Alex Salmond’s private burial will not take place for at least another week.
A service for the former first minister will take place in the north east of Scotland in the week beginning October 28.
Salmond died from a heart attack while attending a conference in North Macedonia last weekend. His body was flown back to Scotland in a private plane on Friday.
There will also be a larger public memorial service for the former SNP leader later in the year. Reports have suggested this could take place on St Andrew’s Day.
Alba Party acting leader Kenny MacAskill told the Press and Journal: “It will be the week of October 28 but the day has not yet been decided. It will be in the north-east and it will be a private ceremony for family and close friends.
“There are some procedural issues because of the body coming back in a sudden death from a foreign jurisdiction but all organisations involved have been outstanding, including Aberdeen Airport. Everybody who has been involved, we have the highest regard for.”
Salmond’s friends and family are reportedly considering having a public celebration of his life in Edinburgh on St Andrew’s Day or one of Scotland’s other holidays.
Chris McEleny, general secretary of Alba, told The Times: “St Andrews Day is a possibility but if that is too early, his birthday was on Hogmanay. Even Burns Night is being looked into at.”
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