Queen's coffin leaves her beloved Balmoral

LONDON, Sept 11 (AP/BBC): Queen Elizabeth II's coffin left her beloved Scottish estate Balmoral Castle on Sunday as the monarch who died after 70 years on the throne begins her last journey back to London for a state funeral.
Gamekeepers from Balmoral, the summer retreat where the queen died Thursday, carried the late sovereign's oak coffin from the castle's ballroom to a hearse to begin a six-hour, 280-kilometer (175-mile) journey through Scottish towns to Holyroodhouse palace in Edinburgh.
Crowds are lining parts of the route as the nation mourns its longest-reigning monarch, the only one most Britons have ever known. Early Sunday, flowers and other tributes - a small Paddington Bear toy, a hand-drawn picture of the queen - were piled up outside the gates of Balmoral.
A marmalade sandwich - Paddington Bear's favorite snack - also lay among the floral tributes directly outside the gates of Balmoral. A message on the plastic bag read: "A marmalade sandwich for your journey ma'am."
Sunday's solemn drive through Scotland comes a day after the queen's eldest son was formally proclaimed the new monarch - King Charles III - at a pomp-filled accession ceremony steeped in ancient tradition and political symbolism.
The Queen will lie in state for four days before her funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday, 19 September.
The public will be allowed to view the coffin during that time.
Before this, the Queen will be at rest in St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh for 24 hours from Monday 12 September, with people able to pay their respects.
Her family, politicians and world leaders will attend her state funeral at 11:00 BST. It will be a bank holiday.
The Queen's final journey began on Sunday, with her oak coffin being carried by her Balmoral gamekeepers - her own staff bringing her to a hearse that would take her to Edinburgh.
The coffin is driving slowly to the Palace of Holyroodhouse for 16:00 BST.
On Monday afternoon, it will process to St Giles' Cathedral, with members of the Royal Family. There will be a service and the coffin will rest here for 24 hours, for people to pay their respects.
The following day, Princess Anne will accompany her mother's body as it is flown back to London. The Queen's coffin will be taken from Edinburgh Airport to Buckingham Palace via RAF Northolt.