We are expecting to see them in the next few moments leave Buckingham Palace on this late summer evening and travel into Westminster Hall where those who are paying their respects in the hall at that time will see the four of them together at the side of the coffin. It looks like they are just about to leave Buckingham Palace. The outriders are out of the gates. The Queen Consort will be with the king. Itll be the four of them standing together as theyin four of them standing together as they in edinburgh at st giles� cathedral. But in the setting of Westminster Hall, it is of course the most historic, most ancient part of the palace of westminster, a place with immense resonance in the history of our national story, the history of our national story, the history of our monarchy, and therefore a particularly resonant setting for them to stand vigil together as they are about to do. There they are now coming out of the palace gates and beginning that Shortjourney Palace Gates and beginning that short journey across to westminster. That is the king� s car in the front, bearing the royal standard. We will see them in Westminster Hall very shortly. As they are on their way to Westminster Hall, it� ll be a special moment for the queen� s children for whom this has been a time where their private grief has had to be alongside their public duty. They have received condolences from across the country and around the world. As they travel to Westminster Hall tonight it is in remembrance of their mother, their beloved mother, more than anything else. Each of them will have their own memories as they make this journey of their time with her through the decades. Ido i do have many happy memories of childhood. I rememberwe i do have many happy memories of childhood. I remember we used to have lots of laughs, sometimes make her laugh, she was always very jolly. Her laugh, she was always very oll. ,. , her laugh, she was always very oll. ,. , her laugh, she was always very oll. ,. , v, jolly. She was always the queen because that jolly. She was always the queen because that was jolly. She was always the queen because that was really jolly. She was always the queen i because that was really important for all because that was really important for all of because that was really important for all of us. But she was always my mother, for all of us. But she was always my mother, and for all of us. But she was always my mother, and that is how you remember her. Mother, and that is how you remember her~ we mother, and that is how you remember her. ~ � mother, and that is how you remember her. ,. Her. We werent appendages which should be seen her. We werent appendages which should be seen and her. We werent appendages which should be seen and not her. We werent appendages which should be seen and not heard. Her. We werent appendages which should be seen and not heard. We| should be seen and not heard. We were should be seen and not heard. We were definitely should be seen and not heard. We were definitely the should be seen and not heard. We were definitely the priority. Should be seen and not heard. We were definitely the priority. The. Were definitely the priority. The ha iest were definitely the priority. Happiest times we spent were definitely the priority. Happiest times we spent together would be on holidays. Because of the time that we spent together as a family. Time that we spent together as a famil. ,. , time that we spent together as a famil. ,. ,. ,. , family. She was always there. I could talk family. She was always there. I could talk to family. She was always there. I could talk to her family. She was always there. I could talk to her about family. She was always there. I could talk to her about this,. Could talk to her about this, that, or the could talk to her about this, that, or the other. That is something that will be or the other. That is something that will be re difficult not to have very will be re difficult not to have very difficult not to have. All of those very difficult not to have. All of those memories, i hope, keep me going through the centuries, Westminster Hall has witnessed many significant royal occasions. Tonight her majesty will only be the second monarch whose children have stood vigil for her. As they arrive at Westminster Hall, our correspondent is waiting inside. The atmosphere here at Westminster Hall calm, solemn, people mourning them on a� s death and also reflecting on her life and 70 years of reign. This room is full of people but it is almost silent here. Just the odd interruption. The sound of Military Boots Ricocheting off the floor, the Duty Officer Tapping Commands with his stick, and the occasional cry of a child. It has been like this since five o� clock on wednesday afternoon when black rod, the parliamentary officer in charge of maintaining order in the lord� s chamber and its precincts, signal that the doors of the hall can be opened to the public patiently queueing outside. 50 hours or so have elapsed since that moment. People at the head of what has felt at times an infinite line have filed in past the coffin, paying their private respects to the late queen. Some people walk by lost in private thoughts. Some bow, some curtsy, some make the sign of the cross, others turn on their heel and looked back raising their hand in an informal salute as they say their farewells. Some of the visitors here knew the queen personally or worked for her, but most of us in this hall only knew herfrom for her, but most of us in this hall only knew her from a distance. As the monarchy. Photographed in a newspaper, seen on television, or perhaps seen for a few seconds of a walkabout after the opening of a public building. The queen� s subjects will bejoined public building. The queen� s subjects will be joined by her children this evening. The king, the Princess Royal, the duke of york, and the Earl Of Wessex, four siblings mourning the death of their mother. The union flag lowered, changed for the royal standard. The Gentlemen At Arms and the Yeomen Of The Guard and appropriately on this day when so much of the focus has been on wales, four officers from the welsh guards too. The First Royal Vigil here was in 1936. The final night of the vigil for george v when the new king, edward viii, decided to stand watch around the catafalque with his brothers as a tribute to their late father. The king was joined tribute to their late father. The king wasjoined by tribute to their late father. The king was joined by the tribute to their late father. The king Wasjoined By The Dukes tribute to their late father. The king was joined by The Dukes Of Gloucester and kent and the then duke of york who later that same year became george vi. He was to lie in state here when he died in 1952. Now, 70 years later, his daughter rests in Westminster Hall. This is the second time that her majesty� s children have stood vigil. They did so on monday evening while the coffin lay in st giles� cathedral in edinburgh. In 2a hours an estimated 33,000 people filed through to pay their respects. Much has been said this week about a moment of quiet reflection for us, the population, but also for the queen� s children reflecting their own grief as the queen said in her message of condolence to the families of victims lost in the 9 11 attacks in new york, nothing that can be said can begin to take away the anguish and pain of these moments. Grief is the price we pay for love. This royal vigil will begin at 7 45pm. You will be able to see it here. For now, in the studio, i� m joined by Katie Nicholl, royal biographer, and gyles brandreth, writer and broadcaster. We did see the four of them stand together in edinburgh earlier this week. But this is a different setting. How would you describe the importance of this moment, gyles . Late would you describe the importance of this moment, gyles . This moment, gyles . We heard the Princess Royal. This moment, gyles . We heard the Princess Royal, we this moment, gyles . We heard the Princess Royal, we heard this moment, gyles . We heard the Princess Royal, we heard her this moment, gyles . We heard the Princess Royal, we heard her voice| Princess Royal, we heard her voice saying that the queen was always the queen but she was also a mother. Tonight we see them doing a personal tribute to the queen step but in public. This is a private moment but it is played out in public. This is the life the children of the queen have led all of their life. A strange experience for them. But they will be there as children of they will be there as children of the sovereign. Still filing past will be the public. I met people in the queue today, and it is clear that they are so happy to be there, so proud to be there, so keen to be there to pay their respects. Somebody said to me, she was the best, and she has brought out the best, and she has brought out the best in us. So it is a wonderful combination of the private and the public. Combination of the private and the ublic. ,. , ~ , � , public. The Earl Of Wessexs statement public. The Earl Of Wessexs Statement Released public. The Earl Of Wessexs Statement Released today. Public. The Earl Of Wessexs Statement Released today actually addressed that, the fact they have grown up having to share their parents, especially their mama. Hat parents, especially their mama. Not man of us parents, especially their mama. Not many of us have to share our parents with the many of us have to share our parents with the commonwealth and the realms and the with the commonwealth and the realms and the whole country. They have grown and the whole country. They have grown up and the whole country. They have grown up with this private public balance grown up with this private public balance. But i think what must be so important balance. But i think what must be so important for them in this vigil is of course important for them in this vigil is of course the times they didnt have to share of course the times they didnt have to share her, the times at balmoral, the summers that were made so special the summers that were made so special when the late duke and the queen special when the late duke and the queen would teach them to stalk and fish and queen would teach them to stalk and fish and enjoy those foothills of balmoral and the highlands in the way the balmoral and the highlands in the way the queen and the duke always did. Way the queen and the duke always did~ and way the queen and the duke always did. And those Wonderful Christmases at sandringham. We heard in these tributes at sandringham. We heard in these tributes wonderful recollections of these tributes wonderful recollections of these family times. I think of course these family times. I think of course we these family times. I think of course we are mourning our queen but we forget course we are mourning our queen but we forget that these four children are mourning a mother. We were only allowed are mourning a mother. We were only allowed inside the palace walls at certain allowed inside the palace walls at certain times. It almost in her death certain times. It almost in her death we certain times. It almost in her death we have been allowed in far more death we have been allowed in far more in death we have been allowed in far more. ,. , more. In this setting there was the vi. Il more. In this setting there was the viail for more. In this setting there was the vigil for the more. In this setting there was the vigil for the queen more. In this setting there was the vigil for the queen mother more. In this setting there was the vigil for the queen mother in more. In this setting there was the | vigil for the queen mother in 2002, and the three other siblings were part of that. Its it� s a place for royal vigils. Queen mary lay in state there in 1953, the queen mother, her children, family, were there for that. It� s history. It is our royal history. William the conqueror, was built after his time, William Rufus built it, Richard The Second designed the Extraordinary Hammer Beam Roof. It� s the story of our royal history so it� s the right place for them to be and it� s where our Kings And Queens have been laid to rest, they have been lying in state, occasionally for a commoner, i think gladstone in the 19th century, lord roberts vc, and winston churchill, the queen� s first Prime Minister was white and 2a hours a day there are people who have waited a long, long time for the opportunity. Have waited a long, long time for the opportunity have waited a long, long time for the opportunity. Some of them will be in the hall the opportunity. Some of them will be in the hall when the opportunity. Some of them will be in the hall when the the opportunity. Some of them will be in the hall when the king the opportunity. Some of them will be in the hall when The King And I the opportunity. Some of them will| be in the hall when the king and his siblings begin their vigil. What be in the hall when the king and his siblings begin their vigil. Siblings begin their vigil. What an Extraordinary siblings begin their vigil. What an Extraordinary moment siblings begin their vigil. What an Extraordinary moment that siblings begin their vigil. What an Extraordinary moment that will. Siblings begin their vigil. What an i Extraordinary moment that will be, notiust Extraordinary moment that will be, notiust to Extraordinary moment that will be, notjust to stand Extraordinary moment that will be, not just to stand in front of the late queen and pay tribute but to see our late queen and pay tribute but to see our new king there. An Extraordinary moment and, as gyles says. Extraordinary moment and, as gyles says. Quite Extraordinary moment and, as gyles says, quite fitting these historical moments says, quite fitting these historical moments are being made in the most historical moments are being made in the most Historical Hall in great britain, yes, Historical Hall in great britain, yes, for Historical Hall in great britain, yes, for these people a special moment yes, for these people a special moment indeed. And yes, for these people a special moment indeed. Yes, for these people a special moment indeed. And the queens children will moment indeed. And the queens children will be moment indeed. And the queens children will be beginning moment indeed. And the queens children will be beginning their. Children will be beginning their vigil shortly, so let� s rejoin petroc inside Westminster Hall. The candle burns in front of the royal standard. These candles that burn for 2h hours replaced each evening when the hall is briefly shutin evening when the hall is briefly shut in the small hours. Behind the candle, the imperial state crown, the orb and sceptre. Many of these people filing in will have no idea that they are about to share their moment of vigil, their moment of paying respect, with the queen� s children. The welsh guards doing their duty. An officer on each corner of the coffin, the uniform distinguished with their buttons arranged in two groups of five, a leek on their colour badges. The Westminster Cross stands at the head of the coffin. And a bouquet of flowers, a wreath of white roses and dahlias, studded with pine from the gardens at the royal estate in balmoral, where the queen died last thursday, the gardens at windsor, the queen� s main home in later years, lavender, rosemary, the symbol of remembrance. Yeomen of the guard, one of the royal bodyguards doing their duty in this vigil. And all this under the great Hammer Beam Roof of Westminster Hall, this great open space without a Single Pillar to obstruct the view, as the public enter the south of the hall, look down the steps, they are immediately struck by the vision of her majesty� s coffin resting on its catafalque and beer of red and purple. The welsh guards established at the height of the first world war, the duty officer using his stick. To instruct the men. And here come the queen� s children, the king, the Princess Royal, the Earl Of Wessex and forfarand, at the rear of Princess Royal, the Earl Of Wessex and forfar and, at the rear of the party, the duke of york. They walk forward to the catafalque. They walk forward to the catafalque. They will take a place, one on each side. The queen� s children paying respect as they mark vigil to their mother here in Westminster Hall. And so with three taps from the duty officer� s stick, this extremely. This act comes to an end. The three Children Standing Vigil next to their mother� s coffin in Westminster Hall. Castle. Meanwhile, those at the head of this vast slow moving, snaking line of people continue to descend the a formal duty to the nation, private duty to their mother. Their faces stoic as they stood there. The steady stream of members of the public filing past. These people who have come from near and far to make this pilgrimage to express their sorrow at the death of the queen. Tonight� s vigil reflects the relationship between the monarchy and state, for members of a Family Mourning their loss surrounded by Hundreds Paying tribute to a loved and respected figurehead, a meeting of public and private grief. 0ur continuous coverage of the kherson continues on on lying in state is an iplayer. It will continue until windsor castle. Meanwhile, at the head of this vast slow moving snaking line of people continue to descend the steps into Westminster Hall, some have carefully planned for their time in the queue, others havejoined, it seems for their time in the queue, others have joined, it seems on an impulse. I have seen sturdy outgo gear among some in shorts, children in school blazers, guides and scouts and many women wearing the black of morning, suits, workwear, genes, clerical collars. Couple supporting each other as they pass the coffin. Teenagers standing in all. Family groups spanning generations. A Mother Holding a toddler, almost too big for her arms. Tens, Hundreds Of Thousands of people, all united in their desire to pay their final respects to her majesty the queen. It is, and continues to be a snapshot of our society, all these people brought together because of their desire to be there to pay their desire to be there to pay their respects to the queen as she lies in state in what we have just seenin lies in state in what we have just seen in their vigil of the king, his two brothers and his sister. It is likely to be one of the enduring images of this time, the scene, the four of them with their heads bowed, and all of those people who were in Westminster Hall at that time continuing to go past as the four of them stood there. Giles brandreth and Katie Nicholl are still with me. It is moving but also remarkable. Here, you are seeing private mourning in a public place. There are the four children of the queen who died only eight days ago. We are watching it on television, and people are filing past at the same time. It sums up in a sense this curious phenomenon and that we have in this country of the royal family. And then watching them and members of the extended family. They are the grandsons of king george v who lay in state back in 1936. So, this was both personal and public, historic and private. find both personal and public, historic and private both personal and public, historic and rivate. � ,. , and private. And there were several generations and private. And there were several generations. They and private. And there were several generations. They had and private. And there were several generations. They had brought and private. And there were severalj generations. They had brought their children is as well, members of the royal family. Children is as well, members of the royal family children is as well, members of the r0 alfamil. ,. Royal family. Yes, we went expecting that. It reminded royal family. Yes, we went expecting that. It reminded us royal family. Yes, we went expecting that. It reminded us that royal family. Yes, we went expecting that. It reminded us that this royal family. Yes, we went expecting that. It reminded us that this is royal family. Yes, we went expecting that. It reminded us that this is a that. It reminded us that this is a family that. It reminded us that this is a Family Mourning, a family of many generations. And reflecting on what it must generations. And reflecting on what it must have been like for those members it must have been like for those members of the public who are in the hole at members of the public who are in the hole at that members of the public who are in the hole at that time. What an Extraordinary moment to witness. 0ne they will Extraordinary moment to witness. 0ne they will remember forever. I think that connection between the royal family that connection between the royal family and members of the public has been a family and members of the public has been a really important one since the death been a really important one since the death of the queen. You can see that in the death of the queen. You can see that in the the death of the queen. You can see that in the crowds they have been meeting that in the crowds they have been meeting and their walkabouts. They have drawn as much support from the public have drawn as much support from the public and have drawn as much support from the public and the support in the public as the public and the support in the public as the public are insane this role is. As the public are insane this role is but as the public are insane this role is but the as the public are insane this role is. But the public who stood in front is. But the public who stood in front of is. But the public who stood in front of the new king paying respects to the old monarch, Extraordinary. Respects to the old monarch, extraordina. �. , , Extraordinary. And there has been such a crosssection Extraordinary. And there has been such a crosssection of Extraordinary. And there has been such a crosssection of the Extraordinary. And there has been such a crosssection of the public| such a Cross Section of the public today. We saw a whole range of people from different walks of life, whether it was celebrities or we even saw David Beckham who apparently turned up at 2pm 2am in the morning and join the queue. I� ve been thinking about it, and obviously this is part of our history. It is not for everybody. Whether you are a monarchist or republican, Kings And Queens have been part of our island story. But there is something more going on here. I think that because in a dark world where there is a lot that is bad, the queen was good. She was exemplar of goodness and people are reaching out for that and wanting almost to touch it, to say thank you and celebrate the decency of the queen, the Extraordinary phenomenon and that she was. Xtet. Queen, the Extraordinary phenomenon and that she was. And that she was. Yet, none of us can understand and that she was. Yet, none of us can understand what and that she was. Yet, none of us can understand what it and that she was. Yet, none of us can understand what it was and that she was. Yet, none of us can understand what it was like i and that she was. Yet, none of usj can understand what it was like to have your grief and The Public Eye as these four children have had to do. I wonder, as these four children have had to do. Iwonder, picking up as these four children have had to do. I wonder, picking up on what katie said, whether there is a sort of comfort coming to them seeing the way people have appreciated their mother. The way people have appreciated their mother. ,. ,. , way people have appreciated their mother. ,. ,. , way people have appreciated their mother. ,. ,. ,. , mother. The Earl Of Wessex spoke to exactly that. Mother. The Earl Of Wessex spoke to exactly that, how mother. The Earl Of Wessex spoke to exactly that, how having mother. The Earl Of Wessex spoke to exactly that, how having grieved mother. The Earl Of Wessex spoke to exactly that, how having grieved at l exactly that, how having grieved at first in private, coming out to meet the public, how they found that so comforting. They will ultimately have a totally private moment on monday evening in the King George Vi chapel named after the queen� s father. It willjust be the close members of the family alone when the queen is ultimately relayed to laid to rest alongside her late husband. , , husband. They will be buried together. Husband. They will be buried together, and husband. They will be buried together, and you husband. They will be buried together, and you looked. Husband. They will be buried together, and you looked at| husband. They will be buried i together, and you looked at the husband. They will be buried together, and you looked at the four of them and they must be thinking of their late father as well as their mother. ,. ,. Their late father as well as their mother. ,. ,. , their late father as well as their mother. ,. ,. , mother. Totally, and possibly saying a ra er. Mother. Totally, and possibly saying a prayer lts mother. Totally, and possibly saying a prayer. Its worth mother. Totally, and possibly saying a prayer. Its Worth Remembering. A prayer. It� s Worth Remembering that when we think this is too formal and are we asking too much, they have been brought up for this. The queen valued this. She valued a uniform and she valued precision. She wanted things to be done correctly and she thought something is things things get people through. Having to do these things as part of your duty helps people to live better. It is Worth Remembering that when diana died, she took her grandson is to church that morning. People thought, oh, why . She thought, no, we will do what we normally do. We go to church on a sunday morning. We will keep going. And there are new traditions. We will have the grandChildren Standing Vigil tomorrow. The will have the grandChildren Standing Vigil tomorrow. Vigil tomorrow. The Princess Royal was there today. Vigil tomorrow. The Princess Royal was there today. That vigil tomorrow. The Princess Royal was there today. That did vigil tomorrow. The Princess Royal was there today. That did not vigil tomorrow. The Princess Royal. Was there today. That did not happen last time was there today. That did not happen last time. So you are seeing modernisation and progression all the Time Modernisation and progression all the time. And, yes, we have had it confirmed the time. And, yes, we have had it confirmed that there will be a vigil for the confirmed that there will be a vigil for the queens eight grandchildren, something that has never happened before, something that has never happened before, and that will also be moment for those before, and that will also be moment for those grandchildren to stand vigil, for those grandchildren to stand vigil, paid for those grandchildren to stand vigil, paid tribute and be a breath away vigil, paid tribute and be a breath away from vigil, paid tribute and be a breath away from the members of the public while they away from the members of the public while they do that. That dichotomy between while they do that. That dichotomy between public and private that they have navigated their entire lives, particularly when the Prince Of Wales particularly when the Prince Of Wales will be there tomorrow. Katie nicholl and giles wales will be there tomorrow. List e nicholl and giles brandreth many thanks to you both. People are continuing to queue. That is happening 2a hours a day. They are waiting to pay their respects to the queen. Some will have had the opportunity in her lifetime to meet her. Sir David Attenborough is someone who knew her majesty for many years, both personally and through his work as a producer and executive. Here are his reflections going right back to the 1940s. Luntimely going right back to the 1940s. When i first met going right back to the 1940s. When i first met the going right back to the 1940s. When i first met the queen going right back to the 1940s. When i first met the queen in going right back to the 1940s. When i first met the queen in 1947, going right back to the 1940s. When | first met the queen in 1947, i going right back to the 19405. Barren i first met the queen in 1947, i was serving in the navy and doing National Service at greenwich. 0ne National Service at greenwich. One of the Teaching Staff was a certain prince philip, and there were special evenings where you have a formal dinner, and he brought this beautiful princess on his arm. And i remember walking up smiling. She looked regal. But she also looked perfectly at home. This was her, where she should be. And i have never forgotten that. She liked the outdoors. I suppose it was the freedom. The absence of stuffiness. It is very difficult to be stuffy on a grass more. I remember one christmas broadcast, and it was my first broadcast. She was well aware this was the one time when she spoke one to one. And she cherished that. I decided it would be nice if we could do it in the stables. 0ur Christmas thing anyway. And we ended up christmas thing anyway. And we ended up with the situation in which he was talking with horses around her. She did it absolutely perfectly. Christmas is a festival for all christians, but it is particularly a festival christians, but it is particularly a festival for christians, but it is particularly a festival for children. And christians, but it is particularly a festival for children. Festivalfor children. And i said thank you festivalfor children. And i said thank you so festivalfor children. And i said thank you so much. Festivalfor children. And i said thank you so much. The festival for children. And i said thank you so much. The cameraman started pulling my sleeve and i pushed him away and carried on. He was very insistent. I said what� s the matter . He said, go again. Did you leave the lens cap on . What do you leave the lens cap on . What do you mean go again . So she did it again. And of course she did it perfectly. Was there something wrong with the focus or something . The cameraman said no, but there was a horse immediately behind her, and as she started speaking, he got that sort of itch in his upper lip which horses sometimes get, so he was doing this sort of thing while she was talking. He said it looked as though he was as sort of ventriloquist act and it really wasn� t right for the mood. So i said thank you very much. I wasnt right for the mood. So i said thank you very much. Thank you very much. I very happy christmas to thank you very much. I very happy christmas to all. Thank you very much. I very happy christmas to all. There thank you very much. I very happy christmas to all. There are thank you very much. I very happy christmas to all. There are times. Christmas to all. There are times when it was christmas to all. There are times when it was proper christmas to all. There are times when it was proper to christmas to all. There are times when it was proper to be christmas to all. There are times when it was proper to be formal. J when it was proper to be formal. That was what was required and was there for what she did. And that was why it was all the more heart warming when the ice cracked and the smile was a genuine one and not a formal one. On those occasions did happen and were to be treasured. Sir David Attenborough there with his memories of the queen, including that rather surprising christmas broadcast. And what we have seen tonight has been both a ceremonial and a family moment. I moment for the queen� s for children, and indeed a historic one. 0nly the queen� s for children, and indeed a historic one. Only the second time that a monarch� s children have stood vigil in Westminster Hall. We will be back tomorrow when it will be the queen� s grandChildren Standing Vigil. Tonight, as people continue to pay their respects to the queen, we leave you with these images
vimarsana.com © 2020. All Rights Reserved.