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Mourners have been waiting since early morning along the Queen's last journey through Scotland (here in Ballater)
Photo: HANNAH MCKAY / REUTERS
Three days after the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, the coffin containing her body will first be transported from Balmoral to Edinburgh before being taken to London for the funeral on September 19th.
There are several stations on the almost 300-kilometer route to the Scottish capital on Sunday.
In this way, as many people as possible should have the opportunity to say goodbye to their monarch.
A journey time of around six hours is planned, and thousands of mourners and onlookers are expected.
At 10am local time (11am BST), six royal servants will carry the coffin from Balmoral Castle to a hearse.
The first travels to the nearby town of Ballater, where the Queen attended services during her stays on Balmoral.
The nearest stations are Aberdeen and, on the east coast of Scotland, Dundee.
The coffin is finally expected in Edinburgh at 4 p.m. local time.
The BBC reports live from the entire funeral journey.
In the Scottish capital, the Queen's coffin is brought to the 500-year-old Holyroodhouse Palace at the foot of Arthur's Seat, where it is greeted by an honor guard.
Waiting for the coffin
People have already gathered along the route through Scotland early on Sunday morning.
Near the village of Ballater, around twelve kilometers east of Balmoral Castle, the first families with chairs and flags secured a place at the barrier at 7 a.m. so that they could later take a look at the Queen's coffin.
The car is supposed to drive at walking pace in many places so that the people can pay their last respects to the queen.
Queen Elizabeth died at Balmoral Castle on Thursday, aged 96.
On Monday in Edinburgh, the coffin will be taken in a short procession down the Royal Mile to St Giles Cathedral, where it will remain in state for 24 hours after a service.
Numerous members of the royal family are also expected to attend.
The Queen's coffin is scheduled to be flown to London on Tuesday, where it will first be taken to Buckingham Palace before being open to the public in Westminster Hall for four days from Wednesday.
him/AFP/dpa