EVENT ENDED

Queen's coffin arrives in Edinburgh as Charles is proclaimed king of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Thousands gathered at Edinburgh Castle, Cardiff Castle and Belfast’s Hillsborough Castle to hear the official announcement Sunday.

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A fanfare of trumpets sounded at proclamation ceremonies in the capital cities of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on Sunday officially declaring Charles king of the nations that, along with England, form the United Kingdom.

Thousands of people gathered at Edinburgh Castle, Cardiff Castle and Hillsborough Castle in Belfast to hear the official announcement, although Charles officially became king when Queen Elizabeth II died Thursday.

The ceremonies took place as the late monarch's coffin left Balmoral Castle and traveled to Edinburgh on Sunday. Crowds also lined the roads in tribute to the queen as the funeral procession slowly wound through tiny villages and small towns from the remote castle in the Scottish Highlands.

Here's what happened:

  • Queen Elizabeth II's coffin arrived at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh from Balmoral.
  • The queen’s daughter, Princess Anne, accompanied the cortege as it slowly made its way to the throne room at Holyroodhouse Palace.
  • King Charles III met with the secretary-general of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, who heads the central body that has served the group of former colonies since it was established in 1965.
  • Prince Andrew and his former wife, Sarah, the Duchess of York, will inherit the queen's corgis, according to a source close to the prince.

Follow here for live coverage.




3 years ago / 2:38 AM EDT
NBC News
3 years ago / 12:52 AM EDT

Public art honors the queen at a familiar spot in London

An artist draws a portrait of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II with chalk on tiles of Trafalgar Square in London on Sunday. The queen's coffin will move from Edinburgh, Scotland, to London on Tuesday in advance of her funeral, scheduled for Monday, Sept. 19.MARCO BERTORELLO / AFP via Getty Images
3 years ago / 9:46 PM EDT
3 years ago / 7:09 PM EDT

Queen Elizabeth's subjects get one final chance to pay respects at Palace of Westminster

Jean-Nicholas Fievet
David K. Li and Jean-Nicholas Fievet

The general public will be allowed to file past Queen Elizabeth's closed coffin in a round-the-clock operation that organizers warned could be physically taxing on mourners.

The queen's subjects and well-wishers will be able to stroll past the raised platform to glimpse her casket inside Westminster Hall in the Palace of Westminster from 5 p.m. BST Wednesday until 6:30 a.m. a week from Monday, the government announced Sunday.

"You will need to stand for many hours, possibly overnight, with very little opportunity to sit down as the queue will be continuously moving," a government statement said.

Larger bags, food and food containers will be strictly prohibited once mourners reach the Palace of Westminster, where they will be subjected to "airport-style" security screening, officials said.

3 years ago / 5:05 PM EDT

King Charles meets with the Realm High Commissioners of U.K.'s Commonwealth nations

Newly crowned King Charles III greeted Realm High Commissioners at Buckingham Palace on Sunday in hope of maintaining the affiliation of former British-ruled lands that meant so much to his mother.

King Charles is the head of state in those countries, but Antigua and Barbuda is reportedly planning a referendum to possibly become a republic.

The House of Commons of Canada, one of the 14 realms, announced Saturday night that Parliament, originally set to reconvene for the fall term on Sept. 19, will push that to Sept. 20 in honor of Queen Elizabeth's funeral.

Queen Consort Camilla at a reception with Realm High Commissioners and their spouses Sunday in the Bow Room at Buckingham Palace in London.Victoria Jones / WPA Pool via Getty Images
3 years ago / 4:22 PM EDT
3 years ago / 3:55 PM EDT

Preparations underway at Edinburgh's St. Giles' Cathedral

Edinburgh’s St. Giles' Cathedral NBC News

Preparations were underway at Edinburgh’s St. Giles’ Cathedral on Sunday, readying the house of worship for the arrival of the queen's casket Monday. It will be taken from Holyroodhouse in a procession to St, Giles’ Cathedral, where it will lie at rest until Tuesday. Large crowds of mourners are expected to pay their respects.


3 years ago / 3:11 PM EDT

Thousands turn out as Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin arrives in Edinburgh

Crowds lined the streets of the Scottish capital as the queen’s hearse passed by, with some people bursting into applause. Amid solemn ceremony, the coffin was then taken to lie in state in the throne room at Holyroodhouse Palace.

3 years ago / 2:42 PM EDT

Sydney Opera House sings praises of the queen

The iconic Sydney Opera House paid tribute to the queen all weekend, shining her image on a shell of the architectural wonder's famed exterior.

An image of Queen Elizabeth II is projected onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House in Sydney on Saturday.Jenny Evans / Getty Images file

Queen Elizabeth II presided over opening ceremonies of the Sydney Opera House, one of the world's most famous and distinctive structures, in 1973.

Her death has already had an impact on Australian politics. Prime Minster Anthony Albanese said he would not call for a referendum on whether Australia should become a republic in his first term.

3 years ago / 2:12 PM EDT

President Biden accepts invitation to attend the queen's funeral

President Joe Biden formally accepted an invitation Sunday to attend Queen Elizabeth II's funeral on Sept. 19. The first lady will accompany him to the service.