King Charles and the Queen Consort have departed London and returned to their respective residences following days of public celebrations honoring Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on Thursday at Balmoral Castle.
The couple was spotted landing at Camilla’s residence in Reybridge near Lacock, Wiltshire at approximately 4.30pm today, shortly after leaving the late Queen’s procession to the Palace of Westminster.
The Royal aircraft landed in a meadow adjacent to Ray Mill House, the residence of the Queen Consort.
The landing was greeted by a small audience of only three persons, in contrast to the large crowds witnessed awaiting the arrival of the bereaved family at royal residences across Britain this week.
It is believed to be the first time the King and Queen Consort have returned to their Wiltshire and Gloucestershire estates since their trip to Balmoral Castle hours before the Queen’s death on Thursday.
Following the eventful period in which he ascended to the throne, it is expected that the King will enjoy a day of solitary reflection. On Thursday, he is not anticipated to attend any public engagements.
The helicopter carrying King Charles and the Queen Consort lands in Wiltshire. At approximately 4.30 p.m., the aircraft was spotted landing in a field adjacent to Camilla’s Ray Mill House in Reybridge, near the village of Lacock. Following a procession of the Queen’s coffin from Buckingham Palace, the pair was observed leaving Westminster Hall an hour earlier.
The King, still wearing his military attire, and Queen Consort were greeted by three individuals. The luggage was transferred from the helicopter to the automobiles. It is believed to be the first time the King and Queen Consort have returned to their Wiltshire and Gloucestershire estates since their trip to Balmoral Castle hours before the Queen’s death on Thursday.
The King was later observed leaving the Wiltshire estate accompanied by The Metropolitan Police’s Special Escort Group. He is anticipated to have driven 30 minutes to Highgrove House, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire, his residence.
The King was observed standing next to his wife, still wearing his uniform, as their luggage was removed from the aircraft and transferred into their automobiles.
Shortly after his arrival, His Majesty drove himself the thirty-minute distance to his residence, Highgrove House, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire.
He was escorted by the Special Escort Group of the Metropolitan Police. The Queen Consort was not with him.
When he arrived at the gates of his estate, there was a small gathering waiting for him.
In the extensive planning known as ‘London Bridge’ for the aftermath of the Queen’s death, a day was set aside at this time for the new monarch to take a break from his public duties.
The day of reflection will allow the new King to stop, but it is believed he will also be preparing for his new position and receiving his red boxes of official paperwork.
Wednesday around 4.30pm, the Royal helicopter was observed landing at Camilla’s Wiltshire property. After the death of the King’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, there were only three persons present at the landing, which was in stark contrast to the crowds observed at royal residences across Britain this week.
The helicopter landed in a field adjacent to Camilla’s property in Wiltshire, Ray Mill House (pictured).
It is believed that Camilla will continue to reside at the residence, which is not an official Royal estate property, as she has for years.
Shortly after the helicopter arrived in Wiltshire, Charles was spotted driving away from the estate, accompanied by The Metropolitan Police’s Special Escort Group. It is believed that he then drove 30 minutes to Highgrove House (shown) near Tetbury, Gloucestershire.
Every day of the year, excluding Christmas Day, the new king will receive policy papers, cabinet documents, and Foreign Office telegrams from government ministers and other representatives from the Commonwealth and foreign countries.
His private secretary also sends a daily report of happenings in the House of Representatives, letters, and other state documents in the red boxes used by government ministers to transport confidential materials.
Each document must be reviewed and, if necessary, authorized and signed.
The red boxes are manufactured by the leather goods company Barrow and Gale, however it is unknown if Prince Charles has got a new set or is temporarily utilizing the Queen’s boxes.
The King was seen entering his estate in Highgrove, Gloucestershire, accompanied by officers from the Metropolitan Police. Tomorrow, the King is anticipated to devote a day of private reflection and will not be attending any public activities.
The late Queen continued to use the boxes created for her 1953 coronation, after having them renovated over the years.
Camilla is said to continue living in Ray Mill House, which is not an official part of the Royal estate, as she has for years.
After divorcing her first husband, Andrew Parker Bowles, in 1994, she purchased the £850,000 home and resided there permanently from 1996 until 2003.
Earlier this afternoon, King Charles, along with his three brothers and his sons Prince William and Prince Harry, marched in procession behind the coffin of the late Queen.
In a stirring 38-minute march, led by the King, royals marched through a crowded Mall all the way to Parliament Square.
The casket of the Queen was then brought to Westminster, where she will lie in state until her funeral on Monday.
As he marches alongside Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Anne, Princess Royal, and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, King Charles sheds tears.
The King has given Her Majesty to the United Kingdom to lay in state until Monday so that mourners may pay their respects.
The King and Crown Princess led the Royal Family into Westminster Hall.
Tomorrow is likely to be the rehearsal for the official burial procession, and King Charles and Camilla are scheduled to go to Wales on Friday as the state funeral continues.
This will be their first formal visit to the country since the Queen’s passing. Earlier this week, the King and Queen Consort visited the capitals of Scotland and Northern Ireland as part of Operation Spring Tide, a tour across the United Kingdom.
On the day of the funeral, a spectacular military parade will transport the Queen’s coffin from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey for the state funeral.
As they did for the funerals of the Duke of Edinburgh and Diana, Princess of Wales, it is believed that senior members of the royal family will follow behind.
Tomorrow, William and Harry will walk behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, similar to their mother Princess Diana’s burial in 1997 when they were children.
The monastery, which can accommodate a congregation of 2,000, will receive heads of state, prime ministers and presidents, European royals, and prominent personalities from the public sphere.
Following the ceremony, the coffin will be transported from the abbey to Wellington Arch before being transported to Windsor.
Once there, the hearse will proceed through the Long Walk to St. George’s Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle.
A broadcast committal service will then take place in St. George’s Chapel, followed by a private interment service with senior members of the royal family later that evening.
The Queen will be laid to rest in the King George VI memorial chapel, an extension to the main chapel – where her mother and father, as well as Princess Margaret’s ashes, are interred.
The coffin of her late husband, Prince Phillip, will be transferred from the Royal Vault to the memorial chapel, where it will join the Queen’s.
One million people are anticipated to wait in line for up to thirty hours in the days preceding the Queen’s funeral to pay their respects and view her coffin before the burial.