means that the state funeral for the queen, D+10 under the plan, will take place on Monday, Sept. 19, in Westminster Abbey.

Read the full story on Operation London Bridge here . 

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Celebrities react to queen's death

Celebrities from Sir Elton John to Victoria Beckham shared tributes to Queen Elizabeth II on social media on Thursday.

"She was an inspiring presence to be around, and lead the country through some of our greatest, and darkest, moments with grace, decency, and a genuine caring warmth," John shared with his fans on  Instagram . He ended his tribute with, "Queen Elizabeth has been a huge part of my life from childhood to this day, and I will miss her dearly."

Sir Paul McCartney , also no stranger in his love and admiration for the queen, wrote on his Instagram: "God bless Queen Elizabeth II / May she rest in peace / Long live The King." McCartney's connection to the queen goes back decades to when he was just 10 years old. He  wrote an essay  about her for a competition that was being held in England for school-aged kids, and he won for his division. 

"Today is a very sad day not just for our country but for the entire world. I'm deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved Monarch, Her Majesty The Queen," Beckham, the fashion designer and singer, shared on her  Instagram . "She will be remembered for her steadfast loyalty and service and my thoughts are with the royal family at this incredibly sad time." 

Read the full story here .

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NATO secretary general says he's "deeply saddened" by queen's death

Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary general, tweeted that he was "deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II."

"Over more than 70 years, she exemplified selfless leadership and public service. My deepest condolences to the Royal Family, to our #NATO Allies the United Kingdom and Canada, and to the people of the Commonwealth."

Deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Over more than 70 years, she exemplified selfless leadership and public service. My deepest condolences to the Royal Family, to our #NATO Allies the United Kingdom and Canada, and to the people of the Commonwealth. pic.twitter.com/hHyqBdhKcx — Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) September 8, 2022
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Examining Queen Elizabeth II's legacy with U.S. presidents

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"A figure of global significance": Spanish prime minister lauds Queen Elizabeth II

Pedro Sánchez, the prime minister of Spain, offered his condolences to the royal family and the people of the U.K.

He called the queen "a figure of global significance, witness and author of British and European history," in a tweet Thursday.

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Former prime minister on his "lively" conversations with the queen

Sir John Major, who served as Britain's prime minister from 1990 to 1997, opened about his relationship with Queen Elizabeth, describing their conversations when he was in office as "lively."

In an interview with "CBS Evening News" anchor and managing editor Norah O'Donnell on Thursday, Major said the queen had the gift of being resilient.

"One of the many gifts the queen has is that when she faces great difficulty, she has the capacity to be a stoic," Major said. "She puts her head down. She plows on. She knows whatever the problems are, she will come through the other end of that."

"It is part of the training for monarchy," he continued. "I mean, self evidently, you need to be very selfless. You need to have a great understanding of the way your nation works and the way people think and act in order to be a successful monarchy. And you need a great capacity to discharge your obligations and your duty. And the queen had a remarkable sense of duty all her life."

Major also described her as "very funny."

"The conversations with her weren't starchy, dull, boring," he said. "They were very lively. You were talking to someone with a lively intellect. She was she was fun to be with."

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Queen Elizabeth faced complex role as monarch and mother

As a monarch to millions and mother to four, Queen Elizabeth II faced "unique challenges," according to historian and author Amanda Foreman."

Queen Elizabeth II as a mother had some unique challenges," Foreman told CBS News. "She had to be away for many months at a time, and yet she took her duties as a mother very seriously."

She was often called detached for leaving her children with nannies and sending them to boarding school.

"Those comparisons, I think, hurt her feelings greatly because she loved her children — that was always obvious," Foreman said.

As her children grew, their lives often exploded on the front page of tabloids and TVs around the world.

"Queen Elizabeth had to walk a very difficult line, kind of a mediator between the public's expectations of her and her children and how her children were actually feeling," Foreman said. "And it was very difficult."

The queen's legacy will include leading her family and her country into a modern era.

"She showed that yes, you can be a mother, you can be a wife, but you can still be a woman in a position of power and influence," Foreman said.

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Crowds gather at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle to mourn Queen Elizabeth II

As the flag lowered in London and all over the United Kingdom, crowds began to gather at the golden gates of Buckingham Palace. Mourners sang the national anthem, "God Save the Queen," for a much-loved monarch.

Mourners who gathered outside Windsor Castle told CBS News what the loss meant to them.

"She was everything to us and it was a massive part of our upbringing," a crying woman said. 

"It's a very sad moment, a very sad moment," a man said.

"She's always been there and it'll never be the same again," an elderly woman said.

A young man in the crowd said Queen Elizabeth was "a queen with a lot of love for her people."

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Cycling's Tour of Britain cancels final 3 stages

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, cycling's Tour of Britain has canceled its final three stages, set to take place Friday through Sunday.

Spanish cyclist Gonzalo Serrano, the leader after Thursday, was declared the winner.

"The Tour of Britain organisation, alongside the teams, riders and officials involved in the event, send their deepest condolences to the Royal Family at this sad time," the race said in a statement. 

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Moment of silence held prior to Manchester United match

Manchester United's home clash in the Europa League against Real Sociedad went ahead but a minute's silence was held before kick-off and players wore black armbands.

The Premier League said it was "deeply saddened" by the queen's death.

Manchester United v Real Sociedad: Group E - UEFA Europa League

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European golf's PGA Championship suspended

Play at the PGA Championship at Wentworth, near London, was suspended on Thursday evening when news broke about the death of the 96-year-old monarch and it was later confirmed that there would be no play on Friday.

"Out of respect for Her Majesty and the Royal Family, play has been suspended at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club for the remainder of Thursday and flags at Wentworth Club will be lowered to half-mast," a European Tour statement said.

"Furthermore, no play will take place at the BMW PGA Championship on Friday and the golf course and practice facilities will be closed."

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Six Historic Royal Palaces to close to the public Friday

Six palaces, designated as the Historic Royal Palaces , will be closed to guests on Friday after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The sites include the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Banqueting House, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace and Hillsborough Castle.

"Historic Royal Palaces joins millions of people around the world in mourning the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II," its website said.

Guests who booked tickets for the palaces will be refunded, and ticket sales have been temporarily suspended, according to its website.

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House of Commons to spend two days offering tributes to the queen

British politicians across the political spectrum united in sorrow Thursday at the death of Queen Elizabeth II, a passing that brought the country's usually fractious politics to a halt.

For the next several days, essential government functions will continue, but much of the routine business of politics will be put on pause. Parliamentary business will give way to two days of tributes from lawmakers in the House of Commons on Friday and Saturday.

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Double rainbow appears over Windsor Castle

A rainbow appeared over Buckingham Palace in London shortly before the queen's death was announced. Not long after, as people gathered outside of Windsor Castle to mourn her death, a double rainbow appeared there as well.

Queen Elizabeth II Dies At Balmoral Castle

Queen Elizabeth II grew up at Windsor, and throughout her time as monarch, she spent many of her private weekends and a month around Easter at the castle, according to the  Royal Collection Trust . Several members of the royal family have been married there, including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in May 2018; Princess Eugenie in October 2018; and Princess Beatrice in 2020.

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London mayor calls queen "a source of great stability"

In a statement after the queen's death, London Mayor Sadiq Khan celebrated her "extraordinary service."

"Throughout a period of unprecedented transformation, she was a source of great stability, inspiring hope during the most testing of times and exemplifying the best of what it means to be British," he wrote.

"I'm proud to have served as Mayor of London while Queen Elizabeth II was our monarch. I know Londoners, and people across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, are immensely proud and grateful for what she achieved for us all over so many years."

He offered his condolences to the royal family.

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Israeli president: "Her passing is the end of an era"

Israeli President Isaac Herzog extended his "deepest sympathies to the British people and all nations of the Commonwealth" following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.  

"Queen Elizabeth was a historic figure: she lived history, she made history, and with her passing she leaves a magnificent, inspirational legacy," Herzog said in a statement. 

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Australian prime minister: "This is a loss we all feel"

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wrote in a statement that "Australian hearts go out to the people of the United Kingdom who mourn today."

"This is a loss we all feel, for few have known a world without Queen Elizabeth II," he wrote.

The Australian leader also reflected on the queen's history with the country. 

"From her famous first trip to Australia, the only reigning sovereign to ever visit, it was clear Her Majesty held a special place in her heart for Australia," Albanese wrote, adding, "She celebrated our good times, she stood with us in the bad. Happy and glorious but steadfast too."

Albanese called the queen's death "the close of the second Elizabethan age."

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English Football League postpones Friday matches

The English Football League (EFL) has postponed all of its scheduled matches for Friday "as a mark of respect" to the former monarch.

Earlier, the league tweeted : "The EFL and its Clubs are truly saddened to learn of the passing of Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II, at the age of 96."

It has not yet determined whether the matches scheduled for the remainder of the weekend will be played.

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Eiffel Tower goes dark in honor of the queen

The Eiffel Tower's lights were turned off Thursday night following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, tweeted .

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NYC's Empire State Building to honor Queen Elizabeth II

The Empire State Building in New York City will "shine in purple and sparkle in silver to honor the life and legacy of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II" on Thursday night.

Tonight, our tower lights will shine in purple and sparkle in silver to honor the life and legacy of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. pic.twitter.com/qIpk7lQgbc — Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) September 8, 2022
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"Deeply saddened" Pope Francis prays for queen, new king

Pope Francis said Thursday he was "deeply saddened" at the death of Queen Elizabeth II, offering prayers for her "eternal rest" and for her son Charles as he becomes king.

In a personal telegram to the new monarch, the head of the Catholic Church paid tribute to the queen's "life of unstinting service... her example of devotion to duty, her steadfast witness of faith in Jesus Christ," and, addressing the new King Charles III, said, "I invoke an abundance of divine blessings as a pledge of comfort and strength in the Lord."

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India's president says "world has lost a great personality"

Indian President Droupadi Murmu also offered her condolences to the royal family and the people of the United Kingdom.

"In the demise of  Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of UK, the world has lost a great personality," the president's tweet said. "An era has passed since she steered her country and people for over 7 decades. I share the grief of people of UK and convey my heartfelt condolence to the family."

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Italy's premier calls the queen the "absolute protagonist" of past 70 years

Italian Premier Mario Draghi in a condolence message hailed the queen as having been "the absolute protagonist of world history of the last 70 years." 

Draghi, who is now acting in a caretaker role ahead of Italian parliamentary elections later this month, said Queen Elizabeth II had represented the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth "with equilibrium, wisdom, respect for institutions and for democracy."

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French president remembers Queen Elizabeth II as "a friend of France"

French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted Thursday that the queen "embodied continuity and the unity of the British nation over 70 years. I retain the memory of a friend of France, a queen of hearts who marked as never before her country and her century."

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle add tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on Archewell website

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who were in England at the time of Queen Elizabeth II's death, posted a tribute to the late monarch on their organization's website.

The Archewell homepage is completely black, with a simple "In loving memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022" written in white on the page.

Prince Harry, one of the queen's grandsons and the second son of now King Charles III, traveled to the Scotland estate where his grandmother died.

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U.N. chief lauds Queen Elizabeth II as a " reassuring presence throughout decades"

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement Thursday that he was "deeply saddened" by Queen Elizabeth II's passing and he offered his "sincere condolences to her bereaved family, the Government and people of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the wider Commonwealth of Nations."

Guterres said Elizabeth, "was widely admired for her grace, dignity, and dedication around the world. She was a reassuring presence throughout decades of sweeping change, including the decolonization of Africa and Asia and the evolution of the Commonwealth."

"Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was a good friend to the UN and a reassuring presence throughout decades of sweeping change, widely admired for her grace, dignity & devotion." -- @antonioguterres pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. https://t.co/802DvbUb5s pic.twitter.com/y2LhKqCvfu — United Nations (@UN) September 8, 2022

He called her "a good friend of the United Nations," and praised her commitment to environmental issues in particular.

"The world will long remember her devotion and leadership," Guterres said.

Both the U.N. General Assembly and Security Council observed moments of silence Thursday in honor of the late monarch.

#QueenElizabeth honored with Moment of Silence in UN General Assembly & Security Council 👇with tribute by UK Amb @BWoodward_UN @CBSNews |UN Read about her legacy here @CBSNews @CBSMornings https://t.co/1rbdbuHWkW pic.twitter.com/v58DA760Oq — Pamela Falk CBS News Correspondent United Nations (@PamelaFalk) September 8, 2022
  • https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/queen-elizabeth-ii-dies-age-96-royal-family-mourning/#post-update-475f8746 link copied

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says most Canadians "have known no other Sovereign"

In a statement , Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote of the queen's impact on the people of Canada, saying most of its residents have "known no other Sovereign."

"Queen Elizabeth II was a constant presence in our lives," he said. "Time and again, Her Majesty marked Canada's modern history. Over the course of 70 years and twenty-three Royal Tours, Queen Elizabeth II saw this country from coast to coast to coast and was there for our major, historical milestones."

"She would proclaim 'it was good to be home' when returning to her beloved Canada. She was indeed at home here, and Canadians never ceased to return her affection."

Trudeau said Canadians will enter a "period of mourning" — along with the rest of the Commonwealth — "ending with a national day of mourning when a commemorative service will be held to mark the passing of our Sovereign."

  • https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/queen-elizabeth-ii-dies-age-96-royal-family-mourning/#post-update-c7b671a3 link copied

U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss addresses the nation

Britain's new  Prime Minister Liz Truss  said that Queen Elizabeth II was "the rock on which modern Britain was built."

In a statement outside her residence at Number 10 Downing Street, Truss said the loss of the queen was "a huge shock to the nation and to the world," and that the country must come together to support the new monarch, King Charles III.

"Through thick and thin, Queen Elizabeth II provided us with the stability and the strength that we needed. She was the very spirit of Great Britain, and that spirit will endure," Truss said.

Earlier this week, Truss had met with the queen at her home in Balmoral to be officially appointed as prime minister, after the resignation of the former U.K. leader, Boris Johnson.

"She has been a personal inspiration to me and to many Britons. Her devotion to duty is an example to us all. Earlier this week, at 96, she remained determined to carry out her duties as she appointed me as her 15th prime minister... In the difficult days ahead, we will come together with our friends across the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the world, to celebrate her extraordinary lifetime of service. It is a day of great loss, but Queen Elizabeth II leaves a great legacy," Truss said.

  • https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/queen-elizabeth-ii-dies-age-96-royal-family-mourning/#post-update-171f4f17 link copied

Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson pays tribute

Britain's former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who resigned from the nation's top political post only two days before Queen Elizabeth II's passing, issued a long statement Thursday mourning the late queen and calling it Britain's "saddest day."

The late queen, Johnson said, had a "unique and simple power to make us happy. That is why we loved her."

"It is only really now that we grasp how much she meant for us, how much she did for us, how much she loved us," the former prime minister said. 

Statement on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (3/3) pic.twitter.com/yHPiUfBWlH — Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) September 8, 2022

"Though our voices may still be choked with sadness we can say with confidence the words not heard in this country for seven decades. God save the King," concluded Johnson. 

  • https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/queen-elizabeth-ii-dies-age-96-royal-family-mourning/#post-update-51360a05 link copied

President Biden remembers Queen Elizabeth II

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden issued a statement Thursday to remember the queen, calling her "more than a monarch. She defined an era."

"In a world of constant change, she was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons, including many who have never known their country without her," the Bidens said.

Read more here .

President Joe Biden with Britain's Queen Elizabeth in 2021

  • https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/queen-elizabeth-ii-dies-age-96-royal-family-mourning/#post-update-b6d2d753 link copied

Charles will be known as King Charles III

Speaking outside her residence at Number 10 Downing Street on Thursday, Britain's new Prime Minister Liz Truss said that Queen Elizabeth II was "the rock on which modern Britain was built."

Truss said the loss of the queen, who had officially appointed Truss only two days before her death, was "a huge shock to the nation and to the world," and that the country must come together to support the new monarch, King Charles III.

Clarence House later confirmed the king's title.

Truss finished her statement by saying "God save the king."

  • https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/queen-elizabeth-ii-dies-age-96-royal-family-mourning/#post-update-a8f1658d link copied

Charles, Britain's new king, expresses sadness at mother's death

Charles, Britain's new king , has made a statement after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

"The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family," the statement says.

"We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world. During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held."

  • https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/queen-elizabeth-ii-dies-age-96-royal-family-mourning/#post-update-ceb52fa8 link copied

The official announcement

A statement released by Buckingham Palace announced the queen's passing and the ascension of her eldest son, Prince Charles, as the new king:

The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.
  • https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/queen-elizabeth-ii-dies-age-96-royal-family-mourning/#post-update-a945b8b7 link copied

Rainbow appears outside Buckingham Palace

As the world awaited news from Balmoral, where the senior members of the royal family gathered to be by the queen's side on Thursday, a rainbow appeared outside Buckingham Palace in London.

A rainbow has appeared opposite Buckingham Palace over crowds hoping for better news on the Queen’s health @itvnews pic.twitter.com/UsE0CM0siP — Romilly Weeks (@romillyweeks) September 8, 2022
  • https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/queen-elizabeth-ii-dies-age-96-royal-family-mourning/#post-update-f2a4a689 link copied

Tucker Reals is cbsnews.com's foreign editor, based in the CBS News London bureau. He has worked for CBS News since 2006, prior to which he worked for The Associated Press in Washington D.C. and London.

clock This article was published more than  1 year ago

The queen’s final journey: Mapping the plans for the coming days

In life, Queen Elizabeth II traveled a great deal , logging 285 state visits abroad. She is now on her final highly ceremonial journey — about 500 miles from her castle in Scotland to her final resting place in Windsor.

queen travel back to london

The queen’s upcoming

500-mile journey

Aberdeenshire

Holyroodhouse,

St. Giles’

lies at rest

The queen’s coffin will make

the 400-mile trip from Scotland

to England via Royal Air Force

Westminster

Palace, London

RAF Northolt

lies in state

St. George’s

Procession via

The Long Walk

Distances are approximate.

The length of some procession lines

was adjusted for visibility.

Source: Buckingham Palace

queen travel back to london

The queen’s upcoming 500-mile journey

The length of some procession lines was adjusted for visibility.

queen travel back to london

Palace of Holyroodhouse,

The queen’s coffin will make the 400-mile trip

from Scotland to England via Royal Air Force

Queen is interred

The plans have been in place for decades but the exact schedule is still subject to change.

The queen died in Balmoral castle, a royal estate in the Scottish highlands bought for Queen Victoria by her husband in the nineteenth century. Queen Elizabeth is said to have loved the sprawling countryside home, where she spent summers playing with her beloved corgis, horseback riding and going on nature walks.

From there, her coffin was taken to Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, where she lay in the famous Holyrood Palace, across from the Scottish parliament.

queen travel back to london

The Queen’s

body will move

to the Palace of

Holyroodhouse

in Edinburgh

she will move

The 16th century palace — Scotland’s official residence for the British monarch — contains the preserved living quarters of Mary, Queen of Scots, and is filled with elaborate tapestries and ornate furniture. It also boasts immaculate gardens and a collection of royal gems.

From Holyrood a procession took place along the capital’s royal mile to St. Giles’ Cathedral, which dates back to the middle ages and remains a popular tourist destination.

queen travel back to london

St Giles’s

Nat’l Gallery

Princes Street

queen travel back to london

The Meadows

queen travel back to london

After Scotland has paid its respects, the queen’s coffin was flown to London on Tuesday evening, accompanied by Princess Anne. The coffin arrived at RAF Northolt and traveled by hearse to Buckingham Palace, to rest in the Bow Room.

On Wednesday the queen’s coffin was taken in procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where she will lie in state for several days.

After the funeral service at Westminster Abbey on Sept. 19, the queen will be taken on a final procession down the Mall ending at Hyde Park Corner.

queen travel back to london

WESTMINSTER

queen travel back to london

The coffin will then move to Windsor Castle, where the queen spent weekends. There, the coffin will travel in a final procession to St. George’s Chapel, where she will be laid to rest next to her husband, Philip.

queen travel back to london

  • Queen Elizabeth II buried after historic state funeral September 19, 2022 Queen Elizabeth II buried after historic state funeral September 19, 2022
  • Queen Elizabeth’s corgis and pony get their final goodbye September 19, 2022 Queen Elizabeth’s corgis and pony get their final goodbye September 19, 2022
  • Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral: Memorable moments in photos and videos September 19, 2022 Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral: Memorable moments in photos and videos September 19, 2022

queen travel back to london

King Charles pictured for the first time following the Queen's death - Live Updates

Several events are planned for the day after the queen's death.

prince charles london

As the world wakes up for the first day after the Queen 's death, along with mourning, royal duties continue for the new King Charles III and the Queen Consort , who have a number of planned engagements for the days ahead. 

READ:  Will businesses and schools close after the Queen's death?

The King arrived at Buckingham Palace on Friday having travelled down from Balmoral earlier this morning alongside Camilla. 

charles greets crowds

King Charles III greeted crowds

As they emerged from their vehicle, they were met with huge cheers and chants of 'God Save the King'. 

charles camilla flowers

Charles and Camilla viewed floral tributes

The royal couple left Birkhall at around 11am before catching an Embraer Legacy 600 jet to London. It is the first time the King has been photographed since his mother's death. 

WATCH: King Charles arrives at Buckingham Palace

Dressed in mourning clothes, Charles and Camilla appeared teary-eyed as they commenced their journey down South. An emotional Charles was pictured in the back seat, whilst the new Queen Consort rode in the front passenger seat. 

duchess camilla car

The Queen Consort looked emotional

Following the death of his mother, the royal released a deeply personal statement which read: "The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.

RELATED: The Queen's obituary - Her Majesty's extraordinary life of service

floral tributes london

The nation is in mourning

"We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.

charles camilla car queen

The couple left Balmoral this morning

"During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held."

Earlier today the new King confirmed his wish to hold an extended period of royal mourning, lasting a week until after his mother's funeral, the full details of which have yet to be announced. 

READ:  The Queen's last weekend revealed

Friday is classed as D+0, and a number of events are already scheduled for the royals, including the return of the King and Queen Consort to London from Balmoral.

queen boris

The Queen died 'peacefully' on 8 September

The plans for today have long been planned in consultation with the Government, however, due to Her Majesty's death taking place in Scotland there is a slight shift to arrangements, with the Queen's coffin expected to temporarily lie in rest at the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the weekend before being transported to London.

MORE: Prince Charles is now King - what happens next for the Queen's eldest son

Here is what is expected to happen on Friday in the wake of the Queen's death…

The King and Queen return to London:

Charles and Camilla stayed at Balmoral overnight on Thursday, and returned to London on Friday. 

Prince Charles Camilla serious

The King and Queen Consort will return to London

It is understood that the Queen's son, now-King Charles III, and her daughter, Princess Anne, were by her side when she passed away.

Audience with the PM:

Despite his grief, new sovereign Charles is expected to hold his first audience as monarch with Prime Minister Liz Truss as soon as practically possible.

Liz Truss hailed the Queen as the "rock on which modern Britain was built", as she led tributes to the country's longest-serving monarch. The Prime Minister said the death of Elizabeth, aged 96, was a "huge shock" to the nation and to the world.

Their first meeting was held after King Charles arrived back at Buckingham Palace.

STORY: Why Prince Charles is returning to London so soon after the Queen's death

Liz Truss Queen death

King Charles will hold his first audience with PM Liz Truss

Gun salute:

Gun salutes kicked off at 1pm in Hyde Park in honour of the Queen. There was one round for every year of the Queen's life.  Bells are also expected to toll at Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral and Windsor Castle.

queen death gun salute hyde park

The Death Gun Salute is fired in Hyde Park

Thousands of people had stood in solemn silence for 16 minutes as the cannons boomed once every 10 seconds, sending smoke across the grounds with each round.

In preparation for the salute, a procession of 71 horses, 36 pulling First World War-era 13-pounder field guns cantered into Hyde Park in central London.

gun salute london

Members of the Honourable Artillery Company

Police officers cleared the pathways as the military entourage rode through the south-eastern corner of the park.

Meanwhile, floodlighting at royal residences will be turned off, and the public will continue to gather and leave flowers as tributes from around the world pour in.

MORE: Prince Charles' tears during engagement with the Queen

Buckingham Palace crowd

Tributes have already been left at Buckingham Palace

King Charles' televised address:

The King will made a televised address to the nation at 6pm, which was pre-recorded. He paid tribute to the Queen and pledged his duty to his service as the new sovereign. He also mentioned both of children in an emotional message. His full speech can be read here .

Over the weekend more meetings and events will take place, including the confirmation of the Queen's funeral plans and the schedule for the coming days, and the meeting of the Accession Council at St James's Palace in London to formally proclaim Charles as the new sovereign.

His new title explained:

Upon the Queen's death, her eldest son, Prince Charles, has immediately become King. The next-in-line to the throne automatically takes on the role when a Sovereign dies unless they choose to  abdicate

There is speculation the 73-year-old royal could only take on the role as monarch for a few years before passing on the title to the next heir, his son the  Duke of Cambridge .

duchess camilla

Duchess Camilla became the Queen Consort

Prince Charles' wife  Camilla Parker-Bowles  will officially become Queen Consort when her husband becomes King. On the eve of her Platinum Jubilee, the Queen released a deeply personal statement, expressing her wishes for the monarchy in future.

"I remain eternally grateful for, and humbled by, the loyalty and affection that you continue to give me," she said.

"And when, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service."

When will his accession take place?

His Majesty The King will be proclaimed at the Accession Council at 10am on Saturday 10 September in the State Apartments of St James's Palace, London.

In Part I of the Accession Council, the Privy Council, without The King present, will proclaim the Sovereign, and formally approve various consequential Orders, including the arrangements for the Proclamation.

In Part II, The King will make his Declaration and read and sign an oath to uphold the security of the Church in Scotland and approve Orders in Council which facilitate continuity of government.

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Queen Elizabeth II's final journey - the route coffin will take from Balmoral to London

The United Kingdom will bid farewell to its longest serving monarch Queen Elizabeth II on Monday as she begins one last journey from Balmoral down to London for her state funeral

queen travel back to london

  • 21:55, 10 Sep 2022
  • Updated 14:46, 11 Sep 2022

The Queen will on Sunday begin her final journey as her coffin travels to Edinburgh before being flown to London ahead of her state funeral .

Thousands are expected to queue through the night to pay their last respects.

The plans were unveiled as it was revealed on Saturday night that Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral will be held on Monday next week – which has also been declared a bank holiday.

Six gatekeepers who had “a personal relationship” with the monarch will this morning carry her oak coffin from the Ballroom at Balmoral Castle, where she died, to a hearse for a journey of just over 100 miles.

On Sunday afternoon she will be received at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh – the monarch’s official Scottish residence – by a Guard of Honour formed by The Royal ­Regiment of Scotland.

The journey, normally around two hours, will take three times as long to allow wellwishers to share their grief along the route.

A military bearer party from the regiment will carry the coffin to the Throne Room, where it will remain until Monday afternoon to allow palace staff to pay respects.

On Monday, King Charles and Camilla will travel to the city to join members of the Royal Family in a walking procession, taking the coffin at 2.35pm along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile from the Palace to St Giles’ Cathedral.

The hearse will be flanked by a detachment of The King’s Body Guard for Scotland, the Royal Company of Archers.

The Crown of Scotland will be placed on the coffin as it is carried inside. There, she will lie at rest until Tuesday – the first opportunity for the public to pay their respects.

On Saturday night the Earl Marshal, The Duke of Norfolk – responsible for State occasions – said: “We will carry out our duty with the heaviest of hearts. But also with the firmest of resolve to ensure a fitting farewell to one of the defining figures of our times.”

On Tuesday evening, Princess Anne will accompany her mother’s body on an RAF flight back to London and on to Buckingham Palace, to be greeted by Charles and Camilla.

On Wednesday at 2.22pm, adorned with the Imperial State Crown, the coffin will be taken in procession on a Gun Carriage of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery to the Palace of Westminster, where she will lie in state in Westminster Hall for four days.

Hundreds of thousands of mourners are expected to line the route of the silent procession, similar to the state funeral of her father, King George VI, in 1952.

The Queen will lie in state until 6.30am on Monday, when the coffin will be taken to Westminster Abbey for her state funeral.

After the funeral she will travel to Windsor Castle, where she will be laid to rest in St George’s Chapel alongside Prince Philip.

The route the coffin will take

Details of the route the Queen's coffin will take from Balmoral to Edinburgh have been revealed.

The cortege is expected to leave the castle on Royal Deeside - where the Queen died on Thursday - at 10am on Sunday morning.

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".

Wellwishers are expected to gather along the route the cortege will take as it travels from Balmoral to the Scottish capital. It will first head to the nearby town on Ballater, where it is expected at approximately 10.12am.

It is then expected to arrive in Aberdeen about an hour later, with tributes expected to be paid in the city's Duthie Park.

Travelling south along the A90, it will then arrive in Dundee at about 2pm.

In Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon and other party leaders in Scotland are expected to observe the coffin as it goes past the Scottish Parliament.

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

Transport bosses said an "unprecedented" amount of preparation and planning had gone into drawing up the route, which marks the start of the Queen's last journey.

Ms Sturgeon stated: "Her Majesty's death at Balmoral Castle means Scotland has lost one of its most dedicated and beloved servants.

"The grief we have seen across the world has been profound and deeply touching. It will be especially poignant to see Her Majesty's coffin begin its journey from her Aberdeenshire home to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

"This is a chance for people to gather together publicly and begin to mark our country's shared loss."

The First Minister added: "We anticipate many, many people will be keen to pay their respects and we ask them to observe public safety messaging to ensure the safety of all."

Transport Scotland operations manager Stein Connelly echoed that - as he warned road closures on Sunday could result in delays and disruption.

He urged those planning to come and see the coffin on its journey to "please plan ahead and use public transport where possible"

Mr Connelly added: "If you absolutely have to travel by car, allow extra time and only park within designated areas."

He continued: "This is an event of unprecedented scale. Even the recent Cop26 gathering in Glasgow cannot match the amount of preparation and planning that has gone into this operation."

Well-wishers are being asked by police not to leave vehicles by the roadside, as this could pose a risk to public safety, with people instead being encouraged to park in designated car parks.

Police Scotland Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham said policing has "an important role to play" over the coming days.

He said: "The loss of Her Majesty The Queen is deeply felt and policing has an important role to play in the coming days to ensure ceremonial events take place safely and with dignity.

"Our priority is public safety and we are working with partners, including the UK and Scottish governments, as well as local authorities, to support the delivery of planned events."

Mr Graham added that the authorities are working with businesses to plan ahead for any potential disruption as a result of the events.

He added: "We understand that the public will want to show their respects to Her Majesty and we would urge them to do so safely."

After the coffin arrives at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Sunday, it will rest in the Throne Room until the afternoon of Monday.

It will then travel in a procession to St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh, along the Royal Mile with the King and the late Queen's other children the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex following behind on foot, along with Anne's husband Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

Camilla, now Queen Consort, and the Countess of Wessex will follow by car and also attend the service in St Giles'.

You can leave your tributes to Queen Elizabeth II here

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 both pullouts.

MORE ON The Queen Commonwealth Royal Family Balmoral Sunday Mirror The Queen's funeral

The Queen Just Hopped Aboard A Public Train To London

Her fellow travelers seemed stunned to find themselves just steps from the monarch.

queen-takes-train

The Queen has more leeway than most when it comes to travel. She is the only member of the royal family who requires no passport , and she and Prince Phillip usually take unscheduled flights for longer distances, and often travel via private car for shorter distances. On occasion, they travel via private helicopter . That said, the Christmas holiday to Sandringham seems to be something of an exception to normal protocol.

The royal has been spotted on the train, which travels between King's Cross in London and King's Lynn in Norfolk, on several occasions in the past few years . Late last year, before the Christmas holiday, she made the journey in reverse, traveling first-class out of London on her way to host the whole family in Sandringham, including the latest addition, Prince Harry's bride-to-be Meghan Markle .

While she was accompanied on her journey by ample security, she seems to have kept a relatively low profile in the run-up to her trip. Several travelers, like the couple caught on camera below, were visibly surprised to find themselves sharing the platform with her Majesty. Meanwhile, those of us not in the habit of first-class train travel will simply have to hope that the Queen's next journey finds her strap-hanging on the London Tube.

queen-takes-train

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Catherine, Princess of Wales, Reveals She Has Cancer

The princess described the news as a “huge shock” and asked for “time, space and privacy” in a prerecorded video broadcast on the BBC on Friday evening in Britain.

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Princess of Wales Announces Cancer Diagnosis

In a video statement, catherine, princess of wales, said that she had been diagnosed with cancer and started chemotherapy..

I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you personally for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I’ve been recovering from surgery. It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family. But I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I’m so grateful. In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London, and at the time, it was thought that my condition was noncancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy, and I’m now in the early stages of that treatment. This, of course, came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that’s appropriate for them and to reassure them that I’m going to be OK. As I’ve said to them, I am well. And getting stronger every day, by focusing on the things that will help me heal, in my mind, body and spirits. Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance, too, as is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both. We hope that you’ll understand that as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy, and I look forward to being back when I’m able. But for now, I must focus on making a full recovery. At this time, I’m also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.

Video player loading

Mark Landler

Reporting from London

Here’s the latest on the Princess of Wales’s cancer news.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, has been diagnosed with cancer and has begun chemotherapy, she announced in a video message on Friday, in which she described the past two months as “incredibly tough for our entire family.”

Her diagnosis follows that of King Charles III , who announced his own cancer diagnosis and treatment in early February. It comes after a period of intense uncertainty about the health of Catherine, who underwent abdominal surgery in January and largely disappeared from public view as she tried to recuperate.

Like the king, Catherine, 42, did not specify what kind of cancer she had but asked the public and news media to respect her desire for privacy.

“We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment,” said Catherine, who is the wife of Prince William and a future queen.

“This of course came as a huge shock,” Catherine said, “and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. As you can imagine, this has taken time.”

Catherine’s announcement is a grim coda to a period of increasingly wild rumors about her health and well-being. But it plunges the British royal family into a period of even deeper uncertainty, with both the 75-year-old monarch and his daughter-in-law, the wife of his eldest son and heir and the mother of Prince George, the second in line to throne, facing grave health problems.

In her statement, Catherine said that at the time her surgery was performed, doctors believed that her condition was noncancerous. The surgery was successful, she said, but in further tests, the doctor found evidence of cancer. They recommended a course of chemotherapy, which she said she had recently begun.

“It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment,” Catherine said in the video. “But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be OK.”

Catherine’s announcement eerily echoed that of Charles’s. Buckingham Palace said that the king’s cancer was detected after a procedure for an enlarged prostate. While the palace has said he does not have prostate cancer, it has not specified what kind of cancer it is, nor his prognosis.

Until Catherine’s video on Friday, Kensington Palace, where William and Catherine have their offices, had released even fewer details about her condition, an information vacuum that led to a raft of rumors and conspiracy theories on social media .

In the video, which Kensington Palace said was recorded by BBC Studios in Windsor on Wednesday, Catherine is sitting on a bench outside, with daffodils and trees in blossom behind her.

Her hands clasped on her lap, she begins by thanking the public for their messages of support and understanding while she was recovering from surgery, before announcing her diagnosis.

“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London, and, at the time, it was thought that my condition was noncancerous. The surgery was successful,” she said. “However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy, and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”

Catherine’s statement emphasized the importance of her three children and their well-being as a key factor in the timing of the announcement. “As I have said to them,” she said, “I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits. Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance, too.”

The children’s school has now closed for the Easter holidays. A Kensington Palace official said Catherine and William had wanted to share the information when they felt it was right for them as a family.

Catherine ended her video statement with a message for other people affected by a cancer diagnosis. “At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer,” she said. “For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.”

Gina Kolata

Gina Kolata

Gina Kolata previously reported on King Charles III’s cancer diagnosis .

Doctors recognize familiar pattern in the princess’s statement.

Although it is not known what type of cancer Princess Catherine has, oncologists say that what she described in her public statement that was released on Friday — discovering a cancer during another procedure, in this case a “major abdominal surgery” — is all too common.

“Unfortunately, so much of the cancer we diagnose is unexpected,” said Dr. Elena Ratner, a gynecologic oncologist at Yale Cancer Center who has diagnosed many patients with ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and cancers of the lining of the uterus.

Without speculating on Catherine’s procedure, Dr. Ratner described situations in which women will go in for surgery for endometriosis, a condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus is found elsewhere in the abdomen. Often, Dr. Ratner says, the assumption is that the endometriosis has appeared on an ovary and caused a benign ovarian cyst. But one to two weeks later, when the supposedly benign tissue has been studied, pathologists report that they found cancer.

In the statement, Princess Catherine said she was is getting “a course of preventive chemotherapy.”

That, too, is common. In medical settings, it is usually called adjuvant chemotherapy.

Dr. Eric Winer, director of the Yale Cancer Center, said that with adjuvant chemotherapy, “the hope is that this will prevent further problems” and avoid a recurrence of the cancer.

It also means that “you removed everything” that was visible with surgery, said Dr. Michael Birrer, director of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. “You can’t see the cancer,” he added, because microscopic cancer cells may be left behind. The chemotherapy is a way to attack microscopic disease, he explained.

Other parts of Catherine’s statement also hit home for Dr. Ratner, particularly her concern for her family.

“William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family,” Catherine said, and “It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte, and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be OK.”

Those are sentiments that Dr. Ratner hears on a regular basis and reveal, she says, “how hard it is for women to be diagnosed with cancer.”

“I see this day in and day out,” she said. “Women always say, ‘Will I be there for my kids? What will happen with my kids?’

“They don’t say, ‘What will happen to me?’”

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Another heavy blow for the British royal family.

For the royal family, the news of a cancer diagnosis for Catherine, Princess of Wales, was another heavy blow, sidelining one of its most visible figures at a time when its ranks were already depleted.

In addition to King Charles III, who has canceled public appearances to undergo his own cancer treatment, the family has been adjusting to the loss of Queen Elizabeth II, who died in 2022; the departure of Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan; and the exile of Prince Andrew, disgraced by his association with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Harry and Meghan issued a statement saying they wished “health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace.”

Since Harry and Meghan, who are known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, withdrew from royal duties in 2020 and left Britain for Southern California, Harry has been estranged from his father, Charles, and his brother, Prince William. He visited his father briefly after Buckingham Palace announced the king’s cancer diagnosis in February.

The palace said on Friday that Charles was “so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did.” Noting that the king had visited her when they were both being treated in a London hospital, the palace said Charles “has remained in the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law throughout the past weeks.”

Buckingham Palace said only last month that King Charles has cancer.

King Charles III was diagnosed with cancer in early February and suspended his public engagements to undergo treatment, casting a shadow over a busy reign that began around 18 months ago after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

The announcement, made by Buckingham Palace, came after the 75-year-old sovereign was discharged from a London hospital, following a procedure to treat an enlarged prostate.

The palace did not disclose what form of cancer Charles has, but a palace official said it was not prostate cancer. Doctors detected the cancer during that procedure, and the king began treatment on Monday.

News of Charles’ diagnosis ever since has reverberated through Britain, which, after seven decades of Elizabeth’s reign, has begun to get comfortable with her son. Charles waited longer to ascend the throne than anyone in the history of the British monarchy, and he was a familiar figure, with a personal life relentlessly dissected by the British media by the time he became the sovereign.

Nate Schweber

Nate Schweber

The mood is somber at a British outpost in New York.

The mood was somber Friday afternoon in the section of Manhattan’s West Village that some people call Little Britain after Catherine, Princess of Wales, announced that she was being treated for cancer.

At Myers of Keswick, a shop on Hudson Street that sells British goods like Hobnobs biscuits, Wilkin & Sons marmalade and steak and ale pie, Jennifer Myers-Pulidore, the owner, said she had watched the announcement live while fielding alarmed texts from her father, Peter Myers. He opened the store 39 years ago and is now retired and living back in Keswick, England.

“I feel for her,” said Ms. Myers-Pulidore, 45, who was born in New York and grew up spending summers in Keswick. With three children of her own, she said she could relate to the princess’s desire to address the matter with her family before discussing it publicly.

“I understand wanting to protect the children,” Ms. Myers-Pulidore said. “I can’t imagine living in the limelight as they do.”

She said she had not kept up with the recent wave of speculation online about why Catherine had not been seen much in public since undergoing abdominal surgery earlier this year. Ms. Myers-Pulidore had nothing good to say about those who had spread wild rumors.

“It’s awful. It’s sort of pathetic that she couldn’t even have time in private,” she said. “It almost makes me think she had no other option but to come clean.”

For Ms. Myers-Pulidore, the news stirred painful memories of Princess Diana, a previous Princess of Wales to whom the store owner considers Catherine a spiritual heir.

“She, in England, is loved,” Ms. Myers-Pulidore said of Catherine. “People think of her as the people’s princess.”

After Diana’s death; the death of Queen Elizabeth II; King Charles’s cancer diagnosis; and estrangement between William, Prince of Wales, and his brother, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, Ms. Myers-Pulidore said she worried about the British royal family’s future.

“I hope they will make it,” she said.

Outside the shop, Richard Barnett winced while discussing the news.

“It’s all very sad,” said Mr. Barnett, a London native who has lived in New York for 35 years. He added that he hoped Catherine’s treatment would be successful and that her recovery would be swift and comfortable.

“Wish her the best,” he said. “And peace and quiet.”

Asked whether he had followed the recent gossip and speculation about Catherine that Ms. Myers-Pulidore had condemned, Mr. Barnett nodded.

“It’s good she stopped the rumors,” he said.

Outside Tea & Sympathy, a British restaurant a few blocks away on Greenwich Avenue, Dave Heenan shook his head when asked about the news.

“It’s awful. I’m devastated — the whole royal family, they’re cursed!” said Mr. Heenan, 81, who moved to New York from Newcastle, England, in 1963. He said that, like other British people, he had come to love Catherine and was excited about her future.

“She’s the one member of the royal family who could really carry that crown,” he said.

One positive thing he could say was that he had been able to share his feelings with fellow English men and women: “It brings English people together.”

Iain Anderson, Tea & Sympathy’s manager, said he had become concerned about Catherine recently as she stayed out of the public eye and rumors about her flew. He said that to him, the announcement on Friday felt forced.

“Maybe they had to say something because of the public pressure,” Mr. Anderson, who is originally from Gloucestershire, England, said. “If they had to open up about this and they didn’t want to, that’s unfortunate.”

Like Ms. Myers-Pulidore, he said he had a grim feeling of déjà vu.

“We’ve had all this before with Lady Diana,” he said

Michael West, a Briton living in Manhattan, said he was reminded of Queen Elizabeth II’s death two years ago as well as King Charles’s cancer diagnosis.

“It just seems as though trouble comes in threes,” he said as he passed the British Consulate on Second Avenue. “And it just seems as though, for that family at the moment, that perhaps trouble comes in tens.”

Mr. West is originally from a village called Higham, famous as the place where Charles Dickens died. He said that although Catherine had not been born into royalty, she had fit well into her role as a Windsor.

“Among my family and friends, people were happy with them,” he said of the family, adding, “They do their job with grace.”

Sean Piccoli contributed reporting.

Megan Specia

Megan Specia

The reaction of Londoners is full of concern.

As news filtered out about the princess of Wales’s cancer diagnosis in London on Friday, just as the sun was setting on a mild spring evening, many expressed their shock and concern for a well-liked member of the British royal family, who is destined to one day be queen.

Kensington Palace had urged the public to respect the privacy of Catherine as she recovered from a major abdominal surgery in January, but as the days drew into weeks, the rumor mill swirled — with conspiracy theories growing deeper and wilder — about what had been keeping such a prominent member of the royal family out of view.

On Friday evening, many lamented the scrutiny she had faced and what the family had been forced to endure at such a terrible time.

“She is still just a human,” said Aaron Viera, 33, and a lifelong Lononder. “It’s just really sad that she has to go through this.”

Alongside co-workers sharing a drink outside the Goat Tavern, just steps from Kensington Palace where Catherine and her family had lived, Mr. Viera denounced the social media speculation.

Much of that frenzy has been driven by an American “obsession” with the royals, interjected another friend, Maryann, 35, who declined to give her last name. At the end of the day, she’s a mother of three, another woman, Jessi, pointed out, and she worried about toll chemotherapy would take on Catherine. So many in the country know the struggles of cancer personally, and they agreed that Catherine’s candor about her illness unfortunately would be easy for many to relate to.

Catherine, 42, the wife of William, Prince of Wales, is the second member of the British royal family to be diagnosed with cancer in recent weeks after Buckingham Palace announced in February that her father-in-law, King Charles III , also was being treated for cancer.

On Friday evening, the overwhelming sentiment seemed to be of concern for the well-being of the princess of Wales.

“God, she’s had cancer, has she?” one woman said to her friend, engrossed in a news article on her phone while getting off a bus in the northwest of the city. “Terrible, she’s only 40-something, isn’t she?”

The New York Times

The New York Times

Read Catherine’s full statement.

A transcript of the video message given by Catherine, princess of Wales:

I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have been recovering from surgery. It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful. In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was noncancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment. This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be OK. As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits. Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both. We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery. At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.

Derrick Bryson Taylor

Derrick Bryson Taylor

A timeline of the royal family’s tumultuous year.

  • Outside Kensington Palace. Henry Nicholls/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
  • Catherine, Princess of Wales, made her announcement on a video. Oli Scarff/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
  • Watching the announcement outside Buckingham Palace. Hollie Adams/Reuters
  • Prince William and Princess Catherine in Cardiff, Wales, in October. Chris Jackson/Getty Images
  • A reporter outside the London Clinic, a private hospital where Catherine had surgery in January. Tolga Akmen/EPA, via Shutterstock
  • Catherine in May at King Charles III's coronation. Odd Andersen/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
  • Watching a news report at a hotel pub in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Carl Recine/Reuters

Since King Charles III and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, each went to hospitals for health matters in recent months, public attention has been riveted on the royal family. The extended absence of Kate from the public eye, especially, propelled a wave of rumors over her whereabouts, fueled further by an edited photo released by the palace.

Here is a quick timeline of key moments.

Jan. 17, 2024

Kate undergoes surgery.

A little more than three weeks after Kate made a public appearance on Christmas Day, Kensington Palace announced that she had been admitted to the London Clinic to have abdominal surgery . Officials gave few details about her health but said the surgery was successful, and that her condition was “not cancerous.”

Hours later, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III would be treated for an enlarged prostate.

Jan. 29, 2024

Kate is released from the hospital.

Almost two weeks later, Kate returned home to Windsor, just outside London . Kensington Palace officials said that she would convalesce at home for two to three months and would not resume her public duties until after Easter, at the end of March.

Feb. 5, 2024

King Charles is diagnosed with cancer.

Buckingham Palace officials announced in early February, just days after Charles had undergone treatment for an enlarged prostate, that the king had been diagnosed with cancer .

The palace did not share what form of cancer Charles has, but a palace official said it was not prostate cancer. Doctors had discovered the cancer during the earlier procedure.

March 4, 2024

Kate is spotted for the first time in months.

The public’s appetite for information about Kate’s whereabouts and recovery reached a fever pitch in the first week of March. And around that time, TMZ published a grainy paparazzi shot of Kate riding in a car driven by her mother.

Despite the photograph circulating on the internet, British newspapers and broadcasters did not republish it, citing Kate’s request for privacy during her convalescence — though they did report on the sighting.

March 10, 2024

Kate and children appear in Mother’s Day photograph.

To mark Mother’s Day in Britain, Kensington Palace released an official photograph of a smiling Kate surrounded by her three children, George, Charlotte and Louis. The palace did not give many details about the picture except that it was taken by William last week in Windsor, where the family lives in Adelaide Cottage, on the grounds of Windsor Castle.

While the picture was meant to highlight a happy family on the holiday and quell rumors, it became a subject of intense scrutiny after The Associated Press, and several other photo agencies, issued a “kill order,” asking its clients to remove it from all platforms over concerns that it had been manipulated. The New York Times, which had initially used the picture in a story, also removed it.

March 11, 2024

Kate apologizes for the altered photo.

On Monday, Kate took the blame and apologized for the Mother’s Day photo.

“Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,” she said on social media. “I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused.”

Kate is known as a photography enthusiast, and the palace often distributes her photos of the family. Palace officials stressed that Kate made minor adjustments for what was intended to be an informal family picture that was taken by William.

March 18, 2024

Another royal photo is flagged.

Getty Images placed an editorial advisory on a second royal family photo, this time an image of Queen Elizabeth II, flanked by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The photo — taken by Kate at Balmoral Castle in Scotland in August 2022 and released in 2023 on what would have been the queen’s 97th birthday — had been “digitally enhanced” before it was released by the palace, the photo agency said.

Lauren Leatherby

Mark Landler and Lauren Leatherby

Speculation had swirled since the Princess of Wales apologized for an edited image a week ago.

queen travel back to london

Zipper and hair are

Portion of sleeve is

Edges of tiles appear

Hair has artificial pattern

queen travel back to london

Hair has artificial

Catherine, the Princess of Wales, apologized last week for doctoring a photo of her with her three children, which was recalled by several news agencies after they determined the image had been manipulated .

The decision to recall the photo reignited a storm of speculation about Catherine, who had not been seen in public since Christmas Day and had abdominal surgery in January. In her statement, the 42-year-old princess chalked up the alteration to a photographer’s innocent desire to retouch the image.

“Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,” Catherine wrote in a post on social media. “I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused.”

The photo, which marked Mother’s Day in Britain, depicted a smiling Catherine surrounded by her children, George, Charlotte and Louis.

Kensington Palace said that William had taken the photo last week in Windsor, where the family lives in Adelaide Cottage, on the grounds of Windsor Castle. But Catherine is known as a keen photographer, and the palace often distributes her photos of the family.

Hours after Kensington Palace released the photo, The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse issued advisories urging news organizations to remove the image.

The A.P. said that after a post-publication inspection of the photograph, its editors determined that the image “shows an inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte’s left hand.” The source of the photo, it said “had manipulated the image in a way that does not meet A.P.’s photo standards.”

Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day. C — The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 11, 2024

The details of the photo show a range of visual inconsistencies suggesting it was doctored. In several areas of the image, details like a sleeve or a zipper don’t line up, or have artificial patterns.

A palace official said Catherine made minor adjustments in what was meant to be an informal picture of the family together for Mother’s Day. The official reiterated that William had taken the photo, though Catherine edited it.

Samora Bennett-Gager, an expert in photo retouching, identified several other questionable elements, including the edges of her daughter Charlotte’s legs, which he said were unnaturally soft, suggesting the background had been manipulated. Catherine’s hand on the waist of her son, Louis, is blurry, which he said could indicate the image was taken from a separate frame of the shoot.

The photograph appeared on newspaper front pages and websites around the world, including the website of The New York Times. The Times removed the photo from an article about it on Sunday evening.

Adam Dean contributed reporting.

Kate cancer latest: Video statement was 'unprecedented'; celebrities apologise and share words of support

The Princess of Wales's revelation she is undergoing treatment for cancer has sparked an outpouring of support and well-wishes from around the world. Read the latest, with analysis from royal correspondents Rhiannon Mills and Laura Bundock, below.

Saturday 23 March 2024 18:30, UK

  • Princess of Wales
  • Royal Family

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

  • Kate reveals cancer diagnosis
  • World leaders send messages of support for Kate
  • Kate's public message about health 'almost unprecedented'
  • Celebrities deleting posts after princess reveals 'sobering truth' | Blake Lively sorry for 'silly post'
  • 'Unbelievably upsetting': Public react in Windsor
  • Explainer : What is preventative chemotherapy and when is it used?
  • Rhiannon Mills analysis : This is not a knee-jerk reaction to media coverage
  • Thomas Moore analysis : Chemo can be brutal - but outlook is better than ever
  • Live reporting by Emily Mee and, earlier,  Katie Williams and  Bhvishya Patel

We will be back with more updates tomorrow. In the meantime, you can scroll back to read today's coverage. 

By Rhiannon Mills, royal correspondent

As a family they've been used to having to step into the spotlight. This is a moment when all the Princess of Wales wants to do is protect her children from it. 

As the world processes the news of her cancer diagnosis, her message about the importance of family couldn't have been stronger. And is why we're all being asked to stop speculating about where they now are and leave them alone.

It can't have been easy for her to record it but the more you watch her message and other parts stand out, showing a different, more self assured side of Kate - who usually loathes public speaking. 

Talking directly to others with cancer, she says: "Everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone."

There is a strength and poignancy to that final phrase that draws comparison with Queen Elizabeth II's rallying words to the nation during COVID, where she said "We'll meet again".

From this future Queen there is no sense of resentment after what must have been a gruelling few weeks. Since her announcement, the social media speculation of #kategate has been replaced by an outpouring of love and sympathy.

With messages from around the globe from some of the world's most famous and influential individuals, this is an acknowledgement of her incredible international status and how highly respected she is.

Throughout her surgery, diagnosis and further treatment, Prince William has been by Kate's side. And his wife is clearly in his thoughts as he's tried to keep going with his public engagements, regularly talking about her whether it was at a homelessness event in Sheffield or decorating biscuits at a youth club in London. 

Going solo is something he's going to have to get used to for some time to come, with no clear idea of when we'll see the princess back on royal duties. 

Tessy Ojo was with William for the Diana Award event less than a couple of weeks ago. The charity's chief executive, she's known him for the past 24 years and says his resilience is remarkable. 

"I suppose we, with the benefit of hindsight, now knowing what was going on, it's huge, you know. It gives you a sense of how much they continue to honour service, what it means to them," she says. 

"How he shows up, how they show up, despite all of the stuff that's happening.

She added: "I cannot emphasise enough how much we need to take a step back and allow this family to recover in peace."

He may be heir to the throne but like any partner trying to help their loved one through something like this, he will no doubt feel slightly helpless. A lot of what lies ahead is in the hands of the doctors, but from what I understand he does feel what he can do is really double down on his deep desire to protect his family's privacy.

It is Kate's response and her decision to tell us herself that has been particularly striking. She is a devoted mother, wanting to do the best for her family, and her inner strength is really coming to the fore.

The King is hoping to make an appearance at the traditional Easter Matins service next weekend, according to The Telegraph. 

A Buckingham Palace source told the paper he would attend the annual service at St George's Chapel in Windsor if his health allows. 

The monarch stepped back from public duties following his cancer diagnosis. 

It's thought he was given medical advice to avoid the risks associated with large crowds. 

"The King and Queen are hoping to attend some form of Easter service in Windsor," a palace source reportedly said. 

"However, it will not be the large family gathering that we might expect to see in different circumstances."

By Jason Farrell, home editor

At Windsor this morning crowds lined the streets to watch the Irish Guards pipe and drum their way into the castle grounds to change duties with the Welsh guards. It was business as usual. The palace says constitutionally the same is true for the senior royals, even if there is a temporary changing of the guard.

The King is still holding audiences with dignitaries, but he has stepped back from public facing engagements and there is a sense of frailty in the royal household.

Former press secretary to the late Queen, Ailsa Anderson, says: "This is not a crisis, it's a bump in the road."

But she added: "It's very, very difficult obviously, and unsettling, because this is an institution based on stability and continuity, and you have two key players who are going to be out of action for some time."

The late Queen had to step up her duties when her father got cancer in the late 1940s. The disease accelerated her accession to the throne when he died aged just 56.

Queen Elizabeth II famously said: "I need to be seen to be believed."

How true that was of the Princess of Wales - whose disappearance from the public eye sparked a frenzy of conspiracy theories. Although she's addressed those with her sobering reality, she won't be back in the public gaze until medics say she's fit to go.

For now, she can expect public curiosity has been replaced with sympathy but clearly there is a lot on Prince William's shoulders.

He will want to spend as much time as possible with Kate and his three children, and will be with them at least for the Easter break. But with his brother abroad and to some degree estranged, and his uncle Prince Andrew relieved of duties, there's a dwindling pool of royal big-hitters available to hold the fort.

Constitutional expert Craig Prescott said: "There has been a sliming down. There has been more emphasis on a small number of royals. So when two are out of action that is perhaps a bigger issue."

Queen Camilla has become a key player. She delivered a speech written by the King on his behalf, on the Isle of Man this week, and next week she'll play his role at the Maunday Easter service in Worcester; a key royal fixture.

The remaining support team, Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, are likely to have more focus on them too. Even Prince Andrew was leading the family at a recent memorial service in Windsor when William needed to be with Catherine.

This isn't quite a crisis, but it is a test of resilience for the royals. They hope this is only a temporary situation, but what we've learned in recent weeks is that while they crave privacy in illness, the public craves information. Finding that balance is just one of many challenges ahead.

News of the Princess of Wales's cancer treatment came after weeks of speculation about her whereabouts. In her video message yesterday, she explained she had been taking the time to explain her diagnosis to her children.

If you're going through something similar, Macmillan Cancer Support offers this advice on how to talk to children about it... 

The charity says while it can feel like telling your children will "bring home the reality of the situation", not explaining what is happening to them "may make them feel more vulnerable". 

"Children often know when something serious is affecting the family and people they are close to. It is important to give them the chance to talk openly about their fears and worries," it said. 

The benefits of letting them know can also include showing you trust them, helping you all to feel closer, and helping them cope better with difficult situations in life. 

Macmillan says you will likely need time to cope with your own feelings first, so it can be helpful to speak to a nurse specialist, psychologist or counsellor.

When you are going to have the talk, it says to be as prepared as you can and make sure you have all the information you need. 

"You may want to think about the questions a child might ask and the words you will use to explain things," it says.

Macmillan also encourages to think about where you will have the conversation - it should be somewhere your children are able to express their feelings. 

"If you have more than one child, it is best to tell them together if you can," it says. 

"This prevents them feeling like their siblings know more than them. If you are telling them separately, do it as close together as possible. Some children may wonder why they were told last."

It also advises to avoid only telling the older children as this can place a burden on them. 

As a parent, you will likely know best how to approach and talk to your child, but it can be helpful to think about these things:

  • See the first conversation as a starting point – it is the beginning of an ongoing process of gradually giving your children small, relevant pieces of information and reassurance.
  • Allow the conversation to be directed by your children’s reactions and the questions they ask.
  • Listen and keep it as open as you can.
  • Try asking questions that encourage them to express what they are thinking, rather than a one word or two-word reply.

Macmillan says it is better to be honest and not to make things sound less serious than they are. 

It is also fine to say if you don't know the answer to all of their questions. 

Our correspondent Rachael Venables is in Windsor, which she describes as being a "beacon for royal watchers".

Although it's expected Windsor would have had a high level of support for the Princess of Wales, she says it has been "staggering" to see the amount of empathy for Kate. 

Venables says she's heard well-wishes for the princess from "every single person I have spoken to", some of whom had gathered for the Changing of the Guard but others who came holding bunches of flowers for Kate. 

Many say it has been a "real shame" how she was treated online. 

Fellow mothers have commented on how they can understand the difficulty of explaining her cancer diagnosis to her children, Venables says.

Kate's message to the public about her surgery and cancer diagnosis was "almost unprecedented", a former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II has said.

Ailsa Anderson said it was a "great idea" by whoever was advising the princess for her to film the statement.

"I do think that the princess actually delivering the message herself... you could see all her vulnerability, but also her strength in doing that. It was almost unprecedented I think," she told Sky News.

Asked if she believed Kate's cancer diagnosis, as well as that of her father-in-law the King, was a crisis for the Royal Family, Ms Anderson replied: "I think it is a bump the road rather than an earthquake. 

"We have seen crises - we've seen abdications, we've seen executions, we've seen a civil war... this is not a crisis in my view."

Supporters of the Princess of Wales have been leaving flowers outside the gates of Windsor Castle today.

Sky News has been speaking to well-wishers at the castle today.

One woman told us she was "very shocked" but thought Kate "spoke brilliantly" about her situation.

Another said the princess has been "terribly open" and deserves privacy to recover.

We are a "long way" from a constitutional crisis in the UK despite the monarch and a senior royal figure both taking time off for health reasons, an expert has said.

Dr Craig Prescott, a specialist in UK constitutional law, said the King is still managing to carry out some of his duties "without any sort of delay or hazard".

The Princess of Wales, meanwhile, has less of a constitutional role and represents the King "more broadly through her work", he explained.

Her husband is a counsellor of state who could step in for the King to fulfil his functions if needed, he added.

Dr Prescott said: "If Prince William wasn't around, then maybe Princess Anne or Prince Edward could do it themselves. So I think we're a very long way from a constitutional crisis... a very long way from that indeed."

Following weeks of intense speculation, not just on social media but by some news outlets, too, there has been a change in tone from the US in its coverage of the Princess of Wales's health.

As in the UK, Kate's cancer diagnosis dominated the major broadcasters and newspapers on Friday.

It is a definite shift from the coverage that has played out in recent weeks, as jokes were made - some by major celebrities - and conspiracy theories spread following the release of the now infamous doctored Mother's Day photo from Kensington Palace.

The tone in America has now changed, with an outpouring of support and well-wishes being shared from around the world.

Read more here ...

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

What happened with Kate’s medical records? Everything we know about the London Clinic

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Kate Middleton wearing a purple jacket looking sad. In the background is the outside of The London Clinic and a pair of hands holding a clipboard.

An elite London hospital famed for treating high society is under fire for reports of a royal medical record breach.

The London Clinic made headlines after an insider alleged that a staff member tried to access Kate Middleton’s medical records.

The Princess of Wales spent almost two weeks at the hospital in January, where she underwent ‘planned abdominal surgery’ .

The Marylebone clinic, on the corner of Devonshire Place in one of London’s most exclusive neighbourhoods, has a long history of treating the royal family and A-list celebrities.

Here’s an inside look at the luxurious private hospital and its royal patients.

What is The London Clinic famous for?

The London Clinic’s royal links go all the way back to 1932, when the Queen Mother – who was then the Duchess of York – officially opened the hospital.

Since then, numerous royals have opened new facilities at the clinic. In 1989, King Charles opened a physiotherapy department, while Queen Elizabeth opened the clinic’s £80 million cancer facility in 2010.

Queen Elizabeth walking out of The London Clinic.

The hotel-like hospital has also treated members of the royal family over the years.

Princess Margaret received treatment for a benign skin lesion at the London Clinic in 1980, while Prince Philip stayed there in 2013 when he underwent ‘abdominal investigations’.

In January, both Kate and her father-in-law King Charles III received treatment at the hospital.

Charles underwent a ‘corrective procedure’ for an enlarged prostate and stayed at the clinic for three days.

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King Charles waving as he leaves The London Clinic with Camilla.

Kate, meanwhile, spent almost two weeks at the hospital while she recovered from abdominal surgery.

She wasn’t photographed arriving at or leaving the hospital, but her personal assistant Natasha Archer was spotted going in and out with flowers and other gifts. Prince William was also pictured visiting the clinic.

The London Clinic has treated many famous patients, including Hollywood actress Elizabeth Taylor, who received treatment for an injured knee there in 1963, and

Former Prime Minister David Cameron was born there.

The London Clinic’s history

Aside from its famous patients, The London Clinic has been part of several historical moments.

It has several centres across Marylebone, including one on Harley Street on the same site where King George VI, Queen Elizabeth’s father, received revolutionary speech therapy treatment.

A black and white picture Princess Margaret leaving the London Clinic carrying flowers

King George VI suffered from a debilitating stammer which made him dread public speaking. He began seeing Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue, who taught him breathing exercises that helped him manage the condition.

Gradually, George overcame his stammer with Lionel’s help, and the pair remained friends until George’s death in 1952.

Police officers stand guard outside the London Clinic.

The story was depicted in the Oscar-winning 2010 film The King’s Speech.

The hospital is also notable for its revolutionary plastic surgery work.

In 1932, the clinic opened the world’s first private plastic surgery unit where the ‘father of plastic surgery’ Sir Harold Gillies helped soldiers with war injures.

What is treatment at The London Clinic like?

The London Clinic, where treatments can cost tens of thousands of pounds, offers luxury services to its patients.

An award-winning in-house head chef prepares fresh meals, sourcing fish from Cornwall and meat from Smithfields Market.

A tray with a plate of smoked salmon, a cup of tea, a bowl of red grapes, a green juice and four slices of toast at The London Clinic

The hospital boasts a concierge service that helps patients book travel, accommodation, and restaurants. Guests can relax in private rooms with TVs and en-suite bathrooms.

Patients can call up at any time – even in the middle of the night – to book a same-day GP appointment, with prices starting from £60.

A waiting area with cream and red armchairs and modern artwork on the walls at The London Clinic

The cost of an overnight stay varies depending on the treatment being given.

A hip replacement, for instance, costs £15,175, while snoring surgery treatment will set you back £3000.

The hospital provides treatment for 155 conditions with state-of-the-art facilities. It has specialist wards for urology, gynaecology, thoracic surgery, orthopaedics, and spinal procedures.

A white reclining chair with a screen next to it at The London Clinic

It’s one of England’s largest private hospitals, treating around 23,000 inpatients and 110,000 outpatients per year.

The clinic also operates as a charity and carries out medical research and innovation projects.

The Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator of health and social care in England, gave The London Clinic a ‘Good’ rating in 2021, but said that surgery on-site ‘requires improvement’.

Why is The London Clinic under investigation?

An insider alleged that a staff member tried to view the Princess of Wales’ medical notes during her stay at The London Clinic.

The source said: ‘This is a major security breach and incredibly damaging for the hospital, given its unblemished reputation for treating members of the Royal Family.’

Kate Middleton smiling wearing a blue hat and coat.

If the allegation is true, it would be a breach of patient confidentiality.

Accessing the medical records of a patient without the consent of the medical organisation’s data controller is a criminal offence.

The UK’s privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), has confirmed officials have received and are reviewing a breach report.

The King’s medical records were not accessed.

How has the London Clinic responded?

The London Clinic released a statement on Wednesday following the allegations.

Al Russell, chief executive of the London Clinic said in the statement that ‘all appropriate investigatory, regulatory and disciplinary steps will be taken’ in the case of any breach.

He added that there is ‘no place’ at the hospital for ‘those who intentionally breach the trust of any of our patients or colleagues.’

The Clinic has not responded to further questions about the allegations.

Three staff members who are under investigation in relation to the breach are believed to have been suspended.

What hospitals do the Royal family use?

The London Clinic isn’t the only hospital frequented by the royals.

Kate gave birth to her three children at the private Lindo Wing maternity ward at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, where a normal delivery package costs £6,300. Prince William and Prince Harry were also born at the hospital.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, depart The Lindo Wing with their newborn son at St Mary's Hospital in 2013.

The King Edward VII hospital in Marylebone has treated royals on several occasions.

Kate spent time there when receiving treatment for severe morning sickness in 2011, Prince Philip had a hip replacement there in 2018, and Queen Elizabeth had knee surgery there.

The royal family have occasionally been known to use HS services.

Prince Philip had an emergency heart procedure at the NHS Papworth Hospital in Cambridge in 2011, and Prince Harry had a hernia operation when he was three years old at Great Ormond Street Hospital, an NHS Trust.

The royals also have access to The Royal Medical Household, a team of specialists on call to help with any medical conditions. A physician from the team will usually accompany royals on any overseas visits.

MORE : Kate Middleton’s back at work: Palace reveals what she’s been doing during her recovery

MORE : King Charles’ distant cousin on the run after saying n-word in McDonalds

MORE : What would happen if King Charles abdicated the throne?

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Rumors Prince William is having an affair with Rose Hanbury are flooding social media again after Stephen Colbert waded into 'Katespiracy'

  • The internet is abuzz with rumors about Kate Middleton and Prince William's marriage.
  • A new theory is that Kate being MIA is related to unsubstantiated rumors Prince William had an affair.
  • The theory was bolstered after Stephen Colbert addressed the rumored affair on his late-night show.

Insider Today

"Katespiracy," a term the internet has dubbed speculation about Kate Middleton's whereabouts , has taken another bizarre turn.

It's been 80 days since Kate's last official public appearance. Kensington Palace said in a statement that the Princess of Wales' absence from the public eye is due to her recovery from a "planned abdominal surgery" on January 19. The official line from the palace is that she'll be back in action by Easter.

Still, speculation hit a fever pitch on Monday after Kate admitted to editing a photograph Kensington Palace released of her and her children for Mother's Day on Sunday. Her admission — a statement shared on social media — only poured more fuel onto the rumor mill fire.

Worse still, the photo-editing scandal coincided with the spread of a new conspiracy theory: that Kate's absence from the public is somehow connected to speculation Prince William had an affair with Sarah Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, who is a friend of the Wales' with ancestral ties to the royal family.

Kensington Palace declined to comment. Meanwhile, through her lawyers, Hanbury said that "the rumours are completely false."

Here's a breakdown of how an unsubstantiated rumor — that's not entirely new — became the internet's favorite "Katespiracy" theory.

On Tuesday, Stephen Colbert devoted part of his opening monologue to the royal affair rumor.

queen travel back to london

Colbert spent the final minutes of his opening monologue of Tuesday's episode of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" discussing the latest conspiracy theory behind Kate's public absence.

"The Kingdom has been all a flutter about the seeming disappearance of Kate Middleton," Colbert said. "Well now, internet sleuths are guessing that Kate's absence may be related to her husband, and the future King of England, William, having an affair."

Colbert went on to name-drop Hanbury as the woman at the center of the rumor mill. He also noted that speculation about Hanbury and William first cropped up in 2019.

"According to tabloids back then, when Kate supposedly confronted him about it, he laughed it off, saying there was nothing to it," Colbert said, jokingly adding, "Always a good response when you're wife accuses you of cheating."

Colbert's commentary stirred up more online chatter about Rose, Kate, and William.

queen travel back to london

Having the alleged rumor discussed on late-night television was all some Kate conspiracy theorists needed to validate their suspicions that her absence from the public eye is not just because she is recovering from surgery.

"When Stephen Colbert is now spilling the affair rumors, you know things are not good between William & Kate," an X user wrote.

"The cat is out of the bag," another user wrote in an X post that links to Colbert's monologue, and that has over 1.1 thousand reshares.

However, some users responding to that thread were less positive about Colbert's decision to rehash the old rumor without proof.

"Whenever someone tells me of a third parties' affair, I always respond by asking them if they were in the room. End of story," a more critical commentator responded, while another questioned whether it was Colbert's "business" to discuss the rumors in the first place.

In the comment section of a clip of the monologue on YouTube, there were also calls for stopping the proliferation of rumors and for Kate and William to be left alone.

The late-night host's controversial comments came days after the British newspaper The Independent shared an updated article about Hanbury.

queen travel back to london

The article, headlined "Lady Rose Hanbury: Who is the Marchioness of Cholmondeley?" was shared on X , formally known as Twitter, on Sunday.

Summarizing Hanbury's background and ties to the British royal family, the report explains that she is a 39-year-old former model who is married to David Rocksavage, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, making her the Marchioness of Cholmedely.

According to the outlet, Hanbury and her husband tied the knot in 2009, share three children, and live at Houghton Hall, an estate in Norfolk neighboring Amner Hall, the home where Kate and William spend time with their children when not in Windsor. Hanbury is said to have become acquainted with the couple through the proximity of their homes.

But Hanbury, born Sarah Rose Hanbury, isn't a stranger to British aristocracy.

The article notes that Hanbury's grandmother was one of Queen Elizabeth II's eight bridesmaids at her wedding. She has been spotted front and center at several major royal events, like the 2017 state banquet at Buckingham Castle, where she reportedly sat next to Prince Harry. She also attended King Charles III's coronation , where her son, Lord Oliver, served as one of the Pages of Honour alongside Kate and William's eldest son, Prince George.

Internet users were quick to speculate about the article's timing amid Kate's absence from the public.

queen travel back to london

Shortly after The Independent shared the article on X, many social media users quickly questioned why news about Hanbury is recirculating amid Kate's absence from the public eye — especially given long-standing unsubstantiated rumors that Hanbury and William had an alleged affair.

The replies to The Independent's post are flooded with comments like "soft launching William's mistress now is WILD" and "interesting timing."

Some users also compared the affair Charles had with Queen Camilla while married to the late Princess Diana.

As some social media users pointed out, rumors about Hanbury's relationship with William aren't new.

queen travel back to london

While The Independent's post led to social media chatter about whether Kate's step back from the public is related to an alleged relationship between William and Hanbury , rumors of an affair first surfaced in 2019.

In a timeline of the rumors published by Cosmopolitan, the drama reportedly began after British tabloid The Sun published an article speculating on a rumored fallout between Kate and Hanbury and alleged that the Princess of Wales asked William to have her "phased out" of their social life. The article, which no longer appears on the site, didn't mention the exact cause of the rumored fallout.

No British tabloid, including The Sun, went on to publish articles about a rumored affair, which led to the Daily Beast reporting that the palace threatened legal action against publications that covered it. But any alleged attempts to suppress coverage didn't stop some users on X and US outlet In Touch from doing so, Cosmopolitan reported.

The rumor mill slowed down significantly after 2019, likely thanks to the royals' long-held "never complain, never explain" PR strategy .

But it cropped up again in July 2022 when The Cut reported Deux Moi, a popular celebrity gossip Instagram account, published a blind item from an anonymous submitter alleging that a member of the royal family was having an affair that was essentially an "open secret." At the time, internet sleuths pointed the finger at William.

Again, the palace did not comment on the rumor, but The Cut reported that it had weighed up legal action against Deux Moi.

Besides a brief resurgence in discussion after royal expert Omid Scobie told Entertainment Tonight he was "careful" about addressing rumors of an affair in his 2023 royal book "Endgame," talk about the rumor again fell quiet.

Kate is still MIA while "Who is Rose Hanbury" articles spread across the internet.

queen travel back to london

Besides an unclear photograph of Kate in a car with William on Monday, the Princess of Wales remains out of the public eye as she recovers.

While she does, however, speculation is mounting. Compounding Colbert's monologue and The Independent's article, many other publications are starting to publish versions of the "Who is Rose Hanbury" article and individual timelines of the unsubstantiated affair rumors online.

Through it all, the palace is sticking to its favored PR strategy of staying silent, as is Hanbury.

Rumor mill aside, William and Kate haven't given any indication they're anything but happily married.

queen travel back to london

Through over a decade of marriage, the college sweethearts have been spotted engaging in PDA , speaking highly of each other, and putting on a united front through highs — such as the birth of their three children and their anniversaries — and lows, such as the death of Queen Elizabeth II and, more recently, Kate's health issues.

After taking a break from royal duties to support Kate after her surgery, William resumed his work schedule on February 7.

At one of his first events, Town and Country reported he made a speech directly referencing Kate, adding that it meant "a great deal to us all" that the public was sending "kind messages." On Thursday, the Prince of Wales spoke about Kate again during a visit to a youth center in London, telling children, "My wife is the arty one," while decorating biscuits, The Independent reported .

Whatever internet sleuths say, the real evidence is simple: Kate and William haven't said or done anything to suggest they haven't been happily married for nearly 13 years.

queen travel back to london

  • Main content

IMAGES

  1. Queen Elizabeth Returns to London from Balmoral & Her Scotland Holiday

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  2. Smiling Queen Elizabeth II boards train back to London after Sapphire

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  3. The Queen's travel miles add up to 42 times around the world in her 90

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  4. Queen joins rail travellers on King's Lynn train back to London

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  5. The Queen's travels: Follow Elizabeth's trips through the decades

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  6. Final Journey: The Queen Is Flown To London On A Boeing C17 Ahead Of

    queen travel back to london

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