My brother, the one who was the Scottish soldier in my previous post about the Queen – Elizabeth the Great as she is sometimes being called now – suggested that we might need our heads examined when he phoned me tonight from the Netherlands and I told him that we had been in the queue to get into Saint Giles’s to pay respects to the Queen. But it seemed like the right thing to do, although it’s something I would never have imagined I would have done. But that brief glimpse we got of the hearse when we were on the motorway bridge near Kinross as she travelled down from Aberdeenshire to Edinburgh didn’t seem like enough.
We knew that we wouldn’t be allowed to take any photos in the cathedral and I must admit that when it said on the radio news that the queues were so long we might have to shuffle along for as much as seven hours before getting into the catherdral, I assumed that would be an exaggeration, it was slightly, it turned out we were in the queue for five hours. Luckily it was a dry night, otherwise we would have given up I think. We weren’t alone, thirty-three thousand other people felt the need too. The photo below shows a small part of the queue snaking though the Meadows in Edinburgh. We were about an hour in by that point.
It was 3.30 am before we got in there for our four minutes or so, but it was certainly an experience, there was nobody in tears, it was just very dignified and serene. But still, as we left, I couldn’t stop myself from looking back a few times, it still seemed unreal.
This photo from the television coverage was taken before we left for St Giles’s.
Katrina, I am so pleased you were able to pay your respects. The long periods spent queuing by so many people are an indication of the esteem in which the Queen was held. From what I could see on tv it was a very moving experience. St Giles’ Cathedral looks absolutely beautiful. As does Edinburgh. I have never visited and now I am determined to get there.
Sandra,
Although I was born in Glasgow I must admit that Edinburgh is a lovely city and is full of history, it is tiny compared with Glasgow though so it isn’t great for shopping, but is fairly easy to get around. Get in touch with me if you want some help seeing the sights!
I am reading your post whilst watching the procession to Westminster on television. I am quite ignorant about the relationship between the monarchy and the people of Scotland, but I’m learning more through the events currently happening.
Paula,
YOu wouldn’t know it the way some people behave, but the Queen has far more Scottish blood in her than English. Her mother was Scottish and of course Queen Elizabeth the First had no children so it was the Scottish King James VI who inherited that crown, and she is descended from him. The Queen spent all of her summer holidays at Balmoral and visited remote Scottish islands too, it was the only time the family ever had any privacy.
I wondered if you would be tempted to go and I am glad you did so we can appreciate it vicariously.
My trip to Edinburgh was very short, less than two days, and I spent most of it at the Castle or the art museum but I think it is odd I have no recollection of St. Giles. Oh well, next time, I guess!
Constance,
Saint Giles started off as a cathedral but after the Scottish Reformation it became known as the High Kirk as the Church of Scotland doesn’t have bishops or cathedrals, you will have walked past it close to the top of the Royal Mile (High Street) it’s not the bonniest of buildings though. You’ll have to try to come back for another visit, there’s so much more for you to see!
Hi Katrina glad you were able to make it to see the Queen. I think the Queen was very much a Scottish lady. Her Nanny,later dresser,Margaret MacDonald “Bobo” was Scottish as was the infamous Crawfie,the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret’s governess. She was brought up loving all things Scottish!
Deb,
The Queen certainly dressed like a Scottish lady of that age, in tartans and tweed! I suspect that her mother would have wanted her to be born in Scotland (as Princess Margaret was) but my mum said that as the Queen Mother was tiny she had to have a caeseran section with supposedly the ‘best’ surgeons, hence she was born down there. I think she decided to die in Scotland, just after she shook hands with Liz Truss, the new PM, then she knew that Boris Johnson wouldn’t be reading the lesson at her funeral! She had planned the whole procession and ceremony at St Giles herself.
I loved her tartans and tweeds! Queen Victoria called Balmoral this dear Paradise and I’m sure our Queen agreed. It was lovely seeing her standing there before the roaring fire looking so bright and cheerful. She was lovely.
Deb,
Me too. We’ll never see anyone like her again, that’s for sure.
I learnt so much about history through HM Queen being at St Giles, I realised I knew very little about the Scottish bit I suppose.
I did the queue in London, I am so glad I did it, words can’t describe it.
Jo,
I’m glad that you appreciated The Queen’s time at St Giles, I suspect that some people just wanted her down in London as fast as possible, as they did when Diana died.
As you say, words can’t describe the experience, it certainly felt like the right thing to do.