King Charles leads siblings in holding vigil beside Queen’s coffin in Edinburgh

By Karim El-Bar

LONDON (AA) – Queen Elizabeth II’s four children, led by King Charles III, stood vigil beside her coffin as she laid in state at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh on Monday.

King Charles III, Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, and Prince Andrew, the Duke of York all stood around their mother’s coffin inside the cathedral as members of the public walked past in silence to pay their final respects.

The King had a solemn look on his face and stood still alongside the other royals.

Tomorrow, the queen’s coffin will be flown to London.

Earlier on Monday, King Charles and his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, arrived at the Scottish Parliament to receive a motion of condolence.

The King met with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the leaders of Scotland’s main political parties.

“We are honored by the presence today of His Majesty, King Charles III, and the Queen Consort,” said Sturgeon.

“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,” she said.

“Queen Elizabeth, Queen of Scots – we are grateful for her life. May she now rest in peace.”

King Charles then spoke to the Scottish parliament, saying that throughout her reign, the Queen, like those before her, “found in the hills of this land and in the hearts of its people a haven and a home.”

“If I might paraphrase the words of the great Robert Burns (a famous Scottish poet), my dear mother was a friend of man, a friend of truth, a friend of age and guide of youth. Few hearts like hers, with virtue warmed, few heads with knowledge so informed.”