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Queen’s Cortege: Aberdeen gave the Queen ‘an emotional send-off’ as thousands line streets

Mourners turned out in their thousands to see the Queen's cortege through Aberdeen. Picture by DCT Media.
Mourners turned out in their thousands to see the Queen's cortege through Aberdeen. Pictures by DC Thomson

Thousands of people took to the streets of Aberdeen to bid farewell to Queen Elizabeth II,  paying tribute to a monarch, a mother and a grandmother as the cortege rolled past.

Mourners sought out places at the barriers lining Great Southern Road hours early, desperate to get a prime spot to see off Her Majesty.

Hundreds more lined Holburn Street and Great Western Road as the late Queen passed through the Granite City one last time.

Some, like Mazhar and Sumaiya Chowdhury on the King George VI  bridge, wanted to “be part of history”.

Sumaiya and Mazhar Chowdhury, who went to watch the Queen's cortege in Aberdeen to be "part of history".
Sumaiya and Mazhar Chowdhury, who went to watch the Queen’s cortege in Aberdeen to be “part of history”.

Originally from former British colony Bangladesh, the couple grew up watching royal processions on TV.

They were not alone in arriving hours before the Queen’s cortege was due to pass by.

It was enough time for the Sunday sun to burn off the haar which had rolled up the River Dee from the harbour mouth.

For others, a spot near Duthie Park felt like home. Jeanette Anictomatis had flown back to Aberdeen to reunite with her six siblings.

Sisters Jeanette Anictomatis and Jewel Reid watched the Queen's cortege, visiting their sister Sheila Halligan from Australia, Picture by Paul Glendell/DCT Media.
Sisters Jeanette Anictomatis (right) and Jewel Reid (centre) watched the Queen’s cortege, visiting their sister Sheila Halligan (left) from Australia, Picture by Paul Glendell/DC Thomson

Her trip from Darwin, in the Northern Territory of Australia, gave her the unexpected chance to pay tribute to the late monarch.

“We love our Queen,” the honorary British Consul said, leaning against the barrier with two of her sisters, Jewel and Sheila.

“I grew up in Garthdee, went to Kaimhill School, grew up playing in Duthie Park and our father is buried in Allenvale Cemetery across the road.

The Queen's cortege coming down Great Southern Road, passing Duthie Park on the right and Allenvale Cemetery on the left. Picture by Jasperimage.
The Queen’s cortege coming down Great Southern Road, passing Duthie Park on the right and Allenvale Cemetery on the left. Picture by Jasperimage.

“That’s why we came here. There is nowhere else I would want to be. I want to be part of this day and to go home and tell all my grandchildren ‘I was there’.

“God save the Queen and God save the King.”

Lindsey Ritchie, alongside husband Andrew, told The P&J of childhood summers spent chasing the royals around Aberdeenshire. Picture by Paul Glendell/DCT Media.
Lindsey Ritchie, alongside her husband Andrew, told The P&J of childhood summers spent chasing the royals around Aberdeenshire. Picture by Paul Glendell/DCT Media.

Andrew and Lindsey Ritchie wanted to pay their respects, having grown up following the Windsors around Royal Deeside to favourite destinations such as Crathie Kirk and the Braemar Gathering.

A winding throng of people in Aberdeen for the Queen’s cortege

Crowds built slowly through the early morning. By 11am, crowds were five or six deep near the south-western gates of the park.

Further towards the city centre, the route from Great Western Road onto Holburn Street was equally packed.

The Queen's Cortege at Holburn Junction in Aberdeen. Crowds lining the streets surged forward as the cars drove by. Picture by Kenny Elrick/DCT Media.
The Queen’s Cortege at Holburn Junction in Aberdeen. Crowds lining the streets surged forward as the cars drove by. Picture by Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Crowds surged forward at Holburn Junction as the cortege neared.

Meanwhile, Union Flags waved above the snake of people twisting up Great Southern Road towards Whinhill.

Those included the city’s second flag at full mast on the Duthie Park mound. A television crew in a helicopter caused a muted chatter as people predicted the cars must be nearby.

Dignitaries stand to attention as Queen’s cortege passes through Aberdeen

As the police escort began to roll past, around 20 city dignitaries stood at attention at the south-western gates of Duthie Park.

With the city’s lord lieutenant, Lord Provost David Cameron, at the centre of the line, they were flanked by dozens more councillors and the city baillies.

Lord Lieutenant David Cameron awaiting the Queen's cortege at the gates of Duthie Park. Picture by Jasperimage.
Lord Lieutenant David Cameron awaiting the Queen’s cortege at the gates of Duthie Park. Picture by Jasperimage.

Mr Cameron was immaculately dressed in the traditional uniform of a Scottish lord lieutenant.

Bought when he was voted lord provost in May, the navy blue uniform with blood-striped trousers and silver thistle buttons only arrived in the mail yesterday.

At his side, he bore the engraved ERII sword gifted to the city in the early 1950s as the Queen began her 70 years on the throne.

The lord lieutenant led the salute of the Queen’s cortege as it slowed slightly at the bottom of Great Southern Road.

Lord Lieutenant David Cameron leads the salute of the Queen's cortege as it left Aberdeen. Picture by Norman Adams/Aberdeen City Council.
Lord Lieutenant David Cameron leads the salute of the Queen’s cortege as it left Aberdeen. Picture by Norman Adams/Aberdeen City Council.

He told The P&J: “It was incredibly poignant, to be there to salute the coffin and the cortege as it went past. It was emotional.

“So many people turned out, which I think proves that Her Majesty was loved by the people of the north-east and Aberdeen.

“It is something I will never forget; it was part of history.”

Princess Royal acknowledges crowd’s support

He then received a nod of acknowledgement from Princess Anne, riding in the car behind.

“I probably held my salute longer than I had been instructed to,” Mr Cameron added.

“But I am glad I kept it on. I would like to think she never doubted that Aberdeen cares and today has proven that.”

King George VI looks on as his wife officially opens the Aberdeen bridge over the River Dee named after him. Queen Elizabeth performed the ceremony in 1941. Between the Royal couple is Lord Provost Tommy Mitchell. Library picture.
King George VI looks on as his wife officially opens the Aberdeen bridge over the River Dee named after him. Queen Elizabeth performed the ceremony in 1941. Between the Royal couple is Lord Provost Tommy Mitchell. Library picture.

As soon as the Queen had crossed the King George VI bridge – named after her father and opened by her mother in 1941 – the city leaders were rushed across Aberdeen for the proclamation of Charles III.

Onlookers left behind told of their pride in the city’s turnout for a monarch who had made her love for Balmoral and the north-east so clear.

The Princess Royal did not limit her grateful gesture to the lord lieutenant either.

Fifteen bereted members of the Aberdeen Royal Engineers Association also received a nod of thanks.

The Royal Engineers Association lowered the standard as the Queen's cortege passed by Great Southern Road. Picture by Jasperimage.
The Royal Engineers Association lowered the standard as the Queen’s cortege passed by Great Southern Road. Picture by Jasperimage.

Chairman Ray McLaughlan said: “We were privileged to be here. It was very moving and I am glad we came to pay our respects.

Standard bearer John Beattie added: “Aberdeen did well to turn out in numbers, I am so glad the Queen got a good send-off from the city.”

Queen’s cortege in Aberdeen: ‘That she is gone is just crazy’

Mourners at the side of road as the Queen's cortege crossed Aberdeen's King George VI bridge. Picture by Paul Glendell/DCT Media.
Mourners at the side of road as the Queen’s cortege crossed Aberdeen’s King George VI bridge. Picture by Paul Glendell/DC Thomson

Further up the Great Southern Road slope, some still seemed stunned by Her Majesty’s death on Thursday.

Luke Hulse and his family were among them, having gone to Balmoral Castle last night to lay flowers.

Luke Hulse, 34, with April and five-year-old daughter Lacey. Picture by Alastair Gossip/DCT Media.
Luke Hulse, 34, with April and five-year-old daughter Lacey. Picture by Alastair Gossip/DC Thomson

“Last night I just wanted to be near to the Queen,” Luke told The P&J, his five-year-old daughter perched on his shoulders waving two Union Flags above his head.

“And to have her car come through Aberdeen means a lot to me. I just wanted to show my respect. That she has gone is just crazy.

“God save the king? I am still stuttering trying to say that as it is such a change.

“The least we can do is be here, Princess Anne lost her mum and we have lost our queen.”

Onlookers gather on Great Southern Road on the south of the River Dee to see the Queen's cortege leave Aberdeen. Picture by Kath Flannery/DCT Media.
Onlookers gather on Great Southern Road on the south of the River Dee to see the Queen’s cortege leave Aberdeen. Picture by Kath Flannery/DCT Media.

Packed crowds at either side of the road escorted the Queen’s cortege out of Aberdeen and onto Stonehaven Road.

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