AS THE Queen continued to her journey back to London this week, mourners from Mid Wales were in attendance looking on.
Fiona James, from Llandrindod Wells, was one of the many people who travelled to Edinburgh on Monday (September 12) to watch the procession that saw the Queen's coffin moved from the Palace of Holyroodhouse – the official residence of the Monarchy in Scotland – to St Giles' Cathedral ahead of the first Lying at Rest.
The 24-year-old said she had travelled up from Dundee to see the procession in Edinburgh.
She told the PA news agency: “I came here to mourn publicly the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
“I felt a lot of sadness not being with other people grieving so it feels really good, it feels like the right thing to be here today.”
The procession which travelled along the Royal Mile saw the Queen's coffin followed by her four children - King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. Following it's arrival at the cathedral a thanksgiving service was held, and all four siblings held a silent vigil as the first mourners entered the building to view the Lying at Rest.
Fiona added: “I was excited to see the King and the Queen Consort. It was unexpected to see them.
“I feel very special that they’re right here on the doorstep where we live. It feels very close. Even though they, and she, are world famous, it feels very intimate that they’re here. It’s like we’re all a big family.”
Mourners in Edinburgh have queued for up to 12 hours to pay their respects to the Queen as she lies in state in the Scottish capital for 24 hours.
It has been the first time members of the public have been able to process past the late monarch since her death last Thursday (September 8).
It is expected to end at around 3pm before the Queen's coffin leaves Scotland and is taken to Edinburgh Airport where it will be flown to RAF Northolt and from there, will be taken to Buckingham Palace where it will remain on Tuesday night.
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Meanwhile, a 22-year-old has been charged in connection with a breach of the peace after the Duke of York was heckled during the procession of the Queen’s coffin in Edinburgh.
Videos on social media showed a man shouting at the duke as he walked behind the hearse on Monday, before being dragged to the ground by two bystanders.
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