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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Kyle O'Sullivan

Queen's 'favourite grandchild' Lady Louise clutches mum's hand as royals pay tribute

There were emotional scenes in Balmoral today as the Queen's grieving family came out to greet well-wishers, including Lady Louise Windsor. Her Majesty died surrounded by her loved ones on Thursday after they rushed up to the Scottish Highlands estate.

King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Prince Harry are all back in London, but other members of her family have stayed in Balmoral and left the castle to attend a service at Crathie Kirk church. Lady Louise, who has been dubbed the Queen's 'favourite' grandaughter, was seen clutching the hand of her mum, Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

Lady Louise was seen holding onto mum Sophie Wessex's hand (bbc.co.uk)

For the latest updates as the world mourns the Queen and King Charles III's reign begins, follow our live blog.

Lady Louise, who is the oldest child of Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex, was seen walking back from the church service with her mother and father.

There have been several reports that Lady Louise is the Queen's "favourite" grandchild due to their special bond.

A Royal source previously told The Sun: "The Queen loves the fact that Louise and James relish their time at Balmoral, and she has become particularly close to Louise, who seems to have become her favourite grandchild, closely followed by James."

Lady Louise stepped into the spotlight last year to commemorate her grandfather Prince Philip in a BBC documentary.

Speaking to the camera about how her grandfather inspired her, the 17-year-old said: "The Duke of Edinburgh has been so involved in my driving which has been so lovely but slightly scary because he invented the sport pretty much.

"It's incredible to have learned first hand from him and definitely made us closer, I think."

Lady Louise Windsor attends a service at Crathie Kirk, Balmoral in Scotland (PA)

Also in attendance at Saturday's church service was the Queen's daughter, Princess Anne, who arrived with her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence.

Anne's children, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, were there to pay their respects along with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

Zara seemed choked as she left the church and viewed the tributes and was later seen comforting her younger cousin Eugenie.

Prince Andrew was also seen for the first time since his mother's death - and he gave a way to the cameras as he drove to the service.

The Duke of York thanked people for visiting Balmoral after the death of his mother the Queen, saying: "We’ve been allowed one day, now we start the process of handing her on."

King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Prince Harry had already left Scotland so were not in attedance.

Royals visit the scene at the gates of Balmoral where well-wishers have left flowers in memory of the Queen (Daily Mirror/Andy Stenning)

Prince Harry was the first royal to be seen leaving Balmoral - with the Duke of Sussex laying a supportive hand on an airport employee as he boarded a plane.

He had flown into Aberdeen Airport alone, hours after his brother and two uncles flew together to the same airstrip.

Later in the day, Charles and Queen Consort Camilla were seen leaving the royal family's Scottish Highlands estate this morning as they make their way back to London.

The new King sat in the back seat of the chauffer-driven car, with Camilla in the front seat, for the drive to Aberdeen airport.

The family will be reunited in London and will attend the Queen's state funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday 19 September.

It was confirmed today that there will be a bank holiday, with a two-minute silence will be held across the nation.

Processions will take place in London and Windsor, while a committal service will be held at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

The Prince of Wales, the Queen, and King Charles III during the Accession Council at St James's Palace (PA)

The coffin will be drawn to the Abbey on a gun carriage pulled on ropes by sailors rather than horses and senior members of the Royal Family are expected to follow behind.

The Queen will be buried in the castle's King George VI Memorial Chapel.

It's been a momentous day for King Charles, who has been formally proclaimed monarch at the Accession Council and will now host a number of audiences at Buckingham Palace.

More than 200 privy councillors, made up of mostly senior politicians past and present including former prime ministers, were present to hear the Clerk of the Council read the proclamation.

He made a personal declaration on the death of the Queen saying: "I know how deeply you and the entire nation, and I think I may say the whole world, sympathise with me in this irreparable loss we have all suffered.

"Her reign was unequalled in its duration, its dedication and its devotion. Even as we grieve, we give thanks for this most faithful life."

King Charles addressed the nation in a heartfelt speech after The Queen's death (AFP via Getty Images)

The new King has a busy few days ahead, as he is now preparing to embark on a tour of the country in the days before the funeral to meet his new subjects as millions around Britain unite in their sorrow.

On Monday, Charles will receive the motion of condolence at Westminster Hall before starting his UK tour with a visit to the Scottish parliament and a service at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh.

Tuesday will see the King arrive in Northern Ireland, where he will receive another motion of condolence at Hillsborough Castle and attend a service at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast.

He will then travel to Wales on Friday to receive another motion of condolence at the Welsh parliament and attend a service at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff.

* 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

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