The coffin was draped in the Queen's standard with a wreath made from some of her favourite flowers - white heather, dahlias and sweet peas - all cut from the gardens at Balmoral.

The procession left the royal estate at 10:00. In Ballater the crowd stood in silence as the cortege moved through.

The community, less than eight miles from Balmoral, considered her more of a friendly neighbour than a monarch.

Residents were used to seeing the Queen in the area, and many had frequent interactions with her.

"You can feel the emotion from everybody around here," said resident Cheryl Barr.

"She was a very powerful lady, but very gentle at the same time."

A helicopter overhead signalled the arrival of the procession in nearby Aboyne. The crowd had tracked progress watching the news on their phones.

Pipes played as a hush fell over the village, and a voice from the crowd said: "You're on your way now."

The Thomson family travelled from Inverurie to be there. Mum Katherine - with children Megan, 10, and Katie, eight, and Pepper the dog - said the monarch was "highly respected and well-loved".

She added: "It's such a historical event. She just reminds us of the kids' great-granny."

John Palmer, 51, and his partner Kerry Davidson, 40, left Elderslie in Renfrewshire early on Sunday morning to reach the village.

"We just wanted to be here," Mr Palmer said. "It was very poignant.

"She sat on the throne for 70 years and was respected around the world. She has been a constant in our lives.

"She was a remarkable woman. I still don't believe it, it's very sad."

From Aboyne the funeral cortege travelled through Banchory, where flowers were thrown over the car. Crowds applauded as the procession left the village, travelling on to Aberdeen.

Large crowds gathered in Aberdeen's Holborn Street and along King George VI Bridge - named after the Queen's father.

Ashleigh and Donald Wilson brought their two young daughters

Ashleigh said: "In years to come my children will learn about her and learn about this moment. To show them they were here is important."

At King George VI Bridge crowds fell silent for about 10 minutes as the coffin passed. As the tension lifted the cortege headed south towards Stonehaven.

From Aberdeen it travelled on through Angus to Dundee.

Here people began gathering from early morning to save a spot on the grassy banks of the Kingsway.

Families and friends ate picnics on camp chairs, chatting about their affection for the Queen, before the procession reached the city at about 14:30.

Linda McKichen, 60, arrived four hours early to see the cortege and said it was a "heart-breaking" occasion.

She added: "It's like losing my mum. She's never not been in my life. This is a historic event, we'll certainly never have another queen like her.

"The Royal Family are human beings like the rest of us, and they've just lost a gran and mum. It's a really sad day."

Also in the crowd was Victoria Cowie, 22, a medical student at St Andrews University. She said it was a "sombre moment" but also a celebration of the monarch's life.

"I wanted to come and see the procession because the Queen was an incredible person," she said.

"She's really important to the UK."

The procession continued to Perth then over the Queensferry Crossing to Edinburgh.

The city's Royal Mile was stripped of its regular chaotic beat of bagpipes, street performers and tour guides.

Hushed chatter and an air of anticipation filled the streets as the royal cars approached.

The best vantage points were full as residents and curious tourists packed in along the endless lines of metal barriers.

Bradley Harkins, visiting Edinburgh from Chicago, said: "There's a real sense that something major is happening.

"I was at the proclamation earlier and it sent shivers down my spine."

Ripples of applause followed the Queen's funeral cortege as it travelled through the centre of the capital.

Dillon Hay, visiting from Bangor in Northern Ireland, had been due to catch a flight but remained in the city to watch.

"We had to come and pay our respects while we were here," he said.

"I've actually found it emotional on behalf of my nanny, I rang her and she was in floods of tears."

The Queen's coffin will remain overnight at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

On Monday, there will be a procession from the palace to St Giles Cathedral - where it will rest for 24 hours to allow people to pay their respects.

The next day it will be flown from Edinburgh Airport to RAF Northolt before going on to Buckingham Palace, ahead of the Queen's funeral on Monday 19 September.

Reporting by Ken Banks, Robbie Boyle, Katy Scott, Niall McCracken and Andrew Picken.