The Queen's love of her home in Balmoral in Aberdeenshire was well known. She spent most summers at her beloved 50,000-acre country estate that is nestled in the Scottish Highlands. Now as her coffin leaves Balmoral on a six-hour journey to Edinburgh, where it will lie at St Giles’ Cathedral, staff at her 'favourite home' sent flowers from the estate with Her Majesty on her final journey.
The wreath on the coffin is made up of flowers from the Balmoral estate including sweet peas – one of the Queen’s favourite flowers – dahlias, phlox, white heather and pine fir.
A great deal of thought went into the emotional selection for the Queen, with many of the blooms holding a special significance in tribute to her husband relationship with Prince Philip. Dahlia flowers symbolise a lasting bond and lifelong commitment between two people, while sweet peas are associated with the ideas of departures and goodbyes.
Notably they are also the birth flower of April, the Queen's birth month. During the Victorian era, wearing fragrant phlox demonstrated a wish for sweet dreams, while white heather symbolises protection or good luck.
For the latest updates as the world mourns the Queen and King Charles III's reign begins, follow our live blog.
At Prince Philip's funeral, The Queen personally selected the flowers that adorned her late husband's coffin.
The funeral wreath included white lilies, small white roses, white freesia, white wax flower, white sweet peas and jasmine.
In bright sunshine, the hearse carrying the late monarch passed through the gates of the royal residence which was her 'favourite place in the world'.
The Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence were part of the procession travelling in a limousine directly behind the late Queen.
Her oak coffin had been carried to the vehicle by six of the Balmoral estate’s gamekeepers, who were tasked with the symbolic gesture.
Draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland and with the wreath of flowers on top, it had remained at rest in the Balmoral ballroom so the late monarch’s loyal estate workers can say their last goodbyes.
Now with a single motorbike outrider leading the way and six vehicles following, the hearse travelled at a stately pace through the stunning Aberdeenshire countryside.
'Happiest place'
Every summer since 1952, the Queen travelled up to Balmoral, where she was known to be able to relax best.
"I think Granny is the most happy there,” Princess Eugenie remarked in the 'Our Queen at Ninety’ documentary. "I think she really, really loves the Highlands. Walks, picnics, dogs – a lot of dogs, there’s always dogs – and people coming in and out all the time.”
The sprawling estate was seen as a refuge for both the Queen, Prince Philip, and other members of the royal family, who keenly gathered there each summer, and enjoyed barbecues, and activities such as hunting and riding.
* This weekend, the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror celebrate the life of Her Majesty the Queen with a commemorative special filled with all the key moments from Britain’s longest reigning monarch. Be sure to pick up your copy of the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror to get poth pullouts.
You can leave your tributes to Queen Elizabeth II here.
