The biggest security operation in British history has begun as the Queen's coffin arrived in Edinburgh with snipers lining rooftops as heavily armed police kept order on the ground.
Thousands of well-wishers were awaiting the arrival at the Royal Mile since the vehicle left Balmoral just after 10am this morning. The coffin has since arrived at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The 96-year-old's oak coffin was draped with the yellow Royal Standard of Scotland with a wreath of flowers on top.
The multi-million pound security operation is well underway, leading up to the late monarch's funeral in eight days time as world leaders begin to plan their arrival.
A ring of steel has been formed outside and inside the Palace of Holyroodhouse and St Giles' Cathedral in the city before it ramps up with SAS units expected to be deployed.
It is understood around 10,000 officers in total could be involved between this morning and next Monday.
Many have cancelled leave to ensure the operation goes to plan.
Police have also been granted a no-fly zone order over London from Monday morning. The Queen's coffin is scheduled to arrive in the capital on Tuesday.
Plain-clothes officers will also be among crowds to monitor any threats with domestic security service MI5 and the foreign service MI6 also remaining close at hand.
Former military intelligence officer Philip Ingram said: "It's one of the biggest security headaches for the UK because of the nature of the event, widely publicised days in advance and just about every world leader possible coming into London.
"GCHQ with allied spy agencies will be making sure they are tuned into any particular threat, MI5 and MI6 will be looking to international organisations that they cooperate with.
"It will attract everyone from across the globe and those that will potentially want to disrupt it - terrorists, hostile intelligence agencies," he told MailOnline.
The late sovereign will be moved to the Cathedral in Edinburgh’s High Street on Monday, where the public will be able to pay their respects for 24 hours.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and other party leaders in Scotland are expected to observe the coffin as it goes past the Scottish parliament.
The procession along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile will include the new King as well as the late Queen’s other children - the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex following behind on foot, along with Anne’s husband Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
The Queen's coffin will then be taken to London on Tuesday on an RAF plane before heading to Buckingham Palace by road, where she will rest in the Bow Room.
On the afternoon of Wednesday, September 14, her coffin will be taken on a gun carriage of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster, where The Queen will Lie-in-State in Westminster Hall until the morning of the state funeral on Bank Monday, September 19.
The Procession will travel via Queen’s Gardens, The Mall, Horse Guards and Horse Guards Arch, Whitehall, Parliament Street, Parliament Square and New Palace Yard.
Members of the public will have the opportunity to visit Westminster Hall to pay their respects to The Queen over the next four days.
* Today the Sunday Mirror celebrates the life of Her Majesty the Queen with a commemorative special filled with all the key moments from Britain’s longest reigning monarch.
