The statement, which was
released shortly after a special service at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh,
read: “I know that the Scottish Parliament and the people of Scotland
share with me a profound sense of grief at the death of my beloved mother.
Through all the years of her reign, The Queen, like so many
generations of our family before her, found in the hills of this land, and in
the hearts of its people, a haven and a home.”
He continued: “My mother
felt, as I do, the greatest admiration for the Scottish people, for their
magnificent achievements and their indomitable spirit. And it was the
greatest comfort for her to know, in turn, the true affection in which she was
held. The knowledge of that deep and abiding bond must be to us a solace
as we mourn the end of a life of incomparable service.”
His Majesty went on to
“paraphrase” the Scottish poet Robert Burns to describe the Queen,
saying she was “The friend of man, the friend of truth;/The friend of age,
and guide of youth:/Few hearts like hers, with virtue warm’d, /Few
heads with knowledge so inform’d.”
He also spoke about passing on
his title of Duke of Rothesay to Prince William, saying: “I know [he]
will be as proud as I have been to bear the symbols of this ancient
Kingdom.”
King Charles led his siblings
in a procession behind Her Majesty’s coffin as Her Majesty was moved from
Holyroodhouse to St. Giles’ cathedral. The coffin was draped with the
Royal Standard in Scotland and dressed with a wreath of flowers consisting of
white spray roses, white Freesias, white button chrysanthemums, dried white
heather from Balmoral, spray eryngium, foliage, rosemary, hebe, and
pittosporum.
