The royals stood together in
Westminster Hall for 10 minutes as they guarded Queen Elizabeth
II’s coffin on Friday evening. Charles stood at the head of the late
Queen’s coffin, Andrew at the foot, and Anne and Edward on either side. The
royal men wore military uniforms, while Anne performed the solemn moment in
royals and blues.
Anne was accompanied by her
husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, while the Countess of Wessex was
present to support her husband Prince Edward.
The Queen has been lying in
state since Wednesday and thousands of members of the public have headed to
London in order to pass the coffin, waiting in a queue for hours.
The four royals had previously
stood guard over their mother’s coffin when she laid in St Giles’ Cathedral on
Monday.
While the Queen’s four
children began their vigil, which lasted for ten minutes between 7.46 to 7.56pm,
the Queen Consort and the Countess of Wessex sat on seats opposite the coffin
while the vigil took place as a show of support.
A further vigil is expected to
take place on Saturday, with all of the Queen’s grandchildren taking part.
Prince William will stand at
the head of the coffin and will be joined by brother Prince Harry and cousins,
Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor and
James, Viscount Severn.
