Charles' final vigil: Queen's children including Andrew in full military uniform pay respects to late monarch
16 September 2022, 19:47 | Updated: 16 September 2022, 23:25
King Charles and his siblings have held a Vigil of the Princes by the late Queen's coffin in a solemn moment at Westminster Hall.
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The newly-ascended monarch stood by with Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward - dressed in military uniforms - to symbolically watch over the Queen.
They entered in military uniform and stood in front of the coffin before approaching and taking a position at each side, then facing away, holding their hands and looking down.
The King led them to it, with Princess Anne and Prince Edward walking side by side while Prince Andrew walked behind.
After they took their posts, the public continued to file past on either side of the coffin, looking on at both their former monarch and their new king.
Family members including Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice and Zara Tindall, and her husband, former rugby player Mike Tindall, watched on from the side.
The four children stood vigil for some 15 minutes before departing in formation out of Westminster Hall to applause.
Read more: Last chance to say goodbye to the Queen: The route to Windsor confirmed
It would have been a sight that would stick with mourners for the rest of their lives – having queued for miles and hours as they waited to get to Parliament to pay their respects as the Queen lies in state.
By Friday evening, the Government – which announced the queue was shut for several hours because the line was too big – warned it would take 24 hours to get through and noted that temperatures would dip during the night.
More than 400 people were treated along the route across two days, with some 291 needing help on Wednesday. A total of 17 needed hospital.
Another 144 were treated on Thursday, with 25 taken to hospital. Most were people who fainted and collapsed, receiving head injuries.
Today’s vigil follows another one planned for Saturday, where eight of the late Queen’s grandchildren will stand vigil for 15 minutes.
Prince William will stand at the head and Prince Harry at the foot, with both in uniform after King Charles’s intervention.
Harry was not allowed to wear his military uniform during the procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster.
The other six, Zara Tindall, Peter Philips, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Lady Louise and Viscount Severn, will be dressed in morning suits and dark dresses.
