Mystery as royal undertaker William Purves removes window advert from Queen’s hearse during six-hour trip from Balmoral

UNDERTAKERS removed an advert for their firm from the window of the Queen's hearse as it made its way to Edinburgh.

A large sticker bearing the name of William Purves - chosen to transport the Queen's oak coffin across Scotland - was visible as it left Balmoral at 10am.

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But by the time the hearse reached Edinburgh the inappropriate ad - which obscured the view of the late sovereign's standard draped coffin - was gone.

The car carrying the Queen's coffin stopped at least once on its journey to give the drivers a chance to rest.

It is possible that the ad was removed during one of these stops.

The ad saw the firm's website crash as millions glued to the telly for a first glimpse of the Queen's coffin logged on.

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Thousands must have rushed to visit the family funeral director's site, causing an error message to appear for anyone who visited.

Once it was back up and running a message boasted: ''When you place your trust in William Purves you can expect the highest standards of professionalism, compassionate care and a truly distinct service.

"'Whatever you need, whatever your plans, lean on our experience, wherever and whenever you need us."

This evening the Queen's children Prince Andrew, Princess Anne and Prince Edward watched on in solemn silence as their mother's coffin was carried into Holyrood.

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Her Majesty's oak coffin will now remain in the throne room, which is familiar to her, overnight after a six-hour journey from Balmoral.

The funeral directors to the Royal Household were selected and appointed by the Lord Chamberlain's Office.

The family-run funeral directors based in Scotland are responsible for the Scottish leg of Her Majesty's final journey.

Princess Anne, who had followed the hearse today, bowed when her mother arrived at the Scottish Parliament.

Her two brothers and Edward's wife Sophie Wessex looked sombre as they received the coffin.

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The cortege also received a guard of honour by the King's Bodyguard for Scotland (Royal Company of Archers) as it entered the palace.

Thousands of mourners also lined the streets of Edinburgh to pay their respects to Britain's longest-reigning monarch.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.