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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sam Elliott-Gibbs

Emotional royals struggle to hold back tears as grandchildren watch Queen's vigil

Princesses Beatrice, her husband Edoardo Mozzi and Eugenie looked emotional and close to tears at a vigil around the Queen's coffin tonight.

The emotional royals attended the service alongside other mourning members of the family.

The King was accompanied by Camilla, Queen Consort, as well as Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. Prince Andrew, 62, was also joined by siblings Princess Anne and Prince Edward for the sombre event at Westminster Hall.

Beatrice was comforted by Edoardo Mozzi while Eugenie had Jack Brooksbank by her side.

The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, Viscount Severn and Peter Phillips are also in attendance.

Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi looking emotional at the vigil (via REUTERS)

Andrew stepped down as an active member of the Firm following a disastrous interview on BBC Newsnight in late 2019.

And earlier this year, he paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case to Ms Giuffre, who he previously claimed never to have met.

Andrew is a former Royal Navy officer who served in the Falklands War.

He is being allowed to wear his uniform as a special mark of respect for his late mother.

The Duke of Sussex, meanwhile, was saddened at having his honorary military roles, including Captain General of the Royal Marines, taken away by the Queen post-Megxit.

King Charles, Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward (Sky News)

At the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral in April last year, the issue of uniform was dealt with by the Queen who decided that no members of the Royal Family should wear uniform.

It was a break with tradition but seen as the most eloquent solution to a host of problems.

Reports had suggested Andrew was considering wearing the uniform of an admiral.

He was due to be promoted to Admiral in 2020 to mark his 60th birthday before the Epstein scandal.

The Queen's children at the vigil where they stood guard besides her coffin (REUTERS)

At tomorrow's 15-minute vigil, the Prince of Wales will stand at the head and the Duke of Sussex at the foot of the Queen's coffin. At the King’s request, they will both be in uniform while other grandchildren will be in morning coat and dark formal dress with decorations.

William will be flanked by his cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Philips, while Harry will be with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, with Lady Louise and Viscount Severn at the centre of the coffin.

A royal source told the PA news agency that the grandchildren, at the King’s invitation, were very keen to pay their respects – just as their parents did tonight.

On Monday, the Abbey is expected to be filled with over 2,000 guests for the Queen's funeral.

The newly crowned king at tonight's vigil (REUTERS)

The cortege will then leave London for Windsor Castle and a committal service will take place at St George’s Chapel at 4pm on Monday.

Some 800 people, including members of the Queen’s Household and Windsor estate staff, will attend the committal service.

The Queen will later be buried with the Duke of Edinburgh in King George VI’s chapel in Windsor Castle in a private service at 7.30pm the same day.

The burial service conducted by the Dean of Windsor and attended by the King and royals will remain entirely private, as a “deeply personal family occasion”.

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