• Live Queen Elizabeth II of England dies, latest news

  • Great Britain, from empire to great power in decline

Elizabeth II

's coffin rests temporarily in the

Balmoral

ballroom

, where she made her debut at the

Ghillies Ball

at the age of twelve and danced in her years as queen with Philip of Edinburgh.

It is unknown if it is an express wish of the monarch, that she kept great memories of her favorite stay in the Scottish castle.

Balmoral staff will pay tribute to the Queen's remains there until they are

transferred over the weekend to Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh

and, later, to

St. Giles Cathedral

, on the Scottish capital's royal mile, which will host the first mass bath in the ten days preceding the funeral at Westminster Abbey.

The entire royal family will probably travel to Edinburgh to take part in the religious ceremony.

Charles III

, who also maintains a very personal link with Scotland through his residence at Birkhall, plans to start his

first "four nations" tour as king

here , with stops in Northern Ireland and Wales, before returning to England .

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Death of Elizabeth II.

A rainbow over a crestfallen crowd: Britain is in mourning

  • Drafting: MARÍA SIERRALondon

A rainbow over a crestfallen crowd: Britain is in mourning

Queen Victoria, who acquired the Scottish castle of Balmoral in 1852, started the tradition of the

annual Ghillies Ball

, as a token of her appreciation to the staff serving the royal family.

In a popular photo from 1972, Elizabeth II can be seen accompanied by the Queen Mother and on the arm of Philip of Edinburgh - in a Scottish skirt - making her triumphal entrance into the ballroom under the imposing chandeliers.

Images of the Queen with Charles and Diana at the 1991 ball were immortalized in a documentary about the royal family. The tradition continued to be celebrated until 2019 and was suspended due to the pandemic, although the Queen only reappeared occasionally.

The spacious ballroom has also been used in recent years as an exhibition hall.

The royal family was leaving Balmoral Castle throughout Friday, where the Queen died on Thursday afternoon.

Prince Harry was among the first to leave the residence

, an hour's drive from Aberdeen.

King Charles, with a rueful face, and Queen Consort Camilla left Balmoral at noon on Friday for London.

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