Why Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton Won't Be at Tonight's Vigil

Tonight, all eight of Queen Elizabeth's grandchildren will stand watch beside her coffin in Westminster Hall as mourners continue to file past to pay their respects to the late monarch.

The vigil is expected to last 15 minutes, during which Prince William will stand at the head of the coffin, flanked by his cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips; Prince Harry will stand at the foot, flanked by Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, with the Queen's youngest grandchildren, Lady Louise, and James, Viscount Severn at the middle of the coffin. Both Harry and William will be wearing their military uniforms, "at the King's request." The other grandchildren will be in "morning coat and dark formal dress with decorations."

Per Buckingham Palace, "The grandchildren, at the King's invitation, are very keen to pay their respects—just as their parents are doing the evening before." (On Friday evening, King Charles and his siblings Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and Prince Andrew stood vigil beside the Queen's coffin, while many members of the extended royal family looked on.)

It is understood that spouses of the Queen's grandchildren—including the Princess of Wales, the Duchess of Sussex, Mike Tindall, Jack Brooksbank, and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi—will not be in attendance at the vigil this evening. The royal cousins are coming together on their own to mourn their family's matriarch.

While they won't be in Westminster Hall tonight, Meghan and Kate (and Mike, Jack, and Edo) have been seen throughout this week at various mourning ceremonies honoring the Queen Elizabeth, and they are expected to attend the state funeral on Monday.

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