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King Charles to hold 'Vigil of the Princes' at Queen Elizabeth II's coffin and lead siblings in Westminster Hall

The senior royals are expected to repeat the ceremonial act they performed in Edinburgh, that is by taking guard of their late mother's coffin

BY ARUNAVA CHAKRABARTY

UPDATED SEP 16, 2022

King Charles, Prince Edward, Duke of Wessex, Princess Anne, Princes Royal, and Prince Andrew, Duke of York hold a vigil at St Giles' Cathedral, in honor of Queen Elizabeth II (Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: King Charles and his siblings Prince Andrew, Princess Anne, and Prince Edward are set to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on Friday, September 16, at a moving vigil. The new monarch is set to hold a 15-minute vigil at Queen Elizabeth's coffin on Friday evening at 7.30 pm. The senior royals are expected to repeat the ceremonial act they performed in Edinburgh, that is by taking guard of their late mother's coffin. Each stood in one of the four corners of the oak coffin with their heads bowed as part of the royal cortege known as the 'Vigil of the Princes'.

The royals will be in their military attire, with Prince Andrew wearing the uniform to pay respect to Her Majesty, even though he is not a working royal. Daily Mail reported that the Duke of York, who was banned initially from wearing the military uniform, is now lifted and it comes as a major relief for him for he was heckled during a procession in Edinburgh and had to solemnly bow his head while his siblings saluted as they walked behind their late mother's coffin as it was transported by gun carriage.

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However, that is not applicable to Prince Harry, who sacrificed his royal life for a normal one in Los Angeles. The Duke of Sussex is reportedly still banned from wearing military colors. "I understand that, unlike Prince Andrew, Prince Harry will not be allowed to wear uniform at the final vigil in Westminster Hall", the Sussexes' official biographer Omid Scoobie tweeted earlier this week. "No doubt a huge blow for the Duke of Sussex, who served for 10 years and this morning spoke of the Queen being his 'commander-in-chief'."

King Charles III, Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Camilla, Queen Consort, Sir Timothy Laurence, Mr Peter Phillips, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Beatrice and Prince Edward, Duke of Kent are seen inside the Palace of Westminster as the First Watch begins their duty during the Lying-in State of Queen Elizabeth II on September 14, 2022 in London, England. Queen Elizabeth II's coffin is taken in procession on a Gun Carriage of The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where she will lay in state until the early morning of her funeral. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. — Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III (David Ramos/Getty Images)

Princess Anne, Princess Royal and Prince Andrew, Duke of York walk behind Queen Elizabeth II's Coffin as it heads to St Giles Cathedral, after making its way along The Royal Mile on September 12, 2022 in Edinburgh, Scotland. King Charles III joins the procession accompanying Her Majesty The Queen's coffin from the Palace of Holyroodhouse along the Royal Mile to St Giles Cathedral. The King and The Queen Consort, accompanied by other Members of the Royal Family also attend a Service of Prayer and Reflection for the Life of The Queen where it lies in rest for 24 hours before being transferred by air to London. — Princess Anne, Princess Royal, and Prince Andrew, Duke of York walk behind Queen Elizabeth II's Coffin as it heads to St Giles Cathedral, after making its way along The Royal Mile on September 12, 2022, in Edinburgh, Scotland (Robert Perry/Getty Images)

The Queen's only daughter, Princess Anne, made history by becoming the first female member of the royal family to 'stand guard' as part of Monday's commemoration at the last 'Vigil of the Princes' at St Giles' Cathedral. Before Her Majesty's state funeral, almost one million mourners are anticipated to try and cram into the Palace of Westminster to pay their last respects. Tens of thousands of people have flocked to the capital in recent days, forming a huge snaking queue that has its own dedicated live stream and was more than four miles long by midday on Thursday, September 15.

King Charles III, Prince Edward, Duke of Wessex, Princess Anne, Princes Royal and Prince Andrew, Duke of York hold a vigil at St Giles' Cathedral, in honour of Queen Elizabeth II as members of the public walk past on September 12, 2022 in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Queen’s four children attend to stand vigil over her coffin where it lies in rest for 24 hours before being transferred by air to London. — King Charles III, Prince Edward, Duke of Wessex, Princess Anne, Princes Royal, and Prince Andrew, Duke of York hold a vigil at St Giles' Cathedral, in honor of Queen Elizabeth II as members of the public walk past on September 12, 2022, in Edinburgh, Scotland (Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Since 2002, Monday's 'Vigil of the Princes' marked the first time the tradition has taken place. There have been two such ceremonies in the past, in 1936, with the death of King George V in 1936, and in 2002, during the Queen's Mother's funeral. That vigil was attended by the royal's four grandsons, King Charles, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and the Earl of Snowdon.