Tuesday evening UK news briefing: Princess Anne escorts late Queen on journey to London
The plane carrying the late Queen's coffin has taken off from Edinburgh Airport on its way to London.
Applause had rang out from the crowds packing both sides of the Royal Mile in the Scottish capital as the Queen's coffin was led out of St Giles' Cathedral.
Her hearse travelled up the Lawnmarket, then swept down Johnston Terrace on its journey from the city centre to Edinburgh Airport.
The monarch's only daughter, Princess Anne, is accompanying the casket as it is flown down to RAF Northolt, before it is driven to Buckingham Palace, where it will lie in rest tonight.
The head of the RAF revealed that the plane carrying Queen Elizabeth's coffin evacuated thousands of people fleeing the Taliban in Kabul last summer.
The C-17 Globemaster has also been used to take humanitarian aid and weapons to Ukraine after Russia's invasion.
The Bow Room at Buckingham Palace will be the overnight resting place for the Queen's coffin until it moves to the Palace of Westminister.
It was the backdrop to the monarch's first Christmas broadcast in colour in 1967.
Meanwhile, the King pledged to follow his mother's example and try to heal the wounds left behind by the Troubles on his historic first visit to Northern Ireland as monarch.
On his first trip outside mainland Britain as sovereign, His Majesty said the late Queen "never ceased to pray for the best of times" for Northern Ireland.
The King said he would try to bridge the divides between the unionist and nationalist communities.
Earlier, the leader of the non-sectarian Alliance Party said the late Queen "transcended" divisions because everyone can recognise her "greatness".
Putin not invited
Diplomatic sources said Russia will not be invited to Queen Elizbeth's funeral because of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
The snub makes Putin's Kremlin one of only three national governments banned from the funeral.
Some 500 foreign dignitaries are expected to attend Monday's funeral at Westminster Abbey, making it the largest international gathering the UK has hosted in decades.
London got a glimpse of what the late Queen's procession may look like at 4am today, as those involved participated in a practice run of the main event.
Until then, the horses that will pull the late Queen's coffin are having flowers and flags thrown at them while troops are pretending to sob to prepare them for the huge crowds that will line the streets of London to pay their respects.
Sophie's promotion
Meanwhile, in what may be considered a final, poignant nod to the daughter-in-law who called her "Mama", Queen Elizabeth's title of the Duchess of Edinburgh will pass to the Countess of Wessex if, as expected, Prince Edward succeeds his father as the Duke of Edinburgh.
Such a move would elevate the status of the Countess at a time when her role becomes notably more significant - one of just a handful of working royals in the new, slimmed-down monarchy.
The decision rests in the hands of the King, who has held the title ever since his father's death.
Read how the late Queen treated Sophie "like a second daughter".
In pictures: A sea of flowers and Paddington's boots
Tearful mourners have been leaving tributes to Queen Elizabeth as she makes her final journey. View the gallery.
Comment & analysis
Simon Heffer | What a monument to the late Queen should look like
Charles Moore | Charles III is showing how well the baton passes
Tom Harris | In mourning, we see rival politicians are actually friends
William Nattrass | Europeans are envious of our monarchy
Sir Ben Ainslie | The Queen showed me the shot that killed Nelson
Next in line to the throne
As King Charles III becomes the new monarch and the new Prince of Wales becomes his heir, see how the line of succession has changed
Mourners may queue overnight to file past late Queen
Queen Elizabeth will lie in state in the Palace of Westminster until 6.30am on Monday, September 19, though mourners wanting to pay their respects have been warned they could have to queue overnight to file past her coffin. It is very unlikely any mourners will repeat what Elizabeth Sabey has done in Edinburgh. The 43-year-old evangelist and missionary visited the casket seven times and planned to go in as many times as she could before the coffin departed for Northolt. Also today:
Prince Andrew | Heckler charged with breach of the peace
Hospital appointments | Thousands of cancelled on day of funeral
Westminster School | Pupils sent home until after funeral
Funeral opening | Hawksmoor lashes out at pressure to close
Strictly Come Dancing | Premiere delayed in wake of Queen's death
In depth: Her Majesty's legacy
Archive photos | How the young new Queen and a nation mourned death of George VI
In pictures | Queen Elizabeth II's most iconic looks through the decades
'Smile and look happy? You can't make me' | On set with Queen Elizabeth II
This evening's other news headlines
Ukraine war | The Russian armed forces's most prestigious tank formation, designed to defend Moscow, has been "severely degraded", Britain's Ministry of Defence said. The unit, tasked with leading counter attacks in the case of war against Nato, will require "years" to rebuild its capability. As Ukraine's counter-offensive continues, Antonia Cundy went on the front line with the network of football "ultras" and veteran fighters liberating Kharkiv. Touching footage from the region shows civilians crying tears of joy after their towns were freed. Matthew Day says Ukrainians believe this victory is their El Alamein but Ben Wright warns that despite the humiliation, gas remains Putin's trump card.
Kangaroo kills man | First fatal attack of its kind for 86 years
Margaret Ferrier | Disgraced ex-SNP MP spared jail for Covid breach
'Alarming' exodus | Unemployment at lowest since 1974
New York Times | Staff refuse to come back to the office
Jean-Luc Godard dies | Celebrated giant of French cinema – obituary
Sport briefing: Joshua accepts Fury world title fight
Anthony Joshua has accepted terms for a proposed world heavyweight title fight with Tyson Fury, his management team have announced, with Cardiff's Principality Stadium on either Dec 3 or Dec 17 in play. The favoured date is December 3, offered by the Fury camp, with the roof closed for the 'Battle of Britain' mega-fight which will generate upwards of £80 million. Indications that the contest is genuinely moving forward have also come with the World Boxing Council sanctioning body having installed Joshua as No 6 in their rankings. Read on for details. In cricket, Sir Geoffrey Boycott sets out the reasons why the low-quality Test series between England and South Africa was not a fair contest.
Business briefing: Aldi moves ahead of Morrisons
Morrisons has lost its position as Britain's fourth largest supermarket as soaring prices drive more customers to cheaper rival Aldi. The change comes as the price of food continues to soar, with almost £40 added to market research firm Kantar's estimate of shopping basket inflation in just a month. Liz Truss has promised huge spending to help limit the impact of rising energy bills but government departments fear this could mean they face austerity through the backdoor. Meanwhile, new rent caps brought in by Nicola Sturgeon are set to suppress supply of rental homes. Read why Scotland's chaotic conditions could hit England next.
And finally
Sipping point | Gusbourne Estate's debut vintage sparkling wine is set to become England's priciest sparkling wine, at £195 a bottle. Telegraph wine expert Victoria Moore delivers her verdict.
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