The Queen's coffin placed in Balmoral ballroom
The Queen's coffin has been placed in the Balmoral ballroom where she danced as a young princess and where she later shared special moments with Prince Philip, to allow her loyal household staff to pay their respects before she begins her final journey back to London.
The coffin is currently in the ballroom, draped in the Royal Standard. It will remain there for two days before it is driven to the Palace of Holyrood House in Edinburgh. It will then be transported back to London later this week.
The ballroom held special memories for the Queen, whose affection for the highlands was well known. It is where she danced at the age of 12 as a young princess at the Ghillies Ball, an annual dance at Balmoral for the staff, which she enthusiastically attended for years.
The annual ball has been a tradition since the 1852, when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert first acquired the estate. It was their way of thanking the staff for their hard work and loyalty and is a tradition that has endured for well over 100 years.
Queen Elizabeth II was known to particularly enjoy the event and would often stay late into the night to celebrate with staff. Videos show her reeling with Prince Philip, the Queen Mother and Charles and Diana in 1991.
Her body will remain at Balmoral for the next two days before being driven to Edinburgh to be placed at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. She will stay there for an additional two days for a lying-in-state of sorts, before eventually being brought back to London for her funeral.
Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Sophie are all set to stay at Balmoral while King Charles heads to London and Prince William to Windsor.
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