Wednesday 14 September 2022 02:05 AM Kittyhawk had flown her last: Robert Hardman watches as Queen's coffin is flown ... trends now
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Kittyhawk has flown her last. At 6.55 last night, the most travelled monarch in history touched down for the final time — on this Earth at least.
The Queen's RAF C-17 landed at RAF Northolt dwarfing everything around it — a vast plane to carry such a tiny coffin. Has it ever carried a more precious load?
Like every flight bearing the Queen, this one bore the call sign Kittyhawk. Air traffic control will hear that stirring signal no more.
As ever, the Princess Royal — the great royal heroine of recent days — was at her mother's side.
The Princess Royal arriving with the Queen's coffin into RAF Northolt before travelling to Buckingham Palace
After leaving her beloved Scotland — East Lothian positively glowing in the late afternoon sun — the Queen arrived in London to find that evening drizzle had done nothing to deter the colossal crowds which continue to be a source of great comfort to her family (if not the authorities).
Last night, she was at rest at Buckingham Palace. Even after all the events of recent days, it was still extraordinary to think that this was her last night in the building which shaped her entire life.
You can chart her 96 years simply in terms of appearances on that balcony — from little girl, wartime subaltern, dazzling bride and Coronation Queen, right up to this summer.
She had entertained pretty much every significant figure in post-war history in those richly decorated rooms.
Robert Hardman: After leaving her beloved Scotland - East Lothian positively glowing in the late afternoon
