PRINCE Harry was finally allowed to wear his military uniform tonight as he guarded the Queen’s coffin.
The Duke of Sussex joined the Queen’s grandchildren for a moving vigil at Westminster Hall this evening, where Her Majesty lies in state.
Prince Harry was allowed to wear his military uniform tonight
He joined his cousins, the Queen’s grandchildren, for the moving vigil
The royals were seen slowly entering the hall together
The Queen’s grandchildren walked in step to their positions around the coffin before a 15-minute period of reflection
The poignant moment emulated the Vigil of the Princes
Harry was initially banned from donning his military colours to mourn the monarch after he was stripped of his royal duties during Megxit.
But King Charles granted the Afghan war veteran, who has ten years military experience, special permission to do so for the 15-minute vigil tonight.
Harry joined his brother, the Prince of Wales, and their six cousins for the poignant period of reflection.
William led the grandchildren through the hall and slowly walked them in step to their positions.
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He was flanked by Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips at the head of the coffin, while Harry stood at the foot with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
Lady Louise Windsor and her brother Viscount Severn stood at the middle of the coffin.
As the vigil took place, emotional mourners continued to flood into the hall to pay their respects, having queued for hours to be there.
John Suddes, 48, was among those watching the royals enter as mourners were momentarily halted.
He said: “Being in the room was just unbelievable. The atmosphere was incredible.
“We knew the grandchildren were coming, but to see them all in there like that – all in their uniforms – was just unreal.”
After a signal from one of the Queen’s bodyguards, William led his cousins away.
It comes after Prince Harry and his uncle Prince Andrew wore morning suits for the Queen’s coffin procession on Wednesday.
The decision to allow Harry to wear his uniform tonight was not a U-turn but a “one-off” decision by the King as a mark of respect for the late monarch.
An insider said: “The King invited the Queen’s grandchildren to mount a vigil and Harry can wear his uniform.”
It’s understood Harry had not asked for a change and had been prepared to wear whatever was asked of him so the focus was on honouring his grandmother.
Last night Prince Andrew appeared in military uniform as he took his turn to stand vigil by his mother’s coffin.
The Duke of York joined King Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Edward for the moving vigil at Westminster Hall, where Her Majesty lies in state.
The siblings stood guard over their mother as they did in Scotland earlier this week – in a moving tradition known as Vigil of the Princes.
Andrew, who only wore a suit for the event at St Giles’ Cathedral on Monday, put on his military colours yesterday as a “special mark of respect” to his mother.
Prince William made his way to Westminster Hall by car this evening
Prince Andrew wore military uniform as he stood vigil beside his mother’s coffin on Friday
The King led his three siblings to their mother’s coffin, as they walked in step to their positions
The Queen’s children then lowered their heads as they took their places to guard her coffin – before her grandchildren did the same this evening
