THOUSANDS lined the streets to say goodbye to the Queen as she made left Balmoral for the last time.

Six of her ghillies carried the late monarch's oak coffin from the castle, placing it into the hearse.

It was draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland with a wreath of flowers from her own Balmoral garden including dahlias, sweetpeas, phlox and white heather

The cortege left Crathie Kirk at 10am on Sunday morning, arriving at the Palace of Holyroodhouse six and a half hours later.

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Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, travelled as part of the convoy of cars, making the slow journey from Ballater, through Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth, Fife and Edinburgh. 

Nicola Sturgeon described it as a "sad and poignant moment" as the hearse left Balmoral. 

"Today, as she makes her journey to Edinburgh, Scotland will pay tribute to an extraordinary woman," she tweeted.

Elizabeth Alexander, 69, from Huntly, arrived in Ballater shortly after 7am with her two daughters, Melissa Simpson, 42, and Claire Green, 44, and three grandchildren, Gracie, five, Florence Green, 11, and Hamish, eight.

When asked about her thoughts on the late monarch, Ms Alexander told the PA: “She’s the kind of person we should all be, but sometimes fail to be.

“We often visited when she was here. We would have liked to have gone to see her leaving Balmoral if it was possible.

“We hope the new King will visit as the Queen did. It connected us with the royal family, having her up here.”

Ms Green said: “We thought it was important to be here to give her a good send-off from Scotland.

“It’s an overwhelming sadness for everyone. She never set a foot wrong, all those years, there’s no-one else like her in the world.

“Worldwide, it’s a big loss. It’s so fortunate that we’re in Scotland, it’s so close so we can say our goodbyes, I don’t know if we would have had this chance otherwise.”

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In Edinburgh, the pavements thronged with people coming to pay their respects. 

As the convoy made its way down the Royal Mile, the very final stage of this part of the journey, people stood in silence, clapping once it has passed.

James Kinlock, who watched the procession said he had felt the Queen's death "far more personally" than expected.

“I didn’t expect to feel compelled to come but I did and I’m very glad I came,” he added.

Mr Kinlock said: “I’m absolutely stunned. I have never seen the Royal Mile this busy and I doubt I will ever see it this busy again. It’s just incredible. Absolutely incredible. And it is an honour and privilege to be here with everybody.”

Ukrainian refugee Daria Oskolkova said she turned out to see “the Queen off on her final journey” as her coffin made its way along the Royal Mile.

“It was very emotional to be here,” said the 38-year-old who now lives in Glasgow.

Adriana Vraghici, from Edinburgh, described the event as a “monumental day”.

“The Queen has been part of our lives for so long, it’s just nice to be so close, seeing the coffin, because she has been such an important part of our lives,” said the 25-year-old, who added: “She has served the country in such an amazing way”.

The First Minister, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Scottish Green co-leader Lorna Slater and Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton stood on the pavement outside Holyrood as the hearse slowed down past the parliament.

Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone and her deputies Liam MacArthur and Annabelle Ewing also lined the street to show their appreciation to the Queen.

As the coffin arrived at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, it was met by the Queen's other children, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex and his wife. 

The Queen’s cortege received a guard of honour from the King’s Bodyguard for Scotland (Royal Company of Archers) as it entered the palace.

The Queen's coffin will be placed in the Throne Room until Monday afternoon when the King and members of the Royal Family will then accompany their mother in a procession to St Giles' Cathedral, where a service will be held.

The Queen will lie at rest at the cathedral for 24 hours until Tuesday, with the public allowed to pay their respects.

After the service, the King will join MSPs in the Scottish Parliament for a "motion of condolence."

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The First Minister will then speak followed by the leaders of the Scottish Tories, Scottish Labour, the Scottish Greens and the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

The King will then reply. 

Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, Alison Johnstone said: “People across Scotland continue to mourn the passing of Her Majesty The Queen and I wish to express on behalf of the Scottish Parliament our deepest condolences to His Majesty The King and The Royal Family. 

“This motion of condolence will provide an opportunity for the Parliament to come together to pay tribute to The Queen’s life of service and her enduring bond with Scotland and its people. 

 “This day will also mark a significant milestone for the country as we welcome The King to the Scottish Parliament for the first time as monarch.” 

On Tuesday, the Queen's coffin will be taken by air by RAF plane to London.

The Queen will lie in state for “four clear days” in Westminster Hall, arriving there in the afternoon of September 14, until early on the morning of her funeral on September 19.