King leads procession behind Queen’s coffin as Harry promises to ‘honour’ father

In bright autumn sunshine, the procession set off at a slow walking pace along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.

The King has led the royal family in a poignant display of respect for the late Queen – walking behind the monarch’s coffin with his royal siblings.

Expressionless and looking straight ahead Charles was joined by the Princess Royal, Earl of Wessex and Duke of York as they followed the hearse carrying the Queen’s oak coffin.

The King, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex walk behind the Queen's coffin during the procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles’ Cathedral — The King, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex walk behind the Queen’s coffin during the procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles’ Cathedral (Jon Super/PA)

Members of the public gather near Mercat Cross to watch the procession — Thousands gathered along the Royal Mile to watch the procession (Jeff J Mitchell/PA)

The Queen’s coffin, adorned with the Crown of Scotland, is due to rest at St Giles’ Cathedral for 24 hours.

Made from gold, silver and precious gems, the crown is the centrepiece of the Honours of Scotland – which are the oldest Crown jewels in Britain and among the oldest in Europe.

The Earl of Wessex, the Duke of York, the King, the Queen Consort, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence attend the service at St Giles' Cathedral — The Queen’s coffin will rest at St Giles’ Cathedral for 24 hours (Aaron Chown/PA)

Earlier, the Duke of Sussex released an emotional statement paying tribute to the Queen and promising to “honour” his father as the new King.

He reflected on his “first meetings” with the Queen, including “the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved great-grandchildren”.

Harry and Meghan met members of the public as they viewed the floral tributes at Windsor Castle on Saturday (Chris Jackson/PA)

Harry also referenced his father, with whom his relationship is said to have been strained, saying: “And as it comes to first meetings, we now honour my father in his new role as King Charles III.”

It came before the King promised “faithfully to follow” the “example of selfless duty” set by his mother in a speech in Westminster Hall as both Houses of Parliament gathered to express their condolences on the Queen’s death.

The King once again reached for Shakespeare, after quoting from the play Hamlet in his address to the nation last week, saying: “As Shakespeare says of the earlier Queen Elizabeth, she was ‘a pattern to all princes living’.

The King gives his address thanking the members of the House of Lords and the House of Commons for their condolence — The King thanked members of the House of Lords and the House of Commons for their condolences (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Prime Minister Liz Truss and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer joined MPs and peers under the cavernous timber roof of the ancient building for the service in central London.

Queen Elizabeth II death — Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Liz Truss leave Westminster Hall (Leon Neal/PA)

The King and his Queen Consort at Westminster Hall ( — Members of both Houses of Parliament gathered to express their condolences (Dan Kitwood/PA)

The first changing of the guard in the King’s reign has also taken place – the first time there has been a changing of the King’s Guard at the royal palaces for 70 years.

And the late Queen was hailed as a “courageous and gracious leader” who contributed to peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland at a special sitting of the Stormont Assembly.

On Tuesday, the King and Queen Consort will fly to Northern Ireland to visit Hillsborough Castle, where they will view an exhibition about the late Queen’s long association with the province, before Charles receives a message of condolence led by the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The King will then meet leaders from all the major faiths in Northern Ireland before returning to London.