King Charles, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Princess Anne hold vigil over Queen’s coffin

The powerful moment saw the new King, his brothers Andrew and Edward and sister Anne spend 15 minutes of quiet reflection standing guard.

King Charles led his siblings as they held a vigil over the Queen’s body in Westminster Hall.

The powerful moment saw the new King, his brothers Andrew and Edward and sister Anne spend 15 minutes of quiet reflection standing guard over their late mother’s coffin.

The ‘Vigil of the Princes’ saw the royals stand with their heads bowed at the four corners of Her Majesty’s oak coffin.

They were watched by not just the public as they streamed through but a bevy or other royals including Queen Camilla.

It comes as the wait to see the Queen lying in state has blown out to a massive 22 hours.

King Charles III, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and s Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex arrive to mount a vigil around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall, at the Palace of Westminster in London. (Photo by Yui Mok / POOL / AFP)

King Charles III stands vigil beside the coffin of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, as it lies in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall, at the Palace of Westminster. (Photo Dominic Lipinski – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The vigil began at 7.30pm London time (4.30am Saturday AEST).

The four royals slowly walked in with the King at the head.

Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, was allowed to wear military uniform for the vigil after Charles temporarily lifted the ban on him doing so.

Prince Harry will also now be allowed to wear his military uniform when he stands vigil with Prince William on Saturday night, UK time.

King Charles III, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex arrive to mount a vigil around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / POOL / AFP)

Prince Andrew, Duke of York in full military uniform. (Photo by Hannah Mckay – WPA Pool / Getty Images)

The quartet stood at each corner of the coffin as the crowds filed past.

A huge number of royals watched on as the vigil took place including Queen Camilla, the Duchess of Wessex, Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozz, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Zara Tindall and Mike Tindall.

The Duke and Duchess of Wessex’s children Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn were also in attendance as was the Queen’s cousin Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.

Princess Eugenie (centre) Princess Beatrice, and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi attend the vigil. (Photo Dominic Lipinski – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The symbolic ceremony mirrored the vigil they held for the Queen while she laid in state in Edinburgh.

The Queen’s eight grandchildren – Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn – will hold a similar vigil on Saturday evening (Sunday morning AEST).

Harry will also be allowed to wear his military uniform, after previously being banned because he is no longer a working royal.

King Charles III, Prince Edward, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew hold a vigil at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh in honour of Queen Elizabeth II. (Photo by Jane Barlow – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The Vigil of the Princes dates back to the death of King George V in 1936.

His four children – King Edward VIII (later the Duke of Windsor), Prince Albert (later King George VI), Prince Henry and Prince George – stood guard as he lay in state at Westminster Hall.

After the death of the Queen Mother in 2002, Charles, Andrew, Edward and Princess Margaret’s son, the Earl of Snowdon, held a similar vigil in the same hall.

The queue to see the Queen stretched out to 22 hours on Friday.

At one point on Friday police shut entry to the queue when it stretched to more than 7km long.

On Friday evening it was reopened but officials were warning of a massive wait and to bring blankets to keep out the overnight chill.

Originally published as King Charles, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Princess Anne hold vigil over Queen’s coffin