The Queen’s grandchildren stood guard around her coffin at a solemn vigil as King Charles prepared to welcome world leaders to a state reception. The Duke of Sussex joined his brother the Prince of Wales on Saturday in dressing up around the coffin at Westminster Hall ahead of the Queen’s funeral on Monday. Harry, who saw action on the front line during two tours in Afghanistan, has not previously had the chance to don his military uniform as he publicly mourns the fact that he is no longer a working royal. Queen Elizabeth II’s grandchildren Mount Vigil at Westminster Hall / Getty Images But the king decided that his youngest son would wear uniform for the vigil, saying he would stand at the foot of the coffin, with William at the head.
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William and Harry were joined in their silent tribute around the coffin by cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and Lady Louise Windsor and her brother Viscount Severn. Beatrice and Eugenie on Saturday paid personal tribute to the Queen, saying: “Goodbye dear grandma, it was the honor of our lives to be your granddaughters and we are very proud of you.” POOL/AFP via Getty Images On Friday night, the Queen’s children – Charles, the Duke of York, Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex – took part in their own vigil. The King, Anne, Andrew and Edward had serious looks on their faces as they stood vigil around their mother’s coffin, their heads bowed as members of the audience slowly passed by. It comes as final preparations are underway for the funeral on Monday, with political and royal dignitaries from around the world arriving throughout the weekend. On Saturday, Prime Minister Liz Truss met the prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand – Anthony Albanese and Jacinda Ardern – at the government’s Chevening country house, a No 10 spokesman said. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signs a book of condolences to the late Queen Elizabeth II at Lancaster House in London, Saturday, September 17 / AP On Sunday, he will meet Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Polish President Andrzej Duda in Downing Street. As well as her meetings with world leaders on Sunday, Ms Truss will hold an audience with the King before attending his reception for visiting heads of state at Buckingham Palace. Charles also met with chiefs of staff at Buckingham Palace on Saturday and visited police headquarters to thank emergency services for their work in planning the funeral. Charles wrapped up his home nations tour on Friday, starting his day with a visit to Wales, following trips to Northern Ireland and Scotland in recent days. Meanwhile, thousands of people continue to queue to see the Queen’s coffin lie in state, with some facing more than a day in a row. As of 5am on Saturday, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, which is in queue-monitoring mode, said queues were expected to last “at least 24 hours”, after stretching for up to 25 hours earlier in the morning. Those inside Westminster Hall were briefly shocked on Friday night when a man was arrested after stepping out of the queue to approach the Queen’s coffin. The Metropolitan Police said the incident happened at around 10pm, as the live feed from inside the hall was briefly interrupted. A statement from Scotland Yard said: ‘At around 10pm on Friday 16 September officers from the Met’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection arrested a man in Westminster Hall following a disturbance. “He was arrested for an offense under the Public Order Act and is currently in custody.” Two thousand people will gather at Westminster Abbey in London on Monday for the Queen’s funeral. 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. After the funeral, the King and members of the royal family will walk behind the Queen’s coffin at Wellington Arch as it leaves Westminster Abbey, before being driven to Windsor in the state hearse.
