Queen Elizabeth II will soon take one final journey through the Aberdeenshire countryside she loved so much.
Mourners are expected to line the route from Balmoral Castle on Sunday, as her cortege travels south to Edinburgh.
The UK’s longest serving monarch died at her Royal Deeside retreat on Thursday.
It prompted a mass operation including the ascension of King Charles III, as well as transporting his mother to London to lie in state.
The first part of that journey will take place on Sunday.
Two key events will be held along the route for mourners to show their respects to Her Majesty — one in Ballater, and one in Duthie Park in Aberdeen.
The Queen’s route will go from Balmoral to the middle of Aberdeen
The route will take the Queen’s coffin from her beloved Balmoral estate, right into Aberdeen, before travelling on to the Scottish capital.
Cones have already been laid out through the city, indicating the twists and turns her car will take.
Starting at Balmoral, the cortege will make its way through Royal Deeside towards Aberdeen, the Press and Journal can exclusively reveal.
After leaving Balmoral, the Queen will quickly pass Crathie Kirk, where she worshipped when staying in the north-east.
The car is expected to slow down, maybe to walking speed, where there are crowds.
It will arrive into Ballater at around 10.12am for a tribute event.
This tribute will be attended by the Lord Lieutenants of Aberdeenshire, as well as senior officers and Aberdeenshire councillors.
Local affection for the Royals in Ballater – reciprocated by the family – has long been clear – coming to the fore in the aftermath of the Storm Frank floods at the beginning of 2016.
After it leaves Ballater, the cortege will travel along the A93 Braemar to Aberdeen road that the monarch will have taken scores of times.
On its way to Aberdeen, it will pass through communities such as Aboyne, Banchory and Drumoak.
Stewards will guide members of the public in towns and villages along the route.
The journey will provide onlookers along the way with the last chance to pay their respects.
Hundreds have already taken to the gates of the Royal estate in Aberdeenshire to leave tributes to Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned for 70 years.
Preparation underway on Friday for monarch’s last journey through the north-east
Crossing over the Culter Burn and the Rob Roy Bridge, the suburb on the very edge of Aberdeen has already been prepared for the cortege.
It is expected the cortege will enter Aberdeen at around 11am.
Yellow ‘no waiting’ cones line both sides of North Deeside Road through the village.
It had been feared that Culter may have been the extent of Her Majesty’s last trip through the Granite City.
But the procession will sail past the Aberdeen bypass and on into the very centre.
The route will take the Queen through Milltimber and Cults to the very end of North Deeside Road.
The Queen will cross her father’s bridge on route out of Aberdeen, after passing by Duthie Park
Then the car will join Great Western Road, missing the city’s famed Granite Mile.
Instead, her cortege will turn right down Holburn Street and take Great Southern Road out of the city.
But before Her Majesty leaves Aberdeen, there will be a special event at around 11.20am in the Duthie Park area.
Click here to find out more about the event.
The Lord Provost of Aberdeen, in his role as Lord Lieutenant, will lead a tribute joined by civic dignitaries such as deputy lieutenants, council leaders, councillors, and the local authority’s chief executive.
Members of the public have been invited to pay their respects to Her Majesty at the ceremony at Great Southern Road by Duthie Park, or on a footpath along the route.
There will be temporary road restrictions in place from 6am on the day of the event.
It is expected that the cortege will pass along Great Southern Road, past Duthie Park, between 11.15am and 11.40am.
The cortege will then cross the King George VI bridge – which was named after Elizabeth II’s father.
Her mother, Queen Elizabeth, officially opened the crossing – her husband watching on – in 1941.
From there, the Queen will be transported along Great Southern Road and onto the A92 Aberdeen to Dundee road.
She will then travel through Dundee before moving on to Edinburgh.
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