Members of the Royal Family looked solemn and emotional as they watched the Queen’s children guard her coffin in a vigil tonight.
King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward repeated their ceremonial vigil of the princes which they first performed at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh when their mother the Queen was in state.
As the children gathered again to pay their respects to their mother at Westminster Hall in London, where the Queen will pay her respects pending her funeral on Monday, other members of the royal family, including Queen Consort Camilla, stood in celebration the stands and watched silence.
Members of the Royal Family watched during the Vigil of Princes at Westminster Hall. Pictured L-R: James, Viscount Severn, Lady Louise Windsor, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Mike Tindall, Zara Tindall, Mia Tindall, Lena Tindall
Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi looked visibly moved as he oversaw the vigil alongside Princess Eugenie (centre) and Princess Beatrice (right).
Prince Andrew, the Queen’s second son, was allowed to wear his military uniform as he paid his respects to his mother after King Charles lifted a ban from the Duke of York on donning the outfit as he is no longer a working royal.
As Andrew, 62, who served in the Falkland Islands, wore the uniform and stood around his mother’s coffin, his daughters Princess Beatrice, 34, and Princess Eugenie, 32, watched as their father paid his respects.
They were joined by Beatrice’s husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 38, who seemed visibly moved by the vigil and put his hand to his face as if wiping away tears.
Also in the gallery watching the vigil was Princess Anne’s husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, who had served as the Queen’s equerry since 1986 and had developed a close relationship with Her late Majesty.
Members of the royal family looked grave as they watched in silence while the queen’s children attended the vigil, with Mike Tindall bowing his head
Members of the public walked past Her late Majesty’s coffin while her children stood silently, heads on the floor, to pay their respects
Members of the public who witnessed the ceremony had queued for hours outside in a line that stretched back to Southwark Park
King Charles (pictured front), Princess Anne (right), Prince Andrew (back center) and Prince Edward (back left) entered Westminster Hall to guard their mother’s coffin in a solemn vigil by the princes
Prince Andrew (back left) was allowed to wear his military uniform to attend the ceremony after wearing a suit for a similar vigil in Edinburgh on Monday night
Sir Tim has been at Princess Royal’s side since the death of her mother on September 8, accompanying Anne behind the Queen’s coffin on the drive from the Balmoral Estate to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
Other members of Princess Royal’s family could be seen in the stands guarding today’s vigil, including her daughter Zara Tindall, 41, her husband and former rugby player Mike, 41, and their two eldest children Mia, eight, and Lena, four .
The young girls, their hair tied back in French braids, leaned over the edge of the stands to get a better view of what was happening below.
Other young royals present at the vigil were Lady Louise Windsor, 18, and her younger brother James, Viscount Severn, 14.
Prince Edward’s children were joined by Sophie Wessex, 57, who has been announced will receive many of the Queen’s former royal patronages after her death.
Sophie, Countess of Wessex appeared to be fighting back tears last Saturday as she left the Balmoral Estate to view the tributes and condolences left by members of the public for the late monarch.
The mother-of-two is said to have an incredibly close relationship with her mother-in-law and referred to her as ‘mum’ – and royal sources told the Mirror she is likely to become a patron of the Women’s Institute and the Dog’s Trust.
When the Queen’s grandchildren, including Zara Tindall and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, attended the vigil, King Charles’ children Prince William and Prince Harry did not appear to be present.
However, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex are expected to attend another unique vigil to pay their respects to their grandmother at Westminster Hall tomorrow night, where they will be joined by their cousins.
The partners of the Queen’s grandchildren are not expected to be present, but in another gesture of respect from King Charles, Harry is allowed to wear his military uniform despite no longer being a working king.