ALEX Salmond’s coffin will be draped in a Saltire before it is flown home to Scotland later on Friday.
The former first minister’s body is due to be repatriated on a private flight paid for by billionaire businessman Sir Tom Hunter later today.
Salmond, who led Scotland from 2007 until resigning after the independence referendum in 2014, died suddenly last Saturday after suffering a heart attack at an event in Ohrid, North Macedonia.
The news sent shockwaves across the Yes movement and wider society, with questions being asked about why the UK and Scottish governments would not step forward to arrange his repatriation with an RAF flight.
As discussions continued, news broke that a flight had been arranged by Hunter, who paid for it personally. It is due to take off at about 11am, landing in Aberdeen at about 1.45pm.
North Macedonia is to give Salmond a guard of honour, with 16 soldiers attending as his coffin is put on board.
There will be a procession including Yes bikers after Salmond’s wife Moira issued an invitation through the All Under One Banner (AUOB) campaign group.
After Salmond’s death, Moira, his sisters Margaret and Gail, brother Bob, and their children issued a statement calling the late leader "a devoted and loving husband, a fiercely loyal brother, a proud and thoughtful uncle and a faithful and trusted friend".
A private, family funeral will be held, though the date has not been confirmed, followed by a public memorial.
Kenny MacAskill, a long-time friend of Salmond and now acting Alba leader, said: "The family have asked that their privacy be respected at this time and will be making an announcement in due course about the funeral arrangements and a memorial service to honour the life of Alex Salmond."
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "Over the last few days, the Scottish government and UK government have been engaging with Alex Salmond's family and working closely together in accordance with their wishes, to ensure the swift and dignified repatriation of the former first minister to Scotland."
They added: "The Scottish Government continues to engage with Mr Salmond's family, and we stand ready to offer further advice and support, should it be required."
Hunter said on Thursday: “Whilst he and I disagreed on some of his ambitions, Alex Salmond devoted his life to Scotland and the Scottish people and as such he, and importantly his family, deserved the dignity and privacy of a private return to the home of his birth.
“Our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with his family at this time.
“To be clear, I remain resolutely apolitical.”
