Queen Elizabeth II’s lying in rest began on Monday, 12 September in the evening at St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. On Tuesday evening, her body will be flown from Edinburgh to RAF Northolt, again accompanied by her daughter, The Princess Royal. Her coffin will be taken to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening and will then process to Westminster Hall on Wednesday to lie in state until the early hours of September 19th 2022, the day of her State Funeral. Traditionally, members of the royal family will stand vigil over the coffin. We are examining which royals may take part.
The Vigil of the Princes is a tradition that started nearly a century ago with the death of King George V. King Edward VIII, Prince Albert (Duke of York and future King George VI), Prince Henry (Duke of Gloucester, and Prince George (Duke of Kent) stood vigil over their father’s coffin in Westminster Hall in January 1936.
When the vigil was performed in 2002 at the Queen Mother’s lying in state, four members of the royal family took part. Her four grandsons- Prince Charles (Prince of Wales and future King Charles III), Prince Andrew (Duke of York), Prince Edward (Earl of Wessex), and David Armstrong-Jones (Viscount Linley and 2nd Earl of Snowdon)- stood vigil over her coffin for twenty minutes. Although they did not take part in the vigil, both Prince William and Prince Harry were present.
On the evening of September 12th 2022, the four children of Queen Elizabeth II took part in the tradition at St. Giles’ Cathedral, standing vigil over their mother’s coffin for twenty minutes while members of the public paid their respects. It was a historic moment, as Princess Anne was the first female royal to take part in the tradition.
It is expected that King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward will fulfil this duty at Westminster Hall. Some commentators believe that Prince William and Prince Harry may take part, as well. Her Late Majesty’s other grandsons, Peter Phillips and James, Viscount Severn could also fulfil the duty although Viscount Severn is just fourteen. And having witnessed the Princess Royal stand guard for her mother, it may well be that the granddaughters of Queen Elizabeth II decide they, too, would like to honour their grandmother, too.
