Members of the royal family were expected to put on a united front as the Queen’s body is moved from Balmoral to Edinburgh on Sunday.
There were hopes that the newly annointed Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, will join the procession as the coffin begins a days-long journey back to London.
Some royal mourners were also hoping to see the couple’s three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis as the journey begins from Balmoral Castle.
The children have been absent from all public engagements since the Queen’s death.
(Image: Getty)
The Queen’s coffin left Balmoral on Sunday morning.
(Image: Getty).jpg)
The children have been absent from all public engagements since the Queen’s death, though their parents and relatives have made brief appearances to speak to mourners and see the tributes to the Queen.
As the Queen’s coffin left Balmoral in a hearse at 10am on Sunday, onlookers spotted Princess Anne in one of the dark cars following the hearse.
It’s believed other senior royals were packed into the cars that made up the procession, but it’s yet to be confirmed if the Cambridge children were among them.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, joined the Sussexes to meet with mourners on Saturday.
(Image: Getty)The late monarch’s body is being moved as part of Operation Unicorn, the plan devised to transport her body from Scotland back to England for her funeral on September 19.
The six-hour procession will include three stops along the way – Ballater, Aberdeen and Dundee – to allow dignitaries and members of the public to pay their respects to the Queen.
The hearse will then arrive at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, where the coffin will be placed in the throne room until it is moved again.
On Monday afternoon, another procession will see the Queen’s body moved to St Giles’ Cathedral, where King Charles III and members of the royal family will gather again.
A service will be held there before the Queen’s body is moved again, this time flying into England, where the coffin will finally be driven to Buckingham Palace.
Finally, the Queen’s coffin will be transported in an official procession to Westminster Hall, where it will lay for the public to pay respects until the state funeral on September 19.
The royal family will be out in force on the sombre occasion, with King Charles set to lead the monarchy in mourning for his late mother. It’s understood many of the royal children will also be in attendance.
