Two buddies and former civil service members joined an extended queue in Edinburgh immediately to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Seeing the Queen’s coffin is a momentous event and for 2 buddies it was price getting up early to be the primary in line to pay their respects to Her Majesty.
Former soldier George Higgins was the primary particular person queuing down The Meadows in Edinburgh – round a 15 minute stroll away from St Giles’ Cathedral, the place the monarch’s coffin is out there to view from 5pm immediately.
Mr Higgins, 62, arrived at 6:45am after working an evening shift on the Royal Infirmary.
He instructed Sky News he “wouldn’t miss it for the world”.
“We get the privilege to be able to do this in Scotland, where if she had passed in England we wouldn’t have. Me coming from Edinburgh, my home city, and she’s lying in St Giles’, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
“I’ve to go and pay my respects to my outdated boss,” the former soldier added.
At around 10am, he was joined by his friend Sheila Purvis, who knew she would be in the queue as soon as she found out the Queen’s coffin was coming to the Scottish capital.
The 72-year-old said the Queen meant “all the pieces” to her.
Mr Higgins added: “What she did for this nation, for Great Britain, and us is unfathomable”.
Of King Charles III, he mentioned having him as reigning monarch “will take some getting used to”.
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Donning his Northern Ireland General Service medal, his First Gulf War medal and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal, Mr Higgins recalled parading for the Queen in 1983 as a younger soldier.
“I can’t believe I’m actually saying that… it was probably one of the best times of my life and one of my proudest moments,” he mentioned.
Ms Purvis was additionally carrying medals belonging to her uncle and her personal Silver Jubilee medal and Imperial Service medal for her 26 years within the civil service.
“I got to meet her twice, once at the Ceremony Of The Keys at Holyroodhouse and then I was presented to her in 2009 because she was giving new colours to the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
“I seen her pores and skin regarded so mushy it regarded pretty, I used to be pondering this outdated woman has the pores and skin of a 21-year-old,” she added.
The pair said they would like to send their “deepest condolences” to the Royal Family.
Source: information.sky.com”