The King and his siblings hold a silent vigil around the Queen’s coffin as the public silently record the past – Emma Murphy reports King Charles III joined his siblings to hold a vigil by their mother’s coffin as she lies in state at the bier in Westminster Hall. The King, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward took their places around the Queen’s coffin at around 7.50pm on Friday afternoon at the Palace of Westminster. The heads of Charles and his siblings were bowed as members of the public walked past them, pausing to pay their respects to the Queen. The ceremony lasted about 15 minutes as audience members continued to file by, quietly paying their respects. Other family members watched from the sidelines during the poignant vigil, including the Queen’s grandchildren Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice and Zara Tyndall, and her husband, former rugby player Mike Tyndall. After the King and his siblings left Westminster Hall after the vigil, members of the audience gave them a standing ovation. “It was pretty incredible and an amazing experience and the whole royal family was there so I felt very lucky,” said one queue member. People queuing react after seeing the King’s vigil in Westminster Hall The Queen’s grandchildren are reportedly holding a vigil at her coffin on Saturday. King Charles and the Queen Consort had traveled to Cardiff earlier on Friday for the final leg of a tour of the home countries following the Queen’s death, following trips to Northern Ireland and Scotland. When he stepped out of his helicopter and took his first steps in Wales as the new monarch, he was greeted with a 21-gun salute. The Queen Consort was thought to be wearing a leek-shaped pin given to her by Queen Elizabeth. The King was met by cheering crowds as he approached Llandaff Cathedral The King and Queen then led a service of prayer and reflection at Llandaff Cathedral before receiving condolences in the Welsh parliament, the Senedd. Cheering students and members of the public lined the royal couple’s route to the cathedral. Prime Minister Liz Truss also attended the service, as it reflects the King’s tour of the UK. The King then met crowds of school children waiting to see him, taking time to address each of them in turn. He then held a private hearing with Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford and the presiding officer at Cardiff Castle. Watch ITV News’ continuous live coverage of mourners queuing to pay their respects to the Queen as she lies in State at Westminster Hall Several anti-monarchy protesters had positioned themselves outside the castle holding up banners that included phrases such as “Abolish the Monarchy”, “Citizen not subject” and “Democracy now”. The Welsh First Minister said he did not expect the new Prince of Wales to follow in his father’s footsteps and learn Welsh – adding that any protests would be a “footnote” to the main proceedings. King Charles III and the Queen Consort listen to First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford. Credit: PA Mr. Drakeford moved to propose the motion of condolence in English and Welsh, and the King then stood to answer in both languages. Part of his speech included “Diolch o galon,” meaning “thank you from the bottom of my heart.” Before departing the Senedd, the King and Queen Consort met with members of the Senedd in the Neuadd. There was a little booing from a few protesters, but this was quickly drowned out by people singing God Save The King. King Charles III and the Queen Consort leave the Senedd in Cardiff. Credit: PA While at Cardiff Castle, the King said: “I take up my new duties with immense gratitude for the privilege of serving as Prince of Wales. “This ancient title dating back to the time of those great Welsh rulers. Now I pass to my son William, whose love for this corner of the Earth grows even greater with the years he himself spent here.” King Charles will then attend a reception hosted by the Welsh Government, before returning to Buckingham Palace in the evening to host religious leaders in the Bow Room. King Charles III during an audience with Llywydd (presiding officer) Elin Jones at Cardiff Castle in Wales. Credit: PA The King later told more than 30 religious leaders from various faiths at a reception at Buckingham Palace that as Sovereign he believes his work should include “protecting the space for faith itself” and the precious differences they live with people. Saying he has a personal “duty to protect the diversity of our country”, he explained: “I have always thought of Britain as a ‘community of communities’. “This led me to understand that the Sovereign has an additional duty – less officially recognized but no less diligently performed. “It is our duty to protect the diversity of our country, including protecting the space of faith itself and its practice through the religions, cultures, traditions and beliefs to which our hearts and minds direct us as individuals.” The King told the reception in the Bow Room at Buckingham Palace how much their words of condolence meant to him following the death of his Queen Mother last week. Meanwhile, thousands will continue to queue to see the Queen lie in state at Westminster Hall, and some will watch the King, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex as they hold a 15-minute vigil around coffin at 7.30 p.m. The entrance to Southwark Park has been closed and officials are now preventing people from queuing for the Queen’s Lying in State as it ran along the Thames for almost five miles. One of those waiting in line was David Beckham, who has joined thousands of mourners queuing to see the Queen in State. Fans excitedly shared images of the football star on social media as he waited for more than 10 hours to pay his respects in the queue at Westminster Hall. “I’ve been so lucky to be able to have a few moments in my life to be close to Her Majesty,” he told ITV News. “A sad day, but it’s a day to remember the incredible legacy he left.” David Beckham talks to ITV News Neil Connery in the queue Later on Friday afternoon, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the Pirbright Army Training Center in Surrey to meet Commonwealth troops who are due to take part in the Queen’s funeral. Pirbright acts as a repository for service staff based outside of London. Aims to provide accommodation food and training prior to traveling to London to provide Funeral Support at Her Majesty’s State Funeral. It comes a day after the couple visited a sea of flowers left by the Queen at the gates of Sandringham House in Norfolk, where William told a mourner it was difficult to walk behind the Queen’s coffin to lie in state on Wednesday, and he was reminded of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales’s funeral. On Thursday, more details were revealed about the Queen’s funeral, which will see 2,000 people, including world leaders and foreign royals, gather at Westminster Abbey on Monday. The Prince and Princess of Wales in Surrey. Credit: ITV News Meridian Recipients of the Victoria Cross and George Cross and representatives of the Parliament of Westminster, parliaments and assemblies, the Church and Her Majesty’s patrons are among those who will also attend. The service will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor, with Prime Minister Liz Truss and Commonwealth Secretary General Baroness Scotland reading the lessons and the Archbishop of Canterbury delivering the homily. (PA Graphics) Credit: PA Graphics Around 800 people, including members of the Queen’s Household and Windsor estate staff, will attend the service afterwards at 4pm. at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. The Palace has confirmed that the Queen will be laid to rest with the Duke of Edinburgh at the King George VI Memorial in St George’s Chapel in a private service at 7.30pm. The Queen’s remarkable life was recalled in our latest episode of What You Need To Know
