Grandchildren unite for an historic vigil
HEADS bowed and deep in thought, the Queen’s eight grandchildren stood vigil beside her coffin last night in a moving tribute that made history.
Prince William led his brother Prince Harry and their six cousins into Westminster Hall to stand guard while mourners filed past paying their own respects after queuing for hours.
William and Harry, both dressed in their Blues and Royals No 1 uniform with their honours and medals, were joined in their silent, solemn tribute by Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Lady Louisewindsor and her brother James,viscount Severn.
With military precision, the brothers and their cousins, dressed in morning coats or dark, formal dresses, walked in formation through the hall, turning in unison to stand guard, William at the head of the coffin, Harry at the foot, and their cousins in between.
Louise, 18, and James, 14, the Queen’s youngest grandchildren, were watched by their grieving parents the Earl and Countess ofwessex standing in a nearby gallery. Sophie appeared to be struggling with her emotions at times as her children stood remembering their grandmother.
A royal source pointed to the tender age of their children and said the Earl and Countess had gone to support them as they honoured their grandmother in the public spotlight.
William, 40, and Harry, 38, put on a show of unity after temporarily papering over their differences for the sake of the family during national mourning.their father the King had asked all eight grandchildren to become the first in British history to stand vigil at the lying-in-state of a monarch.they stood vigil for 15 minutes before making their way back up a staircase, where Zara’s right shoe came off her foot.
She shared a smile with Lady Louise and reached down and placed her black heeled shoe on her foot, causing the rest of the mourners to wait.
Members of the public who had queued for hours reflected on their good fortune to have witnessed a moment in history by chance.
Emilyturner, 28, a primary school teacher from Bournemouth, said: “It was quite surreal really. It was really solemn but amazing to see a family come together.
“They were clearly deep in thought and it was nice to see them there as a family, the brothers in uniform.”
Her fiancewill Drummond, 32, said: “I gave Harry a nod because he was looking in my direction.
“I felt the splendour of it, that incredible moment in history that you’re part of and you saw.”
Sisters Susan Gilliam, 76, from Crawley, and Jill Mountjoy, 71, from Bognor Regis, both in Sussex, also paid their respects at the same time as the vigil of the Queen’s grandchildren.
Jill, who runs a bed and breakfast, said: “It’s so dignified, it makes your eyes water and I’m still shaking.
“It’s lovely. It was emotional when we saw the grandchildren. I am shaking from the experience.”
Health worker Kashmira Patel, 43, from Mitcham, south London, said: “I felt a lot of raw emotion and heartache.
“I think it was radiating off them, the grandchildren.you could feel the hurt and pain in the atmosphere.”
‘You could feel their pain’