Princes William, Harry lead Queen Elizabeth II’s eight grandchildren in coffin vigil

LONDON (AP) — All eight of Queen Elizabeth II’s grandchildren stood in silent vigil beside her coffin Saturday, capping another huge day in which thousands came to pay their respects to the monarch.

Many had huddled in line amid waits that stretched up to 16 hours, enduring London’s coldest night in months.

A tide of people wanting to say goodbye streamed into Parliament’s Westminster Hall, where the queen’s coffin is lying in state, draped in her Royal Standard and capped with a diamond-studded crown.

The numbers have grown steadily since the public was first admitted on Wednesday, with a queue that snakes around Southwark Park and stretches out at least 5 miles (8 kilometers).

Honoring their patience, King Charles III and his eldest son Prince William made an unannounced visit Saturday to greet people waiting to file past Elizabeth’s coffin, shaking hands and thanking mourners in the queue near Lambeth Bridge.

Later, all the queen’s grandchildren stood by her coffin. William and Prince Harry, Charles’ sons, were joined by Princess Anne’s children, Zara Tindall and Peter Philips; Prince Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie; and the two children of Prince Edward – Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.

Britain’s Prince William (C-R), Prince of Wales, and Britain’s Prince Harry (C-L), Duke of Sussex, arrive to mount a vigil around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, at the Palace of Westminster in London on September 16, 2022. (Ian Vogler/Pool/AFP)

William, now the heir to the throne, stood, his head bowed, at the head of the coffin and Harry at the foot. Both princes, who are military veterans, were in uniform.

Mourners continued to file past in silence as the grandchildren stood vigil.

Harry, who served in Afghanistan as a British army officer, wore civilian clothes during the procession of the queen’s coffin from Buckingham Palace because he is no longer a working member of the royal family.

He and his wife Meghan quit royal duties and moved to the United States in 2020. The king, however, requested that both William and Harry wear their military uniforms at the Westminster Hall vigil.

Britain’s Prince Harry (R), Duke of Sussex, mounts a vigil around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, at the Palace of Westminster in London on September 16, 2022. (Ian Vogler/Pool/AFP)

Before the vigil, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie issued a statement praising their “beloved grannie.”

“We, like many, thought you’d be here forever. And we all miss you terribly. You were our matriarch, our guide, our loving hand on our backs leading us through this world. You taught us so much and we will cherish those lessons and memories forever,” the sisters wrote.

People queuing to see the queen have been of all ages and come from all walks of life. Many bowed before the coffin or made a sign of the cross. Several veterans, their medals shining in the spotlights, offered sharp salutes. Some people wept. Others blew kisses. Many hugged one another as they stepped away, proud to have spent hours in line to offer a tribute, even if it lasted only a few moments.

People in warming foil queue to pay their respect to the late Queen Elizabeth II during the Lying-in State, outside Westminster Hall in London, Sept. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Overnight, volunteers distributed blankets and cups of tea to people in line as temperatures fell to 6 degrees Celsius (43 degrees Fahrenheit). Despite the weather, mourners described the warmth of a shared experience.

“It was cold overnight, but we had wonderful companions, met new friends. The camaraderie was wonderful,” Chris Harman of London said. “It was worth it. I would do it again and again and again. I would walk to the end of the earth for my queen.”

People had many reasons for coming, from affection for the queen to a desire to be part of a historic moment. Simon Hopkins, who traveled from his home in central England, likened it to “a pilgrimage.”

“[It] is a bit strange, because that kind of goes against my grain,” he said. “I’ve been kind of drawn into it.”

The public kept silently streaming into Westminster Hall even as the queen’s four children — Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — stood vigil Friday night around the flag-draped coffin for 15 minutes. A baby’s cry was the only sound.

Britain’s King Charles III meets members of the public in the queue along the South Bank, near to Lambeth Bridge as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state in London, Sept. 17, 2022. (Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP)

Before the vigil, Edward said the royal family was “overwhelmed by the tide of emotion that has engulfed us and the sheer number of people who have gone out of their way to express their own love, admiration and respect [for] our dear mama.”

Authorities on Saturday closed a separate line for people with disabilities, saying all spaces available have been allocated.

The Metropolitan Police arrested a man Friday night for a suspected public order offense. Parliamentary authorities said someone got out of the queue and tried to approach the coffin.

Tracey Holland told Sky News that her 7-year-old niece Darcy Holland was pushed out of the way by a man who tried to “run up to the coffin, lift up the standard and try to do I don’t know what.” She said police detained the man in “two seconds.”

People queue in front of the City of London to pay their respect to the late Queen Elizabeth II during the Lying-in State at Westminster Hall in London, Sept. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

The lying-in-state continues until early Monday morning, when the queen’s coffin will be borne to nearby Westminster Abbey for a state funeral, the finale of 10 days of national mourning for Britain’s longest-reigning monarch. Elizabeth, 96, died at her Balmoral Estate in Scotland on September 8 after 70 years on the throne.

US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden flew to the UK on Saturday, one of hundreds of heads of state, royals and political leaders from around the world coming to London to attend the funeral.

President Isaac Herzog and his wife First Lady Michal Herzog will depart for the United Kingdom on Sunday, his office said.

According to a statement, Herzog will “pay his respects” at Queen Elizabeth II’s lying-in-state at Westminster Hall, sign a book of condolence at Lancaster House, and attend a reception hosted by King Charles III.

President Isaac Herzog signs a condolence book for Queen Elizabeth II at the British ambassador’s residence in Tel Aviv, September 10, 2022. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)

According to Britain’s The Telegraph, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, would not be attending the reception despite having initially been invited. The Friday report said the pair was “uninvited” after there was a mix-up as the event was to only include working royals.

Charles was holding audiences Saturday with incoming prime ministers, governor generals of the realms and military leaders.

After the service Monday at the abbey, the late queen’s coffin will be transported through the historic heart of London on a horse-drawn gun carriage. It will then be taken in a hearse to Windsor, where the queen will be interred alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, who died last year.

Hundreds of troops from the British army, air force and navy held an early-morning rehearsal Saturday for the final procession. As troops lined the picturesque path leading to Windsor Castle, the thumping of drums echoed as marching bands walked ahead of a hearse.

London police say the funeral will be the largest single policing event the force has ever handled, surpassing even the 2012 Summer Olympics and the Platinum Jubilee in June celebrating the queen’s 70-year reign.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.