Queen Elizabeth II was once again honored with a vigil held by her family while her coffin lies in state at Westminster Hall in London.Prince William and Prince Harry led the Saturday, September 17, ceremony, over which their cousins and Her Majesty’s other grandchildren — Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Zara Tindall, Peter Phillips, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn — also presided.
The Prince of Wales, 40, led the group’s procession into the chapel, followed by Harry, 38, Eugenie, 32, and Beatrice, 34. The rest of the cousins swiftly followed as they took their positions around the queen’s casket.Louise and James’ parents, Prince Edward and Countess Sophie, watched the cousin’s vigil from the balcony.Royal watchers noticed that the Duke of Sussex donned his military uniform for the occasion — an allowance made by Buckingham Palace two days before the grandchildren’s vigil.Though the prince lost his honorary military titles upon stepping down as a senior royal in 2020 — and was therefore not permitted to wear the uniform during the queen’s procession days earlier (nor at the monarch’s Platinum Jubilee in June) — the palace reversed course in a surprising “U-turn” on Thursday, September 15, royal expert Omid Scobie tweeted.Prior to the palace’s change of heart, a source exclusively told Us Weekly that Harry “had come to terms with not wearing uniform on these occasions.
Whilst that’s disappointing in some senses, he’s just grateful to be present and honoring the queen.”The insider added: “At the end of the day, it’s only a uniform.”The duke’s uncle Prince Andrew — who was stripped of his military titles in April after being accused of sexual assault (the case was later dismissed) — was previously
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