The Queen’s children – Charles, the Duke of York, Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex – took part in the vigil on Friday night. All four were dressed in uniform on Friday, with the exception of a disgraced Andrew, who is no longer a working king, to wear his military uniform as a “special mark of respect” for the Queen. The new monarch, Anne, Andrew and Edward looked sad as they took their places in the coffin – four days after they attended a vigil at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. Other members of the royal family, including the Queen Consort, Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and the Countess of Wessex, along with some of the Queen’s grandchildren, looked on. The late monarch has been in state in London since Wednesday and thousands of mourners have turned up to pay their last respects after hours of queuing. On Saturday, the Queen’s grandchildren are to attend a vigil at her coffin and the Duke of Sussex will join his brother, the Prince of Wales, in uniform. Royal sources said the decision to allow Harry to wear his uniform during the vigil was made by his father. Harry, who saw action on the front line during two tours in Afghanistan, has been denied the chance to don his military uniform as he mourns in public that he is no longer a working royal. Despite being a former army officer, he wore civilian dress for official events, including walking behind his grandmother’s coffin on Wednesday when it was taken to Westminster Hall to lie in state. The royal source said William will stand at the head while Harry will stand at the feet. At the King’s request, they will both be in uniform. The other grandchildren will be in morning coat and dark formal dress with decorations. The source said the grandchildren, at the King’s invitation, were only too keen to pay their respects – just as their parents did on Friday night.
