There were moving scenes in London on Tuesday evening as Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II returned to the capital for the final time.
Arriving at RAF Northolt after a flight from Edinburgh, the late Queen was carried by State Hearse to Buckingham Palace.
As she has since her mother’s death last Thursday, Princess Anne accompanied The Queen on the journey, along with her husband, Sir Tim Laurence.
The scenes on leaving RAF Northolt for Buckingham Palace were unprecedented.
Tens of thousands of people lined the entire route – the journey taking around 45 minutes.
Even on one of London’s busiest three-lane roads – the A40 – thousands of people lined the route, with cars on the opposite side of the road pulling over at the central reservation to get one final glimpse of their late monarch.
As Central London approached, the crowds only deepened, culminating at Buckingham Palace – a royal residence The Queen last visited when making her balcony appearance during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Her Majesty’s police outsiders formed a guard of honour and bowed their heads as Elizabeth II’s hearse entered the Palace for the final time.
The crowds watched in silence before mass applause and cheering broke out along The Mall.
Inside Buckingham Palace, away from the cameras, King Charles & Queen Camilla were joined by all of Elizabeth’s children and grandchildren, as well as their spouses.
Princess Margaret’s children, Lady Sarah Chatto and Earl Snowdon, were also present to receive The Queen back at Buckingham Palace.
Her Majesty will lie at rest in the Bow Room overnight, before heading on to Westminster Hall for the Lying-in-State where arounf 1,000,000 members of the public are expected to file past the late monarch.
