The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is currently at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, where it will repose until its transfer to London on Tuesday evening.
Thursday, Queen Elizabeth II passed away at Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands. She was 96 years old.
The Queen’s body was transported 102 miles from Balmoral to Edinburgh in a hearse, with Princess Anne following in a vehicle. It was the first of several journeys planned as part of “Operation Unicorn,” which outlines the precise route her coffin would follow before to her burial on September 19.
As previously reported by Insider, the procedures for managing the death of the Queen were originally referred to as “Operation London Bridge” if she died in England and “Operation Unicorn” if it occurred in Scotland. According to the National Trust for Scotland, the legendary beast is the country’s national animal.
Here is a day-by-day breakdown of all of Operation Unicorn’s stops.
The Queen’s hearse made five stops in Scotland on September 11.
On September 11, the Queen’s body was transported from Balmoral Castle to the royal family’s official residence in Edinburgh, the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The Telegraph stated that the hearse made brief stops in Ballater, Aberdeen, and Dundee, where the public was allowed to pay their respects.
Anne and other members of the royal family gathered outside the palace when the queen’s casket was delivered upon their arrival in Edinburgh.
As the coffin was brought inside, Princess Anne curtsied.
Close-up of Princess Anne as she bows before the casket of her mother.
via Getty Images: AARON CHOWN/POOL/AFP
The casket remained in the Throne Room of the palace until the next day, when it was transported to St Giles’ Cathedral.
King Charles led a procession from the palace to St Giles’ Cathedral on September 12 and 13.
On Monday, King Charles led a procession following the Queen’s coffin from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral on the Royal Mile.
A map depicting the procession path from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles’ Cathedral down the Royal Mile.
Google Maps and Skype
Charles and members of the royal family attended a Thanksgiving Service followed by a vigil at the cathedral, where Charles and his siblings stood guard over the coffin.
According to the BBC, an estimated 20,000 mourners joined a mile-long line on Monday afternoon to pay their respects to the queen at St Giles’ Cathedral. People waited overnight in line to see the casket before it was carried to London. According to a royal press statement, the casket will travel from Edinburgh Airport an RAF aircraft accompanied by Princess Anne.
A map depicting the route taken by the Queen’s coffin from Edinburgh to London.
Google Maps
The Queen’s coffin will spend the night in the Bow Room at Buckingham Palace, according to a press release.
A parade from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall on September 14
Wednesday will see a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, where the Queen’s remains will lie in state for five days.
The news statement indicates that following the arrival of the casket, the Archbishop of Canterbury will lead a brief liturgy attended by the monarch and members of the royal family.
15-18 September, the public is welcome to pay their respects.
According to BBC News, soldiers from battalions serving the Royal Household will guard the casket 24 hours a day. The public is encouraged to visit and offer homage during this period.
Recent government instructions stated that lineups at Westminster are expected to be “extremely long” and that visitors “will need to stand for several hours, potentially overnight, with very little opportunities to sit since the queue will continue to move.”
On September 19, the Queen is buried.
According to a press announcement, the monarch’s funeral will take place on September 19 at Westminster Abbey. According to Sky News, the facility has the capacity to seat up to 2,000 guests, and many world leaders are expected to have been invited. CNN reports that President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden have received two invites.
The final procession will occur following the funeral service. According to the palace, the procession will continue from Westminster Abbey through Wellington Arch before arriving at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, where Her Majesty will be interred.
She will be laid to rest alongside her husband Philip in St. George’s Chapel.