LONDON – As a line of mourners moved through the late monarch’s lying-in-state on Saturday, Princes William and Harry kept watch at either end of the coffin with their heads lowered.
At a 15-minute vigil in the enormous Westminster Hall where the coffin has been laying since Wednesday, wrapped in the Royal Standard and with the jewelled Imperial State Crown on top, the two sons of King Charles, dressed in military uniforms, stood in silence.
Six of their cousins, including Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, who had earlier paid tribute to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, joined William and Harry. At the age of 96, the queen passed away on September 8 at her Highland summer residence.
The sisters, who are the children of Prince Andrew, described their matriarch as “our matriarch, our guide, our loving hand on our backs leading us through this life.” “You taught us so much, and we will always value the knowledge and the memories you gave us. All we want to say right now, dear grandmother, is thank you.”
A testament to how highly regarded the queen was is the fact that hundreds of thousands of people have been standing in line along the River Thames for hours on end to pay their respects and pass by the coffin.
The children of Princess Anne, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, and Prince Edward’s children, Louise and James, also attended the candlelight vigil on Saturday.
On Saturday morning, Charles and his heir William greeted everyone in line and shook their hands before inquiring how long they had been waiting and if they were warm enough.
To cheers of “hip, hip, hurrah” and shouts of “God save the King”, Charles and William spoke to mourners near Lambeth Bridge, as they neared the end of the massive line to see the lying-in-state in the historic Westminster Hall.
On Friday night, Charles joined his three siblings – Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward – in a silent vigil at the coffin.
“She wouldn’t believe all this, she really wouldn’t,” William was heard telling one man of the late queen, who came to the throne in 1952.
“It’s amazing.”
One woman told Charles it had been “worth the wait” and others wished him well and cheered as he moved down the line.
