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British Royals

All Queen Elizabeth II’s grandchildren to stand vigil over her coffin

By
16th September 2022

All eight of Queen Elizabeth II’s grandchildren will stand vigil over her coffin at her Lying in State.

They will make their special tribute on September 17th 2022. It will last for fifteen minutes.

The heir to the throne, the Prince of Wales, will stand at the head of Her Late Majesty’s coffin. His younger brother, the Duke of Sussex, will take position at the foot.

Queen Elizabeth’s six other grandchildren, including the eldest of that generation, Peter Phillips, will stand around the coffin for the quarter of an hour long vigil.

The Prince of Wales will be in military uniform. At the request of King Charles III, the Duke of Sussex will wear uniform. Her Late Majesty’s remaining grandchildren will be dressed in mourning.

The vigil will take place a day after the Vigil of the Princes when King Charles, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex will stand by their late mother’s coffin to pay tribute. The Duke of York is permitted to wear military uniform, too, at this one event.

Her Late Majesty was very close to all her grandchildren. This will be the first time that granddaughters of a Monarch have stood vigil around the coffin. Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor will pay their tributes alongside the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, Peter Phillips and James, Viscount Severn.

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About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.