Prince William and Harry lead Queen’s grandchildren in silent vigil by her coffin

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Prince William has lead a vigil by the coffin of his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, alongside her other seven other grandchildren as she lies in state in Westminster Hall.

The Prince of Wales was joined by his brother, Prince Harry, ahead of the state funeral on Monday.

William led his brother, the Duke of York’s daughters, the Earl of Wessex’s children and the Princess Royal’s children behind them, into the hall.

Looking deep in thought and private contemplation, they had their heads bowed as members of the public filed past them.

Standing in sombre silence as they bid a personal farewell to the Queen, the future King was flanked by his cousins, Zara Tindall and Peter Philips at the head of the coffin, while the Duke of Sussex stood side-by-side with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie at its foot.

The Queen’s younger grandchildren, Lady Louise Windsor, 18, and her brother James, Viscount Severn, 14, stood at the middle of the coffin for the 15-minute vigil.

Members of the public could be seen filing past on either side of the coffin, which was draped in the Royal Standard, and topped with the Imperial State Crown, and orb and sceptre.

William wore the Blues and Royals No 1 uniform, the Garter Sash, the Garter Star, the Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Medals and RAF pilot wings.

Harry – who is no longer an official working royal – joined his brother in wearing uniform in Westminster Hall.

Prince Harry wore a 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.

According to royal sources, King Charles made the decision to grant his younger son permission to wear his uniform for the vigil.

Harry, who was an army officer on the front line during two tours of duty of Afghanistan, has previously worn civilian dress for official events, including walking behind his grandmother’s coffin on Wednesday when it was carried to the anicent hall for lying in state.

Other family members watched on from the sidelines during the vigil, among them The Earl and Countess of Wessex.

The Queen’s eight grandchildren eventually filed out of the hall led by the Prince of Wales, followed by his cousins, with Harry at the rear.

After the members of the royal family departed the hall, the stream of mourners began passing the Queen’s coffin again.

It comes after the new monarch and his siblings held their own vigil by the coffin of their mother on Friday.

The King was joined by Prince Andrew, Princess Anne and Prince Edward in standing over the Queen’s coffin yesterday evening.

It is the second such “vigil of the princes” that the late Queen’s children held since her death last Thursday at the age of 96, with the first taking place as she lay in state in Edinburgh’s St Giles’ Cathedral on Monday evening.