Friday at Westminster Hall, King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and Prince Andrew attended a second quiet vigil over the Queen’s coffin.
The deceased queen’s children were joined by military personnel who had been standing guard over her remains for the previous two days.
The royals stood with their heads bowed for approximately ten minutes as the public and other members of the royal family observed.
All four were dressed in official military uniform, a significant difference from the first ceremony on Monday, when Andrew, Duke of York, donned a morning suit in contrast to his siblings’ more formal attire. Andrew’s military attire on Friday was contrary to royal custom, which specifies that only active members of the royal family should wear military uniforms on ceremonial occasions.
On Monday, Prince Andrew wore a morning suit to a vigil, but on Friday he was authorized to wear his military uniform.
Hannah McKay/Pool Photo via AP/Royal Family Permission
The prince, who resigned from his royal duties in 2019 and was stripped of his military titles earlier this year due to his association with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, was granted permission to don the attire this week at the Queen’s special request.
Prince Harry, who has not been a working royal since 2020, will reportedly be allowed to wear his military uniform on Saturday night as the Queen’s grandchildren maintain vigil over her coffin. After he and his wife Meghan Markle separated from the royal family, Harry was stripped of his royal title and military patronages.
Previously, Insider reported that the change may be an indication of Harry’s reunion with the rest of the royal family.
On Thursday, Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully at her Balmoral residence in Scotland, and her funeral is scheduled for Monday, September 19.
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