Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Michael Howie and Sami Quadri

Queen’s eight grandchildren to stand vigil beside coffin in Westminster Hall

The Queen's eight grandchildren will stand vigil beside her coffin in Westminster Hall for 15 minutes on Saturday night, royal sources confirmed on Friday.

The Prince of Wales will stand at the head, the Duke of Sussex at the foot. At the King’s request, they will both be in uniform.

The other grandchildren will be in morning suits and dark formal dresses with decorations.

William will be flanked by his cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Philips, the children of the Princess Royal; while Harry will be with the Duke of York's daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

The Earl of Wessex's children Lady Louise and Viscount Severn will stan near the middle of their grandmother's coffin.

The grandchildren, at the King's invitation, are said to be very keen to pay their respects - just as their parents are doing on Friday evening.

It follows reports that the Duke of Sussex has been given permission to wear his military uniform at the vigil after Palace officials reportedly intervened on his behalf.

Prince Harry, who saw action of the front line during two tours of Afghanistan, had been denied the chance to wear his military uniform as he is no longer a working royal.

(PA)

Despite being a former Army officer he has been in civilian dress for official events, including walking behind his grandmother’s coffin on Wednesday when it was carried to Westminster Hall to lie in state.

But reports claim that Palace officials have had a change of heart and he will now don the uniform as he joins his brother and cousins in mounting a vigil around the Queen’s coffin.

An exception has also been made for the disgraced Duke of York, who is no longer a working royal but will wear his military uniform as a “special mark of respect” for the Queen when he stands guard around her coffin during a vigil with his siblings on Friday evening.

The King, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex will mount guard at the four corners of the catafalque in Westminster Hall for the 15-minute vigil.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.