A Scottish police officer who stood guard at the Queen's coffin as she lay at rest in Edinburgh has spoken of her pride at being involved in Her Majesty's final journey out of Scotland. PC Courtney Craik, from Falkirk, says she was informed three years ago that she would have the "privilege" of being a ceremonial guard for the Queen in the event of the monarch dying in Scotland.
When that came to pass on September 8, it triggered Operation Unicorn - a years-old execution-ready plan that saw movement around Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire restricted with military precision. She told public affairs magazine 1919 that standing guard over Her Majesty at St Giles' Cathedral was a "sombre experience".
She described it as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that's not going to come up again," adding: "To be honest, it was quite a proud moment to be involved in."
