Queen's coffin to be flown from Edinburgh to London as mourners queue overnight to pay respects

Mourners have continued to file in to St Giles’ Cathedral overnight to pay their final respects to the Queen before her body is returned to London.

The former monarch will lie at rest in Edinburgh until 3pm on Tuesday when she is taken back to the English capital by air.

Huge crowds queued through the night to be given their chance to see the coffin in person following the procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Monday afternoon.

King Charles was joined by his siblings Anne, Andrew and Edward as the Queen’s coffin travelled up the Royal Mile in front of streets lined with well-wishers.

Members of the Royal Family then accompanied the King at a special service of thanksgiving to celebrate the Queen’s life.

Outside, huge swathes of mourners could be seen patiently waiting for doors to the cathedral to open.

ScotRail operated additional services overnight, allowing those who wished to pay their respects to travel along the central belt throughout the evening.

The Queen’s children, including King Charles, the Earl of Wessex and Duke of York, held a private vigil at the cathedral on Monday evening.

Mourners will have until Tuesday afternoon to attend the cathedral.

The coffin will then be taken to Edinburgh Airport at around 5pm, with the public able to view the cortege as it passes.

A number of nurseries and schools will be closed early along the route between the city centre and the airport to allow the coffin safe passage.

It will be flown to RAF Northolt at around 6pm and will then be transported to Buckingham Palace, where it will be met by the King and Camilla and other members of the Royal Family.

On Wednesday, the coffin will be moved from the Palace to Westminster Hall, where the Queen will lie in state for four days.