Curiosities at today's proceedings (Tuesday)

[MaggieFS]

I started a thread yesterday about the walk to St Giles' and thoroughly enjoyed reading all of the observations, things around the edges and little details which fellow posters commented on.

I'm in meetings most of today, so I won't be able to watch much, but if anyone wants to comment on what they see in Edinburgh or Belfast, I'd love to read it later.

It would be wonderful if we could keep this thread in the same respectful and positive vein.

@MaggieFS Thanks for starting the new thread.

It's Ireland today for Charles I think?

I queued to see HM last night from 23.20

it was an unforgettable experience. Huge crowds, but everyone talking in hushed voices.

a lone piper playing laments, interspersed with Highland Cathedral and God Save The King in the Meadows.

and then we went into St Giles just before 04.00. The queue stopped as first the Royal Company of Archers changed shift, and then the police officers on duty inside the cathedral changed also. All in total silence, except for the signal of three taps on the floor with a longbow by one of the archers. Two of the clergy read out prayers.

it was incredibly moving, but also in a strange way, without any huge pomp and ceremony. It was all about people being able to say “goodbye” to a well loved monarch.

in the words of the song “better loved ye canna’ be”.

HM was an inspiring lady. Yesterday and today, people in Scotland (there were plenty of accents in the queue that were not Scottish, so I think it’s important to mark that it wasn’t just Scots paying their respects) were able to bid HM a final farewell and to be thankful for her life.

Thank you @MaggieFS
I really enjoyed yesterday's thread and it's inspired me to maybe read up some more about the traditions and institutions.
I was hoping there'd be a similarly nice thread today.
@TrashyPanda how lovely. Thank you for sharing

As I queued last night, I was thinking that the last monarch to die in Scotland was James V in 1542. He was the father of Mary Queen of Scots.

So today I did a wee of fact checking (I’ll be totally honest and did not know date of his death!) and found it is really unusual for a monarch to die in London. In fact the last British Monarch to die in London was George II in 1760. Which is quite stunning. The others died either at Windsor (G3, G4 and W4)or Sandringham (E7, G5 and G6)or in the case of Queen Victoria, at Osborne House.

Thank you, I'd been wondering along those lines, hadn't realised Edward VII also died at Sandringham. The start of the mourning period in Scotland has been so beautiful, full of rich history and tradition. I'm ashamed to admit I didn't even know there was a Scottish crown (and the oldest, too)

I'm glad you got there @TrashyPanda it sounds very moving.