The Queen’s coffin is lying in rest in Edinburgh as the city prepares to mark her extraordinary life with a service of reflection. King Charles III and the royal family will mount a vigil in her honour.
Sky’s Jess Sharp is still at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, where thousands are hoping to get inside to see the Queen.
Thousands of people are now queuing along The Meadows in Edinburgh for a chance to see the Queen’s coffin inside St Giles’ Cathedral.
The venue has opened for public viewing, with people with disabilities being allowed in first.
Mourners must join the back of the ever-growing queue and wait to receive a wristband that will allow them inside.
Despite the cathedral being open to the public for 24 hours after 5.30pm, one steward explained that entry is not guaranteed.
Earlier, Sky News spoke to George Higgins who was the first person to join the queue at 6.45am.
He will have been waiting more than 10 hours by the time he gets inside.
Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister of Scotland, is now tabling a motion of condolence following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
She says it is her “solemn duty” and “honour” to do so.
“Most of us simply do not remember life without the Queen,” Ms Sturgeon says.
“When as Princess Elizabeth she gave an address from South Africa on her 21st birthday, she was addressing an empire that still included India.
“When she became monarch, Winston Churchill was prime minister.”
Ms Sturgeon described Queen Elizabeth as the “anchor” of our nation.
She then gave a personal account of first seeing the Queen in her hometown at the age of nine – and then years later driving with her through Balmoral.
“I did however experience one rather tense moment at Balmoral,” Ms Sturgeon says.
“My husband and I were with the Queen at dinner when the Drawing Room light started to flicker.
“My husband suddenly leapt up and darted across the room – Peter had spotted the cause of the flickering light.
“One of the Queen’s young corgis … was eating through a lamp switch.”
She then turns to King Charles, and says that Scotland “stands ready to serve you”.
“We are honoured by the presence today of His Majesty, King Charles III, and The Queen Consort,” Ms Sturgeon says.
“Your Majesty, we stand ready to support you, as you continue your own life of service – and as you build on the extraordinary legacy of your beloved mother, our Queen.
“Queen Elizabeth, Queen of Scots – we are grateful for her life.
“May She now rest in peace.”
King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla are now seated inside the chamber at Holyrood.
There is a welcome from the Presiding Officer, who says: “It is will great sorrow that we gather today to warn the passing of Queen Elizabeth.
“The thoughts of this Parliament and the people for this Parliament are with the Royal Family at this time of grief.”
Alison Johnstone adds: “For in her, we have indeed had a true friend and supporter.”
She says she enjoyed two private audiences with Her Majesty, adding she “enjoyed her counsel”.
“We give thanks as a nation and a Parliament for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Queen of Scots, for her extraordinary service.”
A moment of silence is now being held.
King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla have arrived at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, where the monarch will receive a motion of condolence.
This will be tabled by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
The royals were pictured greeting Scottish politicians from various parties inside Holyrood.
King Charles will now be taken to a waiting room while the Scottish chamber awaits the return of party leaders into the heart of Parliament.
The upcoming assembly will raise the motion of condolence to the King and the nation at the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Two more Premier League games scheduled for this weekend have been called off.
Chelsea vs Liverpool and Man Utd v Leeds have both been postponed.
While the first of those two ties was due to take place in London, where police will be preparing for the Queen’s funeral the following day, the news that the game in Manchester is off will be a source of some surprise.
The Premier League said the decision to call them off had been taken “due to events surrounding The Queen’s funeral” and that there was “no other option”.
Chelsea’s Champions League clash at home to Red Bull Salzburg, however, will go ahead as planned on Wednesday night.
“The decision comes after discussion with the Metropolitan Police and UEFA following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Kick-off remains at 8pm,” a club statement read.
“We will update supporters on Sunday’s fixture with Liverpool as soon as we possibly can.”
The game at Stamford Bridge will be Graham Potter’s first as Blues boss after he replaced Thomas Tuchel last week.
Grace Gothard, from Mitcham in Surrey, is the third person to join the queue by Lambeth Bridge for the Queen’s lying in state.
Ms Gothard had a Union flag draped around her neck and was carrying a cardboard cutout of the Queen and some marmalade.
She had no tent, sleeping bag or coat.
Ms Gothard said: “The Queen was everyone’s mother, she protected the Commonwealth and made sure everyone is protected.
“I’ve been to royal events in the past, weddings and funerals, and I was so upset when I found out about this, so I wanted to see her coffin.
“I think Charles will be a good king, he has his mother’s traits.”
The Queen will lie in state at Westminster Hall in central London from Wednesday 14 September.
Three people have been arrested in Edinburgh since yesterday over alleged breaches of the peace.
Hundreds of thousands of people have lined the streets across Scotland as the coffin of the Queen was transported from Balmoral in the Scottish Highlands to Edinburgh.
A 22-year-old woman, who had been pictured holding an anti-monarchy sign, and a 74-year-old man, were arrested separately on Sunday and charged with breaching the peace.
Meanwhile, a third, a 22-year-old man was arrested on Monday along the route of the procession of the queen’s coffin through Edinburgh, after Prince Andrew was apparently heckled.
The 22-year-old has yet to be charged.
Members of the Royal Family have been photographed leaving St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh this afternoon following a service for the Queen.
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla were among those in attendance – with Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
The death of the Queen – the world’s longest-reigning monarch – has not only rocked the nation, but the world. Her state funeral will be one of the largest diplomatic occasions of the century.
Buckingham Palace has confirmed her funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey at 11am on Monday 19 September.
Poignantly, it is the same venue the Queen married Prince Philip in 75 years ago, and just one year ago paid tribute to him there at his memorial service.
On the day, the large venue – which can hold up to 2,000 people – will be full of family members, world leaders, politicians, monarchs from other countries, public figures and those who worked with the Queen, all paying their last respects.
So, who can we expect to see at the Queen’s funeral, and who won’t be there?
Sky correspondent Ashna Hurynag is in London this afternoon, and has met the women at the front of the queue to see the Queen lying in state in Westminster.
People have been advised not to start queueing yet, with warnings the wait to go and see the coffin could be more than 24 hours.
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