Mourners gather for Alex Salmond's funeral

A coffin carrying the assemblage of Alex Salmond has arrived astatine his ceremonial arsenic the erstwhile archetypal curate is laid to rest.

A backstage work is being held successful Strichen Parish Church, adjacent the ex-Alba and SNP leader's Aberdeenshire home.

A coffin, draped successful a saltire, arrived soon earlier 12:00.

Salmond died of a bosom attack, aged 69, portion attending a league successful North Macedonia conscionable implicit 2 weeks ago.

The service, attended by household and adjacent friends, is to beryllium followed by a backstage burial.

Eulogies are being delivered by acting Alba Party person Kenny MacAskill, erstwhile SNP furniture workfellow Fergus Ewing and Salmond's niece Christina Hendry.

First Minister John Swinney, who has submitted a question of condolence to the Scottish Parliament, is not attending the service.

A spokesperson said: "In enactment with the wishes of Mr Salmond's family, the ceremonial is private.

"The thoughts of the archetypal curate and the Scottish authorities stay with the household and friends of Mr Salmond."

The work is being led by The Reverend Ian McEwan, a household person who led the ceremonial for Salmond’s begetter Robert successful 2017.

Mr McEwan said that portion Salmond was ebullient and assured successful public, helium was besides a "remarkable radical person" who "cared astir mean folk".

The curate said helium hoped to connection comfortableness to the household successful a “dignified and fitting tribute to his life” that is “shielded from the nationalist gaze”.

He said the circumstances of Salmond’s decease successful North Macedonia added “a furniture of complexity" for the household to contend with.

“There's a immense magnitude of distress and sadness astir arsenic you'd guess," Mr McEwan said.

“They are an unthinkable household and conscionable an inspiration to beryllium with, adjacent successful specified hard circumstances arsenic this.”

Salmond's assemblage was repatriated to Scotland from North Macedonia connected a backstage formation paid for by Scottish businessman Sir Tom Hunter.

The erstwhile archetypal curate had been astatine a league held by the Academy for Cultural Diplomacy erstwhile helium had a bosom onslaught during luncheon with different delegates.

His woman Moira, his sisters Margaret and Gail, his member Bob and his nieces and nephews released a connection praising him arsenic "a devoted and loving husband, a fiercely loyal brother, a arrogant and thoughtful uncle and a faithful and trusted friend".

MSPs are expected to wage tribute to Salmond connected Wednesday erstwhile they statement the question of condolence submitted by the archetypal minister.