Queen's four granddaughters come together in grief at somber vigil in Westminster Hall
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Queen Elizabeth's four granddaughters, Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Lady Louise Windsor came together to take part in the vigil for their grandmother at Westminster Hall on Saturday, September 17. The cousins were joined by the Queen's grandsons, Prince William, Prince Harry, Peter Phillips, and James, Viscount Severn, for the 15-minute ceremony.
Notably, Princess Anne became the first woman to take part in the Vigil of the Princess, traditionally observed by male members of the Royal Family, after she stood alongside her brothers, King Charles, Prince Andrew, and the Earl of Wessex.
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In a memorable show of support, all eight grandchildren of the late Queen came together for the vigil at Westminster to honor her. The four granddaughters were dressed in mourning clothes, with simple and elegant black dresses and headbands. They filed into the Hall in formation, with Prince William leading in the traditional military uniform. He was followed by Prince Harry, also dressed in the regalia.
Behind the two brothers, entered princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, followed by Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn, and subsequently Zara and Peter. Walking in pairs, they joined the 15-minute ceremony in honor of their late grandmother. Following the death of the Queen, all the grandchildren have made appearances to thank the public for their outpouring of love and support.
All four granddaughters have been affected by the loss of the Queen. During the procession of the Queen's coffin from Buckingham to Westminster, Zara had sought comfort from her husband, who held her hand during their walk. Princess Eugenie had broken down into tears during the same event. Later, along with her sister Beatrice, she released a joint statement, writing, "We've not been able to put much into words since you left us all. There have been tears and laughter, silences and chatter, hugs and loneliness, and a collective loss for you, our beloved Queen, and our beloved Grannie." Even the young Lady Louise, who shared a fondness for carriage rides with her grandmother, looked emotional, wiping away her tears during the procession for the Queen's lying-in-state.
Princess Anne, the mother of Zara and Peter, earlier stood with her brothers during the Vigil of the Princess - a ceremony held twice before, once after the death of King George VI and then after the death of the Queen Mother. However, no female member of the Royal Family had ever taken part in the tradition.
