Scotland joins in Queen's final farewell
- Published
Hundreds of mourners gathered in Edinburgh at Holyrood Park
Scotland has joined in with a final farewell to the Queen.
After 10 days of official mourning, the state funeral for the longest-reigning monarch took place in London.
Hundreds of members of the Armed Forces in Scotland were involved, as they were when the monarch's coffin made the journey from Balmoral to Edinburgh.
First minister Nicola Sturgeon was among the Scots at Westminster Abbey. She said it was "one of the most momentous occasions in recent history".
Ms Sturgeon added: "As the Queen is laid to rest, it gives us a chance to reflect on the events of the past 10 days which have provided a sincere, solemn and fitting tribute to our longest reigning Monarch.
"We knew how important Scotland was to the Queen and, over recent days, we have been reminded just how much Her Majesty meant to the people of Scotland."
A big screen in Edinburgh next to the Palace of Holyroodhouse is showing the funeral
Pupils at Gordonstoun school gather around a laptop to watch the funeral
Veterans raise a glass at Royal British Legion in Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire
Hundreds of mourners gathered in Edinburgh at Holyrood Park, where a big screen showing the funeral was erected beside the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Ian Clark, a retired police officer cut short a holiday in Spain to come back and watch the funeral.
He said: "It's a momentous day, we'll never see the likes again in my lifetime so I returned from Spain especially to be there.
"I felt it would be prudent to come back and pay my respects to Her Majesty."
A piper plays next to The Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh
James Dean, who has lived in New Zealand for the last 40 years but grew up in the town of Windsor, said: "We were actually in Windsor when the news of her death broke.
"It feels special to be a part of it. Having been brought up in England and then left to live elsewhere for 40 years, it is amazing the influence she still had on the world."
'She was a great boss... and a friend'
Billy Haynes is among the residents of the Erskine care home, run by the Erskine Veterans charity, who watched the funeral service at Westminster Abbey.
Mr Haynes spent nine years working in the army - and at age 71, said he was not expecting to feel such emotion at the Queen's final farewell.
"She was out of this world really," he told the BBC. "The way I would put it is she was a great boss. A lot of forces would say that as well.
"She was more than the Queen, I don't know what you would actually say - she was a friend as well as our Queen.
"I was broken-hearted to think we'll never see the likes of her again. We're losing a good soul. A very emotional morning."
The funeral service included a new anthem - Who Shall Separate Us? - by Scots composer Sir James MacMillan.
The Queen's Piper also helped close the funeral with a rendition of the traditional piece Sleep, Dearie, Sleep.
Pipe Major Paul Burns, the monarch's personal player at the time of her death, performed as the service came to an end, before the coffin left Westminster Abbey for Windsor.
Maj Burns, of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, is the 17th holder of the role, which was established in 1843 during the reign of Queen Victoria.
The Catholic Church's Most Rev Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, and the Most Rev Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, were also there.
Nicola Sturgeon was among world leaders attending the event in Westminster Abbey
Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, the moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, led a prayer at the service which the Queen helped to plan.
He opened his prayer with the words: "Let us give thanks to God for Queen Elizabeth's long life and reign, recalling with gratitude her gifts of wisdom, diligence, and service."
Speaking after the service, he said: "The last 10 days have been a whirlwind and yet time seems to have stood still.
"The tributes have been many and heartfelt and we have now held these final services and rites as the Queen is finally laid to rest."
The Minister of Crathie Kirk, Rev Kenneth MacKenzie, led a prayer at the committal service
Later at a committal service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, the Minister of Crathie Kirk near Balmoral - Rev Kenneth MacKenzie - led the second prayer.
He concluded: "We pray that, in due time, we may share with our sister that clearer vision when we shall see thy face in the same Jesus Christ our Lord."
'Amazing woman'
Some community and religious centres, cinemas and veterans clubs were open free for the public so that people did not have to watch the service on their own.
Ballater resident Alistair Cassie, who supplied TVs to nearby Balmoral Castle, described the service as "very moving to watch".
He added: "The people of Ballater have been absolutely superb, big turnouts even for the minute's silence on Sunday when the weather wasn't so good.
"I think she'll be remembered forever. The villagers were very proud to have the royals at the castle but we left them to it."
Around 20 people gathered to watch the Queen's funeral on television at The Royal British Legion in Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire.
Ahead of the two minutes' silence, everyone in the room stood and bowed their heads and sang along to the national anthem.
Hanging in one corner of the room, was a portrait of Her Majesty the Queen. Below, there were two red lit candles either side of a book of condolences placed on top of a "Lest We Forget" Union Jack flag.
Hilary Hodgkinson, 73, from Inverurie said she felt she had to be somewhere to watch the funeral.
"We're never going to see anything like this in our lives again. The Queen was an amazing woman," she said.
Pupils at Gordonstoun in Moray - where three generations of the Royal Family have been schooled, including King Charles - also gathered to watch the funeral.
