Queen 'knew she wasn't going to come back' from Balmoral and 'wanted to pass there because she could actually leave her crown at the gates' and just be a 'mother, grandmother and great-mother', claims royal expert

Vanity Fair's royal correspondent Katie Nicholl appeared on the BBC today ahead of the service of thanksgiving at St Giles' Cathedral, where the Queen's coffin will remain until Tuesday, when it will be flown to London ahead of the state funeral, after travelling from the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Her Majesty died aged 96 on Thursday at Balmoral, having spent much of the summer at her beloved Scottish residence - despite dealing with 'mobility issues'. Speaking to presenter Huw Edwards, Katie claimed the Queen 'knew she wasn't going to come back [to Windsor Castle or Buckingham Palace], I think she wanted to be in Balmoral and she wanted to pass there.' She added that the Queen could be just a 'mother, grandmother and great-grandmother there' and 'leave her crown at the gates'.