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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Russell Myers & Rosaleen Fenton & Jennifer Newton

Prince Harry in military uniform stands with brother William at Queen's coffin vigil

Prince Harry proudly wore his military uniform as he joined with his brother the Prince of Wales and the Queen's six other grandchildren for an emotional and historic vigil around her coffin.

The brothers both stood guard around her coffin in the moving ceremony that took place in Westminster Hall ahead of the Queen’s state funeral on Monday. They were joined by their cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Philips, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, with Lady Louise Windsor, aged 18, and her 14-year-old brother, and James, Viscount Severn also there. Mourners slowly filed past the grandchildren as they did last night when the Queen’s four children – King Charles, the Duke of York, the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex – performed own emotional vigil.

The Queen's grandchildren walk in formation towards her coffin (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
Prince William and Prince Harry - both in uniform (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Previously Harry, who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan, had not been allowed to wear his military uniform, as he is no longer a working royal since moving to California.

But King Charles decided his younger son could wear his uniform tonight for the public mourning ceremony, as he stood at the foot of the coffin, with William at the head.

He wore a morning suit as he joined his brother and his father for the procession behind his grandmother’s coffin on Wednesday when it was carried to Westminster Hall for lying in state.

Prince Harry in his military uniform (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
Harry stood at the foot of the Queen's coffin with his head bowed (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

Tonight, William wore the Blues and Royals No 1 uniform, the Garter Sash, the Garter Star, the Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Medals and RAF pilot wings.

He was flanked by his cousins Zara and Peter while Harry stood with Beatrice and Eugenie, as Lady Louise and James were in the middle of the coffin. They had their heads bowed as members of the public filed past them.

Harry wore a Blues and Royals No 1 Uniform, KCVO Neck Order and Star, Afghanistan Operational Service Medal, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals and Army Pilot Wings.

William and Harry emerge in their military dress (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
William led the Queen's grandchildren down the stairs (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

Other family members watched on from the sidelines during the vigil, among them the Earl and Countess of Wessex, who looked emotional as her children - the Queen's youngest grandchildren - took part in the vigil.

The grandchildren stood for around 15 minutes before they were led off by William.

Meanwhile, earlier today, the King and William greeted mourners in the queue for the Queen’s lying in state.

The Queen's grandchildren all mount a vigil at her coffin (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

Hundreds of people in line in Lambeth, south London, cheered and applauded as Charles and William emerged, before they thanked those waiting to pay their respects to the Queen at Westminster Hall.

Earlier, in the line, one woman offered the King her condolences as he shook her hand, and another shouted: “I can’t believe this.”

Dozens shouted “hip hip hooray” as Charles and William moved down the line, stopping for a few moments with each person.

Several people called their friends and relatives on the phone to tell them what they had just witnessed.

Others also shouted “God save the King” and “God save the Prince of Wales” as each passed.

Prince Harry with James, Viscount Severn and Princess Eugenie (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Sombre Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex look on as their children Lady Louise and Viscount Severn stand next to their grandmother's coffin (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

William could be heard discussing how long people had waited and whether they were able to keep warm.

Several people cried after meeting him, and one woman told him: “You’ll be a brilliant king one day.”

They were later joined by Kate, the Princess of Wales and Queen Consort Camilla at a Buckingham Palace lunch with governors-general from the Commonwealth realms. Kate was seen deep in conversation with Camilla.

You can now buy Friday's historic Daily Mirror commemorating the death of the Queen here: mirror.co.uk/commemorative.

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