King Charles's FINAL vigil: Queen's four children don military uniform and hold 15-minute vigil beside coffin

The King led them to the Queen's coffin, with Anne and Edward walking side by side while Andrew walked behind

UPDATED SEP 17, 2022

King Charles III, Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward hold a vigil beside the coffin of their mother, Queen Elizabeth II on September 16, 2022 in London, England (Jack Hill/ Joe Giddens-WPA Pool/GettyImages)

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Newly-sworn in monarch King Charles III stood by Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward in an emotional vigil beside their mother's coffin on Friday, September 16. They entered in military uniform and stood in front of the coffin.

According to The Sun, all the Queen's children stood with their heads down to pay their final respects to the late monarch, who died on September 8.

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Queen Consort Camilla and the late monarch's grandkids stood for 15 minutes of silence at Westminster Hall. The King led them to the Queen's coffin, with Anne and Edward walking side by side while Andrew walked behind.

King Charles III, Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex arrive hold a vigil beside the coffin of their mother, Queen Elizabeth II, as it lies in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall, at the Palace of Westminster, ahead of her funeral on Monday, on September 16, 2022 in London, England. — King Charles III, Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex arrive in Westminster Hall, at the Palace of Westminster, ahead of Queen's funeral on Monday, September 19(Photo Eddie Mulholland - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Family members including Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice and Zara Tindall, and her husband, former rugby player Mike Tindall, watched on from the side. Also visible was Zara's two eldest children Mia, 8, and four-year-old Lena. The youngsters wore black headbands over their blonde plaits.
Sophie Wessex, 57, was also present, standing next to her children Lady Louise Windsor, 18, and 14-year-old James, Viscount Severn.

Members of the Royal family including James, Viscount Severn, Lady Louise Windsor, the Countess of Wessex, the Queen Consort, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and Mike Tindall, attend the vigil by King Charles III, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex beside the coffin of their mother, Queen Elizabeth II, as it lies in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall, at the Palace of Westminster, on September 16, 2022 in London England.(Photo Eddie Mulholland - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

As thousands of mourners waited to get to Parliament to pay their respects as the Queen lies in state, the government announced the queue would be shut for several hours since the line was too big.

Meanwhile, Prince William and Prince Harry, 38 were not present at the vigil on Friday, but will stand guard around their grandmother's coffin at a separate vigil on Saturday, September 17. The Duke of Sussex, who was on the front line during two tours of duty in Afghanistan, is not allowed to wear his military uniform since he is no longer a working royal. However, as per the Sun, royal sources say the King has allowed his youngest son to wear the uniform for the vigil.

As final preparations are under way for the funeral on Monday, September 19, several politicians and royal dignitaries from around the world are expected to arrive throughout the weekend.

The man in charge of the Queen's state funeral is The Earl Marshal Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk, who said the historic occasion on Monday will "unite people across the globe and resonate with people of all faiths." He noted that it was "both humbling and daunting" to have the "honor and great responsibility" to run the solemn event that will be telecast to billions around the globe. "The events of recent days are a reminder of the strength of our Constitution, a system of government, which in so many ways is the envy of the world," he added, according to The Daily Mail.