LONDON - Princess William and Harry stood vigil at either end of the coffin of their grandmother Queen Elizabeth on Saturday, heads bowed as a line of mourners streamed past the late monarch's lying-in-state.
The two sons of King Charles, attired in military uniforms, stood in silence at a 15-minute vigil in the vast Westminster Hall where the coffin has been lying since Wednesday, draped in the Royal Standard and with the bejewelled Imperial State Crown on top.
William and Harry were joined by their six cousins, including Princess Beatrice and Eugene, who earlier paid tribute to Britain's longest-reigning monarch. The queen died on September 8 at her summer estate in the Scottish highlands, aged 96.
'You were our matriarch, our guide, our loving hand, and our backs leading us through this world', said the sisters, daughters of Prince Andrew. 'You taught us so much, and we will cherish those lessons and memories forever. For now, dear grannie, all we want to say is thank you'.
Hundreds of thousands of people have lined up for long hours in a queue stretching along the River Thames, waiting to file the past the coffin and honour the queen - a testimony to the affection in which she was held.
Other cousins present at the vigil on Saturday included Princess Anne's children Peter Philips and Zara Tindall, as well as Prince Edward's children Louise and James.
Earlier in the day, Charles and his heir William greeted well-wishers in the queue, asking how long they had been there and if they were warm enough.
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