Employees and college students on the King’s former college have come collectively to mark the Queen’s state funeral.
Gordonstoun college, in Morayshire, suspended classes on Monday to permit boarding homes to assemble and watch the funeral broadcast.
The homes had been silent because the Queen’s coffin made its solution to Westminster Abbey, with some employees and college students admitting they felt some emotion in direction of the event.
Later within the afternoon, every of the college’s homes took half in a stroll to the close by coastguard watchtower – which the Duke of Edinburgh opened in 1955 – to put flowers in tribute to the Queen.
College students then gathered within the college chapel for a memorial service.
A lone piper began the service with Superb Grace, adopted by hymns and prayers.
Proceedings got here to an finish with a rendition of Highland Cathedral by a pipe band.
The Queen had a detailed connection to Gordonstoun, along with her husband, the late Prince Philip, finding out there in his youth.
The Queen wasn’t simply the Queen at Gordonstoun. She was additionally a Gordonstoun mum and a Gordonstoun grandmother, so it does really feel just like the passing of a member of the household
Their three sons, Charles, Andrew and Edward adopted in his footsteps – an schooling that Charles stated instilled in him self-discipline and a way of accountability.
The Princess Royal’s two kids, Zara and Peter, had been additionally college students on the impartial college.
Lisa Kerr, the college’s principal, stated it was a “outstanding” day for the Gordonstoun group “in so some ways”.
She instructed the PA information company: “Most significantly, it’s our alternative with the remainder of the nation to pay our respects to a much-loved and revered monarch.
“However after all, the Queen wasn’t simply the Queen at Gordonstoun – she was additionally a Gordonstoun mum and a Gordonstoun grandmother, so it does really feel just like the passing of a member of the household.”
Ms Kerr added that the “entire college feels an amazing sense of satisfaction and honour” to have a former pupil as the brand new monarch.
Fatima, a pupil in 12 months 12, watched the funeral from the home Charles stayed in as a pupil – an expertise she described as “particular”.
“I used to be in his room – the home captain’s room – for the funeral, and I feel that made me really feel fairly in contact with the royal household,” she instructed PA.
“It is a very historic second in time, and I really feel so fortunate to be part of it.”
Yr 13 Valentin stated it was “superb” to see the college come collectively to look at the printed.
He instructed PA: “It was fairly superb to see the entire home be seated there in immaculate uniform, paying their respects, being quiet for the entire length of the funeral.”
Ruby, who’s in 12 months 10, instructed PA it was a “shock” to see the Queen’s coffin being carried into Westminster Abbey.
“It was simply very emotional and you possibly can see everybody fairly cloudy within the eyes,” she added.
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