'United in grief': William leads Queen's grandchildren in poignant vigil at her coffin

17 September 2022, 18:03 | Updated: 4 November 2022, 10:01

Prince William led Prince Harry and the Queen's other grandchildren in a poignant vigil at her coffin in Westminster Hall on Saturday.

The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex joined Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Lady Louise, Viscount Severn, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips in the moving tradition, known as the Vigil of the Princes.

The vigil saw the eight young royals symbolically watching over the Queen as she lies in state in Westminster Hall.

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The Queen's grandchildren were in position at the top of the grand committee staircase in the corner of the vast hall at 5.58pm.

At 6pm, the tapping which signifies the changing of the guard sounded and William began walking down the steps, one at a time, followed by Harry, then Beatrice and Eugenie side by side, Louise and 14-year-old James side by side, and Zara and Peter also side by side.

Silence fell as members of the public looked on, with the only sound being the grandchildren's footsteps on the stone.

William was positioned at one end of the coffin, facing the north entrance, while Harry was positioned at the opposite end, facing the area of the hall where thousands of people have entered over the last few days.

William stood with his hands clasped in front and his head bowed.

Louise and James's parents, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, looked on from a platform facing the coffin.

Members of the public continued to file past while the Queen's grandchildren stood guard, with some women wiping tears away from their face as they left the hall.

At 6.15pm, the tapping sounded and the grandchildren ended their vigil.

William led the group away from the coffin, followed by Zara and Peter, Louise and James, Beatrice and Eugenie, and finally Harry.

As the royals returned to their cars, Zara appeared to be linking arms with Harry, while Peter, Louise and Beatrice were walking along together.

Harry was wearing the Blues and Royals, No.1 Uniform, KCVO Neck Order and Star, Afghanistan Operational Service Medal, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals and Army Pilot Wings.

William was wearing the Blues and Royals, No.1 Uniform, The Garter Sash, The Garter Star, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals and RAF Pilot Wings.

Harry, who saw action on the front line during two tours of duty in Afghanistan, has previously been denied the chance to wear his military uniform as he publicly mourns, because he is no longer a working royal.

But royal sources said the King decided his youngest son could wear uniform for the vigil.

Despite being a former Army officer, Harry has been in civilian dress for official events, including walking behind the Queen's coffin on Wednesday.

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Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the tribute was "enormously touching".

"United in grief, united in love for their grandmother," he wrote on Twitter.

"An enormously touching tribute as The Queen's eight grandchildren come together to hold vigil around her coffin in Westminster Hall tonight."

It comes less than an hour after Beatrice and Eugenie paid tribute to their grandmother in an emotional statement to "our dearest Grannie".

The sisters thanked her for being "the loving hand on our backs leading us through this world", and said it was "the honour of our lives" to be her granddaughters.

"Our dearest Grannie, we've not been able to put much into words since you left us all," they said.

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"There have been tears and laughter, silences and chatter, hugs and loneliness, and a collective loss for you, our beloved Queen and our beloved Grannie.

"We, like many, thought you'd be here forever. And we all miss you terribly.

"You were our matriarch, our guide, our loving hand on our backs leading us through this world. You taught us so much and we will cherish those lessons and memories forever."

They also spoke of the Queen being reunited with her husband of 73 years Prince Philip, who died just 17 months ago.

"We're so happy you're back with Grandpa. Goodbye dear Grannie, it has been the honour of our lives to have been your granddaughters and we're so very proud of you," they said.

'A lot of people are coming to be part of something historical.'

Last night King Charles and his siblings came together to stage a similar vigil.

They were all dressed in uniform, with an exception made for disgraced Andrew, who is no longer a working royal, to wear his military uniform as a "special mark of respect" for the Queen.