Princess Anne Made History as First Woman to Participate in the Vigil of the Princes
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On Monday evening, Queen Elizabeth's four children—King Charles, Princess Anne, and Princes Andrew and Edward—came together at St. Giles' Cathedral to conduct a solemn ritual. As Queen Elizabeth's coffin lay at St. Giles, the four children joined the Royal Company of Archers to stand guard around the coffin in something called the Vigil of the Princes. They stood there for around 10 minutes.
Per the BBC, "The symbolic move sees four people - in this case King Charles III, Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward - position themselves at each side of the coffin to stand guard for a short time."
Anne's participation was significant; she became the first woman royal to take part in this ceremonial vigil. It is widely expected that the Vigil of the Princes will take place once again in London, with the Queen's children and grandchildren participating.
"I was fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest Mother’s life," Princess Anne wrote in a tribute to her mother. "It has been an honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys. Witnessing the love and respect shown by so many on these journeys has been both humbling and uplifting."
The Vigil of the Princes has only taken place twice before—following the death of King George V, and following the death of the Queen Mother in 2002. It is called the "Vigil of the Princes" because George V's four children—then-King Edward VIII, and Princes Albert, Henry and George—stood guard at their father's coffin on January 28, 1936 at Westminster Hall.
The vigil took place once again for Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother in 2002, when then-Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and their cousin Viscount Linley stood vigil around her coffin.
Queen Elizabeth will lie in state today through Sunday, September 18, and her funeral will take place on Monday, September 19.
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