Members of the royal family were captured in a moment of solemnity and emotion as they observed the Queen’s children standing guard over her coffin during a vigil held this evening.
King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward recreated their ceremonial duty as princes, a tradition they first carried out at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh.
This time, they gathered at Westminster Hall in London to honor their mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who will lie in state until her funeral on Monday.
Among the onlookers in the stands was Queen Consort Camilla, who observed in quiet reverence.
Prince Andrew, the Queen’s second son, was granted permission by King Charles to wear his military uniform as he paid his respects to his mother.
The Duke of York, no longer a working royal, stood beside his mother’s coffin while his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, watched with somber expressions.
Princess Beatrice’s husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, also present, appeared visibly moved during the vigil, his hand reaching up to his face as if brushing away tears.
In attendance at the vigil were other notable figures, including Princess Anne’s husband, Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Lawrence, who shared a close bond with the late Queen.
Sir Tim, who served as the Queen’s equerry and has been a pillar of support for Princess Anne since the Queen’s passing, stood by her side during the ceremony.
The stands also hosted members of Princess Anne’s family, such as Zara Tindall, her husband Mike, and their two daughters, Mia and Lena, who leaned over to catch a glimpse of the proceedings below.
Among the younger royals present were Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, children of Prince Edward, accompanied by Sophie Wessex.
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, who is set to inherit many of the Queen’s former royal patronages, showed visible emotion as she surveyed tributes left in memory of the late monarch outside the Balmoral Estate.
Known for her close relationship with the Queen, Sophie may take on roles such as patron of the Women’s Institute and Dogs Trust.
While Queen Elizabeth II’s grandchildren, including Zara Tindall and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, attended the vigil, Prince William and Prince Harry were notably absent.
However, it is expected that the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex will participate in a unique vigil to honor the late monarch.
Despite their partners not being in attendance, King Charles has allowed Harry to wear his military uniform as a gesture of respect, despite his non-working royal status.
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