her death last week means that this is now the home of king charles — but the late queen will make one final visit to her old home, before the state funeral next monday. outside the palace, in the surrounding streets and parks, and at royal residences in other parts of the united kingdom, the tide of flowers and messages is a vibrant illustration of the nation's affection and respect for her late majesty. many of the tributes in central london have been gradually moved to nearby green park, as final preparations are made for the first ceremonial formality of the days to come. the air in this part of the city is heavily scented by thousands of floral tributes, as people from all parts of the united kingdom and overseas come to pay their respects in person. in the city of edinburgh it has been a period of 2a hours that few will ever forget — thousands of people gathered to see the silent royal procession to st giles�* cathedral, and then queued patiently throughout the night for their opportunity to file past her majesty's coffin. it's been an immense display of respect and affection ahead of the time for the late queen's body to be taken to london. so this evening the queen's coffin will be flown from edinburgh to london on a finaljourney from holyroodhouse to buckingham palace, ahead of the solemn procession to westminster tomorrow afternoon, along the mall — the great ceremonial route — to whitehall and the palace of westminster. there, in line with ancient tradition, the late sovereign�*s body will lie in state in the calm space of westminster hall in the days ahead of the state funeral. that began at edinburgh when the queen's final approach to the capital, and will lie at rest overnight in the bow room, which is a room overlooking the wonderful gardens behind the palace at buckingham palace itself. my palace itself. my colleague solly is at raf northolt waiting for the arrival of the royal aircraft. she can bring ups to date on the timings and what question expect there. welcome to raf northolt, an airfield thatis welcome to raf northolt, an airfield that is older than the royal air force itself, a station that her majesty the queen was very familiar minister and other dignitaries are in position, as is the guard of honour, formed by the queen's colour squadron, the ceremonial arm of the raf as her majesty the queen returns for one final time. thank you, we will be back there as soon as there is any suggestion that the royal aircraft is going to land. and we will see then, the guard of honour and indeed the welcoming party that is all in place ready to 90, party that is all in place ready to go, to bring the queen's body back in to central london. should say that the former prince of wales, now king charles iii has returned to buckingham palace this evening, because they have been in northern ireland today, and they had a rather sunny day there today, a blustery day, contrast rather with what is going on in central london in the past couple of hour, where it is rather wet. past couple of hour, where it is ratherwet. but past couple of hour, where it is rather wet. but there was an important visit today, where the king, and the queen consort simply wanted to say thank you for all the good wishes they have received, but also, to recognise all the tributes from people in northern ireland, to the late queen, and her lifelong service. so it has been a very busy day again for the king and the queen consort, and with me, two special guests, to keep us company and to talk a bit about the significance of this evening's event we have roya and gyles brandreth, former member of parliament better known possibly as a broadcaster and author and journalist, thank you forjoining us. a pizzi day in northern ireland, how pawn was it?— us. a pizzi day in northern ireland, how pawn was it? very important, i mean, how pawn was it? very important, i mean. what — how pawn was it? very important, i mean. what has _ how pawn was it? very important, i mean, what has been _ how pawn was it? very important, i mean, what has been remarkable i how pawn was it? very important, i - mean, what has been remarkable about this whole event is it has been both global and personal, and important for the whole of the united kingdom. the queen, never seemed to get anything wrong, pass yacht any scotland. and the new king has now visited scotland, and northern ireland, northern ireland so important to the queen, went there i think at least 25 times, was very aware of the importance of northern ireland to the united kingdom, aware of the troubles and in a personal way too because herfamily of the troubles and in a personal way too because her family was affected by the troubles, her cousin, her husband's uncle, the present king's great uncle and mentor, lord mountbatten of burma was murdered by the ira. she went back to northern ireland and shook hand with martin mcguinness, her belief in forgiveness, reconciliation, the importance of life, she was a remarkable person, she was the best as we can see, has brought out the best in all the people who were mourning. in the skies above we can see the royal air force, the c—17 approaching, that iconic aircraft, which of course is used by the royal air force to transport troops round the world, to take supplies london this evening, and ready to land at raf northolt, with a very impressive set of arrangements as you would expect, for such a solemn occasion, for the queen's final return to london, after that very moving and very touching set of events in edinburgh yesterday, and royais events in edinburgh yesterday, and roya is with me, looking at the images, what we are about to see, will touch the hearts of many people again, because really it's the queens of family because the princess royal is with the queen's body and then of course some of the seniorfigures in the royal household, also with the coffin, coming back and we expect maybe the prime minister, the defence secretary to be on the ground waiting as well, so, solemn, respectful, very important. hugely im ortant respectful, very important. hugely important because _ respectful, very important. hugely important because this _ respectful, very important. hugely important because this evening - respectful, very important. hugely important because this evening we are going — important because this evening we are going to see her majesty the queen— are going to see her majesty the queen return to her home, and the seat of— queen return to her home, and the seat of monarchy for and i think we touched _ seat of monarchy for and i think we touched on— seat of monarchy for and i think we touched on the princess royal with her mother, the queen on her final journey— her mother, the queen on her final journey back home, we have had a very touching statement from the princess — very touching statement from the princess royal which we will be able to share _ princess royal which we will be able to share later, there is something special— to share later, there is something special about her bringing her mother— special about her bringing her mother home. for a lot of people we have seen— mother home. for a lot of people we have seen incredible scenes in scotland~ _ have seen incredible scenes in scotland. herjourney from balmoral to edinburgh to holyroodhouse and on to edinburgh to holyroodhouse and on to st giles' _ to edinburgh to holyroodhouse and on to st giles' cathedral. there is going — to st giles' cathedral. there is going to — to st giles' cathedral. there is going to be something that makes it more _ going to be something that makes it more reel— going to be something that makes it more real as they see the queen return— more real as they see the queen return to — more real as they see the queen return to england, to the seat of monarchy, — return to england, to the seat of monarchy, where she will be met privately— monarchy, where she will be met privately by members of the royal family _ privately by members of the royal family a — privately by members of the royal family. a lot will be there to meet the coffin— family. a lot will be there to meet the coffin when it lies in rest. it the coffin when it lies in rest. [it is the the coffin when it lies in rest. is the most the coffin when it lies in rest. it is the most you see the coffin it comes home to you, if anybody watching remembers their own parents�* death. you are trying to keep the good humour going and then you see it and the reality of it dawns, and, for the royal family, for the princess royal particularly who yesterday travelled with her mother's body all the way from balmoral, this is, must be so affecting, and it is affecting everybody. interesting, we have been here, i have been here every day at buckingham palace, this week, and how the sense of motion seems to be growing, as the week has worn on, people feeling it more personally, as time goes by. people feeling it more personally, as time goes by-— people feeling it more personally, as time goes im— people feeling it more personally, as time goes by. absorbing the news, considerin: as time goes by. absorbing the news, considering what _ as time goes by. absorbing the news, considering what the _ as time goes by. absorbing the news, considering what the impact _ as time goes by. absorbing the news, considering what the impact of - as time goes by. absorbing the news, considering what the impact of the - considering what the impact of the news is, often in a personal way, because people tend to look back at their own lives, milestones in their own lives, i mean in my case i think of my grandmother when i see the queen, it is an interesting, just one of nose strong triggers if you like, in terms of my own thoughts and i am sure it is the same for lots of us and lots of people gathered outside today. we will have the queen's colour squadron by the way, such an impressive unit, who will be providing guard of honour andindeed will be providing guard of honour and indeed the bearer party, the queen's colour squadron, the raf regiment standing by, and the welcoming party there, which will include seniorfigures welcoming party there, which will include senior figures from the military and as i say, the prime minister and the defence secretary, and this really, for both of you gyles and roya, this is a journey which some might consider to be just part of a process of getting ready for the state funeral, and yet the way it has been done, the way this has been managed, the way that the crowds are gathered again at buckingham palace, just goes to show that no stage of this process is unimportant. i that no stage of this process is unimportant-— that no stage of this process is unim ortant. ,, ., , unimportant. i think that is right. talkin: unimportant. i think that is right. talking about _ unimportant. i think that is right. talking about the _ unimportant. i think that is right. talking about the crowds - unimportant. i think that is right. talking about the crowds here, . unimportant. i think that is right. talking about the crowds here, i | unimportant. i think that is right. . talking about the crowds here, i was making _ talking about the crowds here, i was making my _ talking about the crowds here, i was making my quay here, so many people gathered _ making my quay here, so many people gathered along the route, and i think— gathered along the route, and i think there is something incredibly poignant _ think there is something incredibly poignant about the queen, whose platinum — poignant about the queen, whose platinum jubilee, we were celebrating it three months a there is something about the. imagine in people's— is something about the. imagine in people's minds of the queen at buck, for so _ people's minds of the queen at buck, for so many— people's minds of the queen at buck, for so many of us it is coming out the balcony _ for so many of us it is coming out the balcony-— the balcony. that balcony there, onl ten the balcony. that balcony there, only ten or _ the balcony. that balcony there, only ten or 11 — the balcony. that balcony there, only ten or 11 weeks. _ the balcony. that balcony there, only ten or 11 weeks. we - the balcony. that balcony there, j only ten or 11 weeks. we weren't sure she was _ only ten or 11 weeks. we weren't sure she was going _ only ten or 11 weeks. we weren't sure she was going to _ only ten or 11 weeks. we weren't sure she was going to do - only ten or 11 weeks. we weren't sure she was going to do it. - only ten or 11 weeks. we weren't. sure she was going to do it. there is something moving about seeing her come _ is something moving about seeing her come back— is something moving about seeing her come back to london, to her home. in come back to london, to her home. in the come back to london, to her home. the middle of come back to london, to her home. in the middle of the sadness, are the us —— let us remember it's a 96—year—old, what a leaf of achievement, it isjust extraordinary, so there is, while there is this personal brief, there is also a sense of celebrating a unique reign. it is also a sense of celebrating a unique reign-— unique reign. it is that phrase which a member— unique reign. it is that phrase which a member of— unique reign. it is that phrase which a member of the - unique reign. it is that phrase which a member of the public| unique reign. it is that phrase - which a member of the public said what a life, you know it is something to celebrate, of of course it is a great loss to the family, a great loss to millions of people who really regarded the queen as a rock of lodty and constan psi in their lives. i don't deny that for a second but there is an element of a need to acknowledge notjust a long life but successful life. and need to acknowledge not “ust a long life but successful life._ life but successful life. and to salute a good _ life but successful life. and to salute a good person, - life but successful life. and to salute a good person, you - life but successful life. and to i salute a good person, you know, there is so much bad in the world, to be able to say look, we have had as our head of state a good perpetrator, for us to be here, this is what the duke used to call the head quarters of the family firm, and that she is coming home here tonight for a final night at buckingham palace. the other thing, im ortant buckingham palace. the other thing, important point _ buckingham palace. the other thing, important point is _ buckingham palace. the other thing, important point is to _ buckingham palace. the other thing, important point is to make _ buckingham palace. the other thing, important point is to make is - buckingham palace. the other thing, important point is to make is we - buckingham palace. the other thing, important point is to make is we are | important point is to make is we are seeing _ important point is to make is we are seeing dignitaries and the prime minister— seeing dignitaries and the prime minister and other people to welcome her back, _ minister and other people to welcome her back, this is the last night the royai— her back, this is the last night the royal family have with the queen, to themselves. tomorrow, they hand her over to _ themselves. tomorrow, they hand her over to the _ themselves. tomorrow, they hand her over to the nation for lying—in—state, that will be a poignant _ lying—in—state, that will be a poignant moment too for the family. squadron _ poignant moment too for the family. squadron leader is looking after the guard of honour but of course we have air chief marshal who is presiding over this exercise, this very solemn exercise, by the royal air force, he is part of the welcoming party, and wejust air force, he is part of the welcoming party, and we just saw a glimpse of him a short while ago. he will be, i am sure, greeting the princess royal when she medium—terms from the globemaster when it finally finishes taxiing, and then we will see of course, the bearer party, to bring the queen's coffin from the aircraft, the bearer party from 63 squadron, the raf regiment, who will be charged with that duty and what a privilege for them to, it's a huge honour. it privilege for them to, it's a huge honour. , , , honour. it is interesting, every military person _ honour. it is interesting, every military person you _ honour. it is interesting, every military person you meet - honour. it is interesting, every military person you meet has l honour. it is interesting, everyj military person you meet has a honour. it is interesting, every - military person you meet has a story about knowing the queen. i don't think i have met anybody who didn't seem to know the queen, everybody has seen her, met her, got a story to tell. it is wonderful. i suppose she will have touched a lot of lives in 96 years. it is interesting we are coming to buckingham palace, because of course, herfavourite homes were windsor and balmoral, this was the official headquarters, and i know that when she became queen back in 1952, she and the duke of edinburgh were thinking that maybe they could stay at clarence house and this could be the head quarters of the office but sir winston churchill said no, this is the, this is the place where you have to be, to be seen, to be in command. he place where you have to be, to be seen, to be in command.- place where you have to be, to be seen, to be in command. he had other ideas and you — seen, to be in command. he had other ideas and you recognise _ seen, to be in command. he had other ideas and you recognise that _ seen, to be in command. he had other ideas and you recognise that the - ideas and you recognise that the symbolism of buckingham palace was indivisionable with the authority and the visibility of the royal family, so, ithink and the visibility of the royal family, so, i think strict orders were given, to move.— family, so, i think strict orders were given, to move. yes. it has been a royal _ were given, to move. yes. it has been a royal palace _ were given, to move. yes. it has been a royal palace since - were given, to move. yes. it has been a royal palace since the, i were given, to move. yes. it has i been a royal palace since the, well it has been a royal palace since it was buckle ham house and partly rebuilt by the architect and builder thomas cubitt, the great—great—great grandfather of the new queen consort. this is raf northolt with close ties to the royal family. the queen has been using this air base many times over the years on her travels. this is the point of arrival back in london, just on the outskirts of west london on this rather solemn evening. a rather damp evening. and the guard of honour provided by the queen's colour squadron who are waiting and they're just a glimpse of the defence secretary ben wallace and next to him the prime minister liz truss or waiting silently and solemnly for the aircraft to come to a full stop and the engines to be switched off. and then of course for the bearer party to carefully and very slowly and solemnly and silently bring out the coffin bearing the queen's body. this really is a very big moment for so many people. the moment when i was giles brandreth was saying, a moment when we catch a glimpse of the coffin itself having seen it in edinburgh but now seeing it not in scotland but in england. and within a short time it will be back in buckingham palace, the scene of so many happy times and happy appearances for her majesty over the decades. you appearances for her ma'esty over the decades. ., ., decades. you mentioned the weather and it is very — decades. you mentioned the weather and it is very british _ decades. you mentioned the weather and it is very british weather - decades. you mentioned the weather and it is very british weather and