Queen's coffin vigil in Edinburgh witnessed by 33,000 people

Thousands of people filed past the Queen's coffin in St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh

The public viewing of the Queen's coffin in Edinburgh has ended.

About 33,000 people filed through St Giles' Cathedral where Her Majesty lay at rest for 24 hours.

Many of them had queued through the night for the opportunity to pay their last respects to the Queen.

The coffin left the cathedral at about 16:20 on Tuesday and was taken by road to Edinburgh Airport, before being flown on a C-17 Globemaster to RAF Northolt, near London.

It will go on to Buckingham Palace ahead of lying in state at Westminster Hall for four days.

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The Scottish government said "people across the country" had paid their respects, attended remembrance events and reflected "on a life of service".

"This has been a very special part of history for Scotland," a statement added.

Mourners started filing into the cathedral on Monday evening to be part of the historic moment.

Thousands waited through the night, joining the line at The Meadows, which is south of the cathedral where the coffin lay.

A steady stream of people joined the queue at The Meadows on Tuesday

Those wanting to attend the vigil were required to pick up wristbands at the start of the queue, more than a mile away from the church. The last of those were handed out at 13:00 and the doors to the cathedral were closed to the public just before 15:00.

It is understand that everyone who had picked up an official wristband managed to file past the coffin.

Officials had earlier warned that the wristband did not guarantee entry.

Charlie, 68, and his mother Janet, 89, were the last two people allowed to join the queue in Edinburgh's Meadows.

Huge crowds gathered outside St Giles' Cathedral as the Queen's coffin began its journey to Edinburgh Airport

Having travelled from Cathcart in Glasgow, Charlie - pushing his mother in a wheelchair - said he was "very honoured" to be in the city for this "very sombre occasion".

It was important for his mother Janet to see the Queen's coffin, he added.

She married in 1952 and the first television set she bought was to watch the late monarch's coronation the following year.

Road closures

The final opportunity for people to pay their respects to Her Majesty in Scotland came along the route her cortege travelled to Edinburgh Airport.

There is also still a floral tribute at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Heavy traffic congestion and disruption was expected in the city after a series of road closures along the route to the airport.

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