King Charles guard mother’s coffin in solemn vigil

• The “Vigil of the Princes” took place in London’s Westminster Hall where Queen Elizabeth’s body is lying in state.
• For 12 minutes, her children stood with their heads bent as other members of the royal family looked on.
• Mourners from the public paid their respects.

In a mournful vigil honouring Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, King Charles III and his three siblings stood guard around their mother Queen Elizabeth II’s casket on Friday.

The crowd, who had been waiting in line for hours, kept filing by as the new monarch, Princess Anne, and Princes Andrew and Edward mounted the guard around her flag-draped casket in silence.

The “Vigil of the Princes,” which took place in London’s mediaeval Westminster Hall where Queen Elizabeth’s body is lying in state before her funeral on Monday, included all of the royals dressed in ceremonial naval gear.

For 12 minutes, her children stood with their heads bent as other members of the royal family, such as Queen Consort Camilla, looked on and mourners from the public paid their respects.

Before the body was flown to London, King Charles and his siblings held a similar vigil at St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh.

For King George V, the Vigil of the Princes was first held in Westminster Hall in 1936. His four sons, including the father of Queen Elizabeth, stood watch.

On Saturday night, the grandchildren of the queen will participate in a similar vigil led by Prince William and his brother, Prince Harry.

The public has experienced wait times of up to 24 hours to pass the coffin.

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