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Queen Elizabeth II Funeral Set For September 19; Princes William And Harry Reunite; King Charles III Formally Proclaimed In Somber Ceremony; Ukrainian Troops Enter Izyum As Russian Forces Retreat; Thousands Gather In London To Pay Respects To Royal Family; India Holds Day Of Mourning For Queen Elizabeth; U.S. President Joe Biden Plans To Attend Queen Elizabeth's Funeral; California's Fairview Fire About 40 Percent Contained; Bagpipers Played Late Summer Concert For Queen At Balmoral. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired September 11, 2022 - 01:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): Hello, I am Becky Anderson. That's Buckingham Palace in London. It is 6:00 am, the start of a momentous and sorrowful week as the U.K. and Commonwealth prepare to say farewell to Queen Elizabeth II.

Details of the late monarch's funeral were finally unveiled on Saturday, with her service at Westminster Abbey now set for September the 19th, which is eight days from now.

Queen Elizabeth died peacefully on Thursday at her country estate in Scotland at the age of 96. She was the only monarch most have ever known. Her death has left many people deeply shaken.

In just a few hours, her casket is expected to leave Balmoral Castle in Scotland on what will be the first leg of a final journey back to London, where she will lie in state at Westminster Hall until the funeral. CNN's Nic Robertson is in Edinburgh in Scotland, with all the details of what we can expect over the coming week.

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NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: At approximately 10:00 am local time on Sunday, the queen's body will be driven in a hearse slowly, a six-hour journey, beginning in Balmoral, passing through the villages of Ballater, then Banchory, then the city of Aberdeen, turning south through Stonehaven, Brechin, Forfar, Dundee, Perth, before passing along the streets here in Edinburgh, past the castle, to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the monarch's official residence in Scotland, where she will be placed in the Throne Room.

On Monday, she'll be taken by procession to St. Giles' Cathedral, where there will be a service attended by King Charles III, by other members of the royal family and by the British prime minister, Liz Truss. On Tuesday, the queen's body will be taken from London, taken to

Buckingham Palace. And then, on Wednesday, taken to Westminster Hall, one of the oldest buildings in Westminster Abbey, where the queen will lie in state for four days in a chance for the people of Britain to pay their last respects.

On Monday, the 19th of September, there will be a funeral service at Westminster Abbey. Following that, the queen's final journey to Windsor Castle, where she will be laid to rest -- Nic Robertson, CNN, Edinburgh, Scotland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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ANDERSON (voice-over): Cannons boomed across London Saturday to herald the new king, Charles III. Even though he automatically became king upon the death of his mother, the title was officially bestowed in a solemn ceremony earlier on Saturday.

Afterwards, the king, still deeply grieving for his beloved Mama, spoke about the daunting responsibilities that come with being sovereign. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLES III, KING OF ENGLAND: In carrying out the heavy task that has been laid upon me and to which I now dedicate what remains to me of my life, I pray for the guidance and help of almighty God.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: As part of the official accession ceremony, the proclamation document was signed by the Prince of Wales, who is heir to the throne, and the king's wife, Camilla, who he named queen consort.

The queen's death may help close a rift between the new Prince of Wales and his brother, the Duke of Sussex. Princes William and Harry were joined by their wives on Saturday as they greeted crowds outside Windsor Castle. CNN's Scott McLean has the details.

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SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At the gates of Windsor Castle opened Saturday, Princes William and Harry walked out, side-by- side. The queen's death reuniting the brothers publicly for the first time since June.

It was also the first time crowds got to see Kate in her new title as Princess of Wales. The couples made their way down long rows of people paying tribute to the queen.

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MCLEAN (voice-over): Young people sharing cards and toys, people of all ages pushing flowers into their arms. Even pets got the royal treatment.

This 14-year old was particularly moved to meet Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.

AMELIKA ZAK, ROYALS FAN: It was just quite an amazing moment. I am still shaking now. It was quite nice to see William and Kate and Meghan and Harry together and it was fine. But I wanted to show her that she is welcome here, I guess, after everything that has happened.

MCLEAN (voice-over): Before the queen died Thursday, it had been a turbulent two years, with Harry and Meghan stepping back as working members of the royal family. Last time the princes saw each other they did not interact.

But on Saturday they seemed to at least temporarily put their differences aside, kneeling to pay their respects to a monarch who united a country in mourning -- Scott McLean, CNN at Windsor Castle.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Let's get more on this with CNN's Nada Bashir.

Just how significant do you believe those images that we saw yesterday were of the two brothers, engaged together once again?

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is hugely significant. And as Scott just outlined there, this is the first time that we have seen the pair interacting together since the Jubilee. It is a moment of unity for the royal family.

And Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are deeply popular with the British public but we did see that rift growing between the two brothers often reported between Catherine, now the Princess of Wales, and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.

And, of course, the queen herself was a symbol of unity and of stability. She wasn't necessarily a polarizing figure and the family as an institution has faced controversies.

So in this moment of mourning. It was very important for the British public to see now the Prince and Princess of Wales and, of course, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex being together and sharing in the mourning.

They were very close to the crowds and, as you said, Meghan Markle was hugging a teenage girl. We heard from Prince Harry addressing the crowds. You could feel the queen's presence in every room of the castle. This really was a special moment for those who had been gathering.

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RAJ HAUR, HR DIRECTOR: I think that really just sort of draws a line under what's happened historically and it's a really strong sense of unity I think for the royal family. And it was really lovely to see, very lovely to see. It was a pleasant surprise.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASHIR: Of course this was an emotional moment for the Prince of Wales and, of course, the Duke of Sussex. They lost their grandmother and that was something that Prince William noted in his statement yesterday. He said that the world has lost an extraordinary leader.

But he has also lost his grandmother and he expressed his gratitude for the time that his wife, the Princess of Wales, Catherine, and his three children were able to spend with the queen before she passed away.

And, of course, now he takes on a greater role as the Prince of Wales. This was the first time we saw Catherine as the Princess of Wales and he did acknowledge that. He said that he would now be supporting his father, the new King Charles III, every step of the way in every way that he could.

ANDERSON: As dawn breaks here this Sunday, there aren't as many people around and you can understand, it's early. But one expects there will be more going forward. I just wonder, you have been speaking to people over the last three days about how they feel about the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

And many people will say, look, this is a constitutional monarchy. The royal family have a largely ceremonial role these days but I think it's really important to point out how people have been struck by her death and also confused by what happens next.

We will begin to see the movement of her casket today and then this period of eight days, as we move toward her funeral.

How are people in the U.K. now feeling?

BASHIR: We spoke to so many people yesterday gathering outside Buckingham Palace and for the proclamation. This was for many a moment of history. It's not only the passing of the monarch. Many gathered to express grief but also to witness this immense moment of history.

We saw King Charles III confirmed and proclaimed as the new monarch. And we spoke to people who had been waiting outside of St. James' Palace and it was really exciting.

We saw people, a chorus breaking out of "God Save the King," so this was a real moment of history. And while there is that sense of confusion, there are conversations around what King Charles' monarchy will look like going forward, because, of course, he takes us through a time when the country is so different from when the queen first ascended the throne.

There are a lot of challenges ahead that perhaps the queen didn't face. But there is hope that the king will bring about a moment of stability.

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BASHIR: There were conversations about whether or not he would be able to live up to the legacy that the queen leaves behind. But for many of the people we spoke to, they saw this as a moment of hope for the country. One army veteran described the king as having friendship (ph) of a lifetime.

He has spent years preparing for this role. And there is a real sense of welcome for him.

ANDERSON: And he has been primed (ph) for this job over many years. It's important to point out that there's times where you got the sense he really didn't want this job going forward.

I think one of the legacies of Queen Elizabeth II is that she put to rest the -- or certainly made redundant the idea of Republicanism as a political issue. The question will be how he continues to ensure that that is redundant.

Here in the U.K., around the world, there is a slightly different story. And we have seen these calls for the end of the monarchy and certainly the end of the king or queen as head of state in places like Canada and Australia.

Ultimately, though, I think it's perhaps important to point out to our viewers around the world that this is still ultimately a popular, relatively popular family.

BASHIR: It is relatively popular and we saw actually the queen herself attempting to modernize the family and to make it appealing to younger generations that perhaps don't see the monarchy and the royal family in society in the same way that perhaps the older generation did.

We saw that in efforts to really bring the now Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate, to the forefront of those royal duties. Harry and Meghan were seen as an opportunity to bring the royal family into the modern era, although there was turbulence there and controversies there.

There are still conversations around what role the monarchy plays in Britain today, in British society. King Charles has faced controversy for his activism. Of course the monarchs are supposed to be apolitical. And he has championed causes that he has been passionate about.

He said he will have to now put those causes in someone else's hands. But this may be a moment we see the monarch taking a slightly different role.

ANDERSON: All right, thank you very much indeed. I hear them putting out the gates again, the barriers again behind us. The expectations are that there will be many people gathering here once again just to pay their respects.

And as Nada pointed out, be part of what is a moment in British history, a momentous moment in British history. Thank you.

Michael Holmes picks up after the break. He will take a look at what could be one of Russia's worst defeats yet in Ukraine. The latest from the eastern front there ahead.

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MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Welcome back, I am Michael Holmes here in Atlanta.

Amid a blistering counteroffensive, Ukraine is claiming major gains against Russia. Ukrainian troops on Saturday rolled into Izyum, driving out Kremlin forces after more than five months of occupation.

It looks to be the most significant defeat for Moscow since the battle of Kyiv at the beginning of the war. And as the blue and yellow flags went up in nearby towns, even pro-Russian officials had to admit they were evacuating back into Russian territory. Ukraine's president is already naming which cities could be liberated next.

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VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): The city in the Donetsk region is still waiting for our flag and it's inevitable. Ukraine always comes back. We show this clearly. The entire Donetsk region will be liberated, safe and happy again, as it should be in Ukraine and should be everywhere in our land.

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HOLMES: For more on fighting in the east, CNN's Melissa Bell is southwest of Kharkiv.

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MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: More gains for Ukrainian forces as they move eastward in an offensive that began earlier this week. It began around the Kherson region but it was the one that came afterwards that appears to have taken Russian forces by surprise, with gains that have been seen in Kupyansk and Izyum, which had been an important military hub for Russian forces.

Ukrainian forces retook it. Images are being posted on social media by soldiers, not just showing what they are being confronted with as they come in. People are greeting them and welcoming them as liberators.

But the Ukrainian flags are once again on the rooftops and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken, as he does every evening, speaking of the fact that he says some 2,000 square kilometers of land have now been recaptured by Ukrainian forces and urging Russian forces once again to head back.

We have been hearing reports that a lot of the captures have happened in the east, specifically with remarkable little resistance. The Russian ministry of defense for the first time acknowledging some

of the Ukrainian advances but explaining that the retreat from Izyum had been strategic, suggesting that Russian forces were going back further south to the Donetsk region in order to defend it -- Melissa Bell, CNN, Poltava.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: I would like to bring in Ukrainian member of Parliament, Kira Rudik, joining me now from Kyiv.

Thanks for doing so.

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HOLMES: At the start of the conflict, as you remember, Russia said it would take the capital in days and the war would be short. And here we are.

What are your thoughts about these remarkable advances by the Ukrainians?

KIRA RUDIK, UKRAINIAN MP: Hello, thank you so much for having me.

Well, we never doubted that we would take our land back and that we would liberate our people and we will make sure that our country regain its sovereignty. It has been said right now that Russian army was thought as the second strongest in the whole world.

And now it turns out that it is the second strongest in Ukraine.

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HOLMES: That's an interesting analogy.

How damaged do you think -- how damaging is it to Vladimir Putin inside Russia, when Russians see what is happening, if they get to see it?

RUDIK: Well, we see there is a panic in Russian media and television channels, especially where they are being open about what's going on. They do understand that they have to retreat.

In the morning, Ukrainian shoulders soldiers wake up and they say, OK, today we will go and liberate our cities and, if necessary, we will die for it. We will fight for our mothers, for our sisters and we will fight for our nation.

When in the morning Russian soldiers wake up, they say, are we going to die protecting some administrating building in the middle of nowhere?

And this is why they are running and this is why the morale is so low. And this is why we know that we will be able to take more and more and regain our territories and make sure that Ukraine will be peaceful again. HOLMES: We all saw -- and I know you did -- the atrocities in Bucha

and elsewhere.

Are you worried that more such atrocities will come to light as Ukraine retakes territory?

RUDIK: I am not worried. We know that these atrocities will be deemed to be already here. We hear more and more about unspeakable things that happened in the temporary occupied territories.

And this only pushes our soldiers to fight harder and act faster. We have heard of a man who was liberating Izyum.

A woman approached him and said, "Can you move further?

"Because I know my sister is somewhere there. And I am so afraid of what's being happening to her for so long. Please hurry up. Please hurry up."

HOLMES: That's heartbreaking. It's difficult to see how Vladimir Putin can spin these losses back home and sort of recast what his idea of victory looks like.

What would Ukraine accept if there were to be any peace negotiations?

Or do you think Ukraine doesn't have to make a deal at the moment?

RUDIK: Since the beginning of the war, we were very clear. We are not trading other territories. We are not trading our people. And we will be fighting to reclaim what is ours.

You cannot be trading lives of your citizens and your motherland. This is why we are saying our soldiers will be fighting and we all will be fighting for as long as it is necessary to restore our borders as they were.

HOLMES: I was going to ask you, too; there was a recent poll that I was reading in Ukraine. And it said 91 percent of Ukrainians expressed approval of Volodymyr Zelenskyy; 98 percent expressed confidence in victory.

You would kind of expect overwhelming numbers but that's almost 100 percent.

And that matters, doesn't it, in terms of Ukrainian morale?

RUDIK: You know, we as a nation have not been as united ever. So even in the political level, we know that we (INAUDIBLE) behind the scenes because we know that unity is one of our strongest armors right now, because we are acting as one.

And we are pushing as one and we all are working as one for one similar -- single victory for our country. And this has been making things so much easier on a daily basis, because when you know you are surrounded by people who have the same goal, who will put aside like all the differences that we may have and make sure, OK, we will do this a bit later.

Right now let's deal with this one thing. And the morale in Ukraine is still just amazing. The people are supporting each other in all these different situations. And I think we are building a brand-new nation right now, which will be stronger than ever and we will rebuild Ukraine into a fantastic ad modern country, successful and free.

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HOLMES: A big spirit of unity indeed. Ukrainian member of Parliament, Kira Rudik, good to see you again. Thank you so much.

RUDIK: Thank you and glory to Ukraine.

HOLMES: And now coverage of the new royal era continues in a moment with Becky Anderson. After the break Commonwealth nations mourning the late Queen Elizabeth II. Live reports from Australia and India when we come back.

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ANDERSON: Welcome back. I am Becky Anderson in London.

Churches across the United Kingdom have opened condolence books for people mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The cathedral in the town of Winchester in England is decorated with portraits of the late monarch, who was also head of the Church of England of course.

More than 1,000 people have signed the books and all across Britain there has been tremendous sadness over the queen's passing. In London, a countless number of people gathered outside Buckingham Palace to pay their respects, with thousands more expected in the coming days. CNN's Anna Stewart reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hours after the news broke, the mourners came. Flowers left at Buckingham Palace and pinned to the gates. So many in fact that the palace have moved them to a new home across the road, a memorial of flowers.

STEWART: This is just the beginning of this loyal tribute so you can imagine how many flowers will be here in the coming days.

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STEWART: Tens of thousands of people are expected to turn up to Buckingham Palace and come here to Green Park to pay their respects to the queen. It's an opportunity to reflect on her reign and what she meant to people and a chance for people to show the queen and the royal family how much she meant to them. STEWART (voice-over): Whether it's a letters of gratitude or pictures

of corgis, it's an individual expression of grief expressed in public for all to see and share.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She was kind.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And caring.

STEWART (voice-over): Notes from children who celebrated the queen's Platinum Jubilee just three months ago.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But you're going to remember the sight here?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're older.

STEWART (voice-over): For many the emotions are still raw. For others, it's a storm that's passing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really, really sad. You almost saw it coming through the afternoon but then when they cut to the announcement, there were tears in our house. Then you have to sort of process it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's some flowers for the queen because she was such an amazing person. I felt very sad because she's the only queen or person I have ever had.

STEWART (voice-over): A sentiment shared by those far older than Annabelle (ph). Few can member life before the queen's 70year reign. Here there are also messages for the king, one from 9 year-old William Morris (ph), saying he's grieving, too, and understands how the king must feel; his grandmother recently passed away.

Crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of King Charles III as he returned to Buckingham Palace after his formal proclamation at king.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- leave flowers for the queen (INAUDIBLE) and it has been such an honor to see King Charles as well.

STEWART: (INAUDIBLE) I would say.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it's (INAUDIBLE) the flowers and the country to give Charles a chance and it's lovely.

STEWART: Well, as you can see, this period of national mourning isn't just about looking back; it's also about looking forward.

STEWART (voice-over): Anna Stewart, CNN, Buckingham Palace, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Member nations of the Commonwealth are marking the new royal era. Australia has officially proclaimed King Charles III the new head of state in a ceremony just a short time ago.

And in India, the country holding a national day of mourning for the queen. Joining me now CNN's Vedika Sud, standing by in New Delhi.

But let's start with Angus Watson in Sydney.

How do these historic protocols fit into what is modern Australia?

ANGUS WATSON, CNN PRODUCER: Australians watched on Saturday as King Charles III was proclaimed king of England in that ceremony in London.

Sunday, Australians themselves were told of this monumentous development. There were these proclamation ceremonies across the country mirroring what happened in Britain on Saturday.

In Canberra, the governor general, David Hurley, the king's representative here in Australia, presided over the ceremony which contained all the pomp and ceremony you can expect.

But there was an Australian stamp on that particularly with the welcome to the country provided by the indigenous custodians of the land, really underscoring that Australia did not begin when the British arrived here just over 200 years ago. There is a 65,000-year- old culture which continues to flourish here in Australia.

And that's part of this modern tension that Australia has with the British crown. It's a modern democracy. But much of its constitution harks back to that colonial period. We were here at a proclamation ceremony in Sydney, where the band played "God Save the King," and the thousands in the crowd, I must say, didn't really join in, in singing.

The Australian national anthem was played right after and thousands sung it with gusto. So there really is this Republican movement here in Australia, which is growing stronger as the years have gone on.

This is an issue that King Charles III will have to contend with during his reign. The prime minister of Australia Anthony Albanese is of the opinion that Australia should become a republic and has set one of his MPs to look into Australia's constitutional future in that regard.

For now, mourning here in Australia, led here by the prime minister, who will travel this week to the U.K. in order to attend the queen's funeral. When he returns, there will be a national day of mourning in Australia and a national memorial service.

That day will be a public holiday for Australians in order that they might be able to participate in that ceremony and those goings-on.

ANDERSON: Angus, thank you.

Vedika Sud is in New Delhi.

What is the perspective there?

VEDIKA SUD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, as you mentioned, yesterday is a day of state mourning across India.

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SUD: Indian flags are flying at half mast across the country. The Indian prime minister did dial the new British prime minister's number and he did express condolences on behalf of Indians on the passing of Queen Elizabeth.

This is what I find really interesting. On Thursday, just as before the news came in, the announcement was made of the queen's passing, the Indian prime minister had a busy evening. He was out in New Delhi.

And he was actually inaugurating a revamped (ph) colonial park or area in New Delhi and his words as they were was part of the British Empire for whom the people of India were slaves. It was a symbol of colonialism. Now its architecture has changed and its spirit has also changed.

The attempt of the last few decades has been, especially under the Modi regime, to remove anything that has to do with the colonial era that India had to experience for over 200 years under the British rule.

And now you are seeing roads that are being renamed and structures that are being revamped just to remove any imprint of the British colonial era. We don't know if Indian prime minister Narendra Modi will be traveling for the late queen's funeral. No word on that from the government. But we will keep you posted.

ANDERSON: I was interested to note that there was a readout of a call between the Indian prime minister and Liz Truss. They agreed on the vital importance of the U.K.-India relationship. They look forward to meeting in person.

That relationship, despite its fractures and the past, the colonial past, is a strong one and one that both countries want to continue and foster going forward.

SUD: Absolutely it's a robust relationship. The U.K. and India want to take it forward. There are very strong trade and diplomatic ties. You had representatives visit India and you had Narendra Modi visit the U.K. in the past. He has met the late queen twice and he also spoke of one very interesting moment between the two where she actually showed him a gift from Mahatma Gandhi when she got married.

He had sent a handkerchief to her and he said that was a very close moment that they shared. So yes, in terms of trade, defense, cultural ties, that hasn't been impacted by the 200 years that the British ruled India. But those sentiments, the burden of the historical errors committed by British in India eased the sentiment that Indians still hold very dear.

ANDERSON: Vedika Sud and Angus Watson, thank you very much indeed.

Extreme weather impacting millions in the Western United States. Here on CNN, we are tracking a storm that led to flash flooding. More on that when we come back.

Plus more details about the U.S. president's plans to attend Queen Elizabeth's funeral. A report from the White House is after this short break. Stay with this.

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HOLMES: The United States will wake up in the coming hours to commemorate a somber event of its own, the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. With President Joe Biden printing to mark the occasion with a speech, he is also planning to attend the queen's funeral next week. CNN's Joe Johns with more on the president's schedule.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Funeral arrangements for the queen have only just been announced. There has been a expectation throughout, that Joe Biden, as head of state in the United States as well as head of the government, would attend the funeral.

One question is who goes with him, whether it would be essentially the first lady or a traveling party, a U.S. delegation, even including perhaps some former presidents. Nothing on that issue has been announced, at least so far. Here is what the president said about his own plans for travel on Friday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QUESTION: Are you going to the queen's funeral, sir?

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Yes. I don't know what the details are yet. But I will be going.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: He has met her twice, first in 1982 in a Senate delegation then again last year as President of the United States.

On Sunday the U.S. will turn to commemoration of one of its own darkest days, the anniversary of September 11th. The president expected to give remarks at the Pentagon. His wife, the first lady, expected to visit Shanksville, Pennsylvania -- Joe Johns, CNN, the White House.

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HOLMES: People in the Western United States facing extreme weather this weekend from destructive wildfires to heavy rain. More than 5 million people under flood watches in southern California, southern Nevada and northwestern Arizona after what was tropical storm Kay.

Officials in southern California say the Fairview fire has killed two people and injured another. The fire has burned more than 28,000 acres or 11,000 hectares. And it's about 40 percent contained.

Some are breathing a sigh of relief. Camila Bernal filed this report on California's ongoing battle with extreme weather.

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CAMILA BERNAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The concern was too much rain in a short period of time because that causes the dangerous flooding. The creeks and the rivers, they rise quickly and then you have the possibility of mudslides.

Here though, at the Fairview fire, authorities telling me they avoided a worst-case scenario because instead what they got was steady rain all throughout Friday. And that was extremely helpful in terms of containment.

There were some evacuation orders that were being lifted after Friday and Saturday and people being able to return to their homes. Unfortunately, this fire destroyed at least 13 structures so there are families that are returning to homes that look like what you see here behind me.

And that process is, of course, a very difficult one. But keep in mind, this fire is still burning. CAL FIRE saying that they are likely going to need the weekend and expect to have containment on Monday, as there is still a lot of work to be done.

[01:45:00]

BERNAL: This is how CAL FIRE described the weather situation, not just here but also in other parts of the state.

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RICHARD CORDOVA, CAL FIRE RIVERSIDE COUNTY: It's kind of a odd situation what we are dealing with, especially in the last couple of days, where Southern California, we have gotten this cloud cover that has helped us on this fire.

But we have had major fires going on in northern and central California because they don't have this cloud cover. They have the extreme temperatures up there. And they are dealing with low humidity so firefighters have their hands full.

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BERNAL: One of those fires in northern California, the Mosquito fire, growing significantly overnight on Friday. So a lot of work to be done throughout the state. Firefighters have been dealing with extreme temperatures, many days over 100 degrees.

And one of the firefighters I talked to telling me that they expect the next couple of months to continue to be very difficult because of the ongoing drought here in the state of California -- Camila Bernal, CNN, Hemet, California.

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HOLMES: A flood threat still exists for southern California.

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HOLMES: After the break we will take a look at the late queen's love for her Scottish residence, Balmoral Castle, and the central role that played in her life through the years. We will be right back.

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HOLMES (voice-over): The sound of bagpipes at Balmoral in Scotland. This is a video of a concert performed for the late Queen Elizabeth just a few weeks ago. One piper who played said they did not know whether the ailing monarch would attend until the last minute. He said she looked frail but still had spirit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EUAN ANDERSON, BAGPIPER: I guess you would call it old school. But there is something in there, the drive. It would've been easier for her to cancel all these small engagements. But on the contrary, I think she encouraged it and embraced it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: The 62-year-old retiree performs all over Edinburgh and has been playing bagpipes since he was 12. But he says nothing has been as special as that late summer concert for the queen at Balmoral Castle.

Queen Elizabeth was still there in Balmoral Castle when she passed away on Thursday. She spent summers and holidays at the Scottish estate for most of her life, along with many members of the royal family. It was the late monarch's beloved retreat; indeed, a special place.

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HOLMES (voice-over): This is where Queen Elizabeth chose to spend the last months of her life, Balmoral in Scotland, a refuge for the royal family in the Scottish Highlands, a place dear to the late queen's heart.

It's where she summered with her parents and sister, Margaret, was courted by her future husband, Philip, and where she would return throughout her life with her family.

The love of Balmoral, shared by son King Charles, who, along with his wife, Camilla, are frequent visitors to their residence on the estate. It was a photo of the couple in Scotland that Clarence House released in 2005 after their engagement was announced.

The affinity for the cherished retreat reciprocated by many locals of the nearby town --

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HOLMES (voice-over): -- who say they've grown used to their famous neighbors and the occasional brush with royalty.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You knew whenever you went into the place and the corgis came running at you, you knew she was there.

HOLMES (voice-over): Others say there will be a big change for the community since Prince William now inherits the Scottish title once held by his father.

BETTY SIMPSON, BALLATER RESIDENT: King Charles, oh, it seems quite strange. We just enormously ferocity when he comes here. The duchess of royalty. He's done amazing things for this village.

HOLMES (voice-over): The vast Scottish countryside, where the family would fish, stalk deer and take picnics has long been a source of strength for the royals. Princes William and Harry were here when they learned of their mother, Princess Diana's, death.

And Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip would spend their last summer together at Balmoral in 2020.

In 2021, after the Duke of Edinburgh's death, the queen attended the Scottish Parliament's opening ceremony, where she spoke of her lifelong connection to the place.

ELIZABETH II, FORMER QUEEN OF ENGLAND: I have spoken before of my deep and abiding affection for this wonderful country and of the many happy memories Prince Philip and I always held of our time here. It is often said that it is the people that make a place and there a few places where this is truer than in Scotland.

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HOLMES: Thank you for spending part of your day to with me. I'm Michael Holmes. You can follow me on Instagram and Twitter. I will be back after a short break with Becky Anderson with more CNN NEWSROOM.