THE coffin of Alex Salmond has been put on a plane in North Macedonia, with a guard of honour overseeing the start of his journey.
Footage from the scene showed the former first minister's coffin being carried on to the private plane with a Saltire draped over it. The North Macedonian government had organised the guard of honour for his departure.
His party Alba shared footage, writing: "A Scottish patriot, Alba party leader and former first minister.
"Alex Salmond begins his journey home from North Macedonia."
Tom Hunter had been revealed as the private donor paying to repatriate the body as he said the former first minister and his family deserved the “dignity” of a private return home.
Salmond died aged 69 after suffering a heart attack in the city of Ohrid on Saturday, where he was attending a conference.
Scottish independence campaign group All Under One Banner (AUOB) said Salmond’s wife Moira has now invited anyone wishing to welcome her late husband home to “join him on one last journey”.
It is understood that a cortege will leave Aberdeen Airport at around 1:45pm and will be led by a group of Yes Bikers and that people have been invited to join the convoy to pay their respects.
The procession is to end at Fraserburgh and people who do not have a car are urged to stand along the route and wave a flag.
