The colonel of the Royal Regiment of Scotland has stated his troopers had been “proud” to offer a guard of honour alongside the Royal Firm of Archers because the Queen’s coffin was taken to St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh.
Lieutenant Normal Nick Borton’s regiment participated in ceremonies to take the coffin from Balmoral, the place the Queen died on Thursday, to the Scottish capital, earlier than she is transported to London to lie in state.
Outlining the work of Balaklava Firm, 5 Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Lt Gen Borton stated: “The younger troopers, the jocks of 5 Scots, had the great honour of carrying the Queen’s coffin yesterday, as we speak and once more tomorrow, which you'll be able to think about is a deeply private and emotional second for them as younger troopers.
“One of many younger jocks within the bearer occasion solely left his primary coaching at Catterick 5 weeks in the past, and is now bearing the coffin of his Colonel in Chief.
“It’s been an amazing honour. It’s been very exhausting work. The troopers have been working tremendously exhausting since Friday to assemble collectively all the suitable uniform, after which relentlessly practise their drill to the excessive requirements required with a view to present the ceremonial environment for the occasions which might be happening.”
Lt Gen Borton stated the troopers “dropped every part” to return to Edinburgh the place they practised their drills forward of the ceremonies.
“It’s a deeply private attachment for all of the troopers within the regiment to be concerned in her funeral preparations,” he stated. “She was very keen on the regiment and all of the troopers in it.
“For us, it’s not only a army process, we’re saying goodbye to our Commander in Chief and our Colonel.”
He stated it was “typical” of the Queen that she was working two days earlier than her loss of life, including: “(She was) residing as much as her promise of a lifetime of service, to work to the bitter finish, and he or she did that.
“For all of us it’s massively devastating and unhappy, however we’re massively proud to be a part of it and to have identified her as a sovereign and because the Colonel in Chief, and really honoured to be right here participating in it.”