A Family Stands the Watch

If you’ve been watching the news, you’ve likely seen reports on “The Vigil of the Princes and Princesses” which will take place tonight in Westminster Hall. (You can watch on the BBC Channel at 2:30PM EDT.) Historically, this has only happened three times. It first occurred in 1936 for HM King George V and in 2002 for HM Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. Her Late Majesty’s children (HM The King, The Duke of York, HRH The Princess Royal, and HRH The Earl of Wessex) stood guard at St. Giles Cathedral in Scotland. They will again take the watch tonight, only the fourth time in history this has ever been done. Tomorrow evening, Queen Elizabeth II’s eight grandchildren will also take up the watch in honor of their grandmother. Both The Duke of York (tonight), and The Duke of Sussex (tomorrow), have been granted specila permission by HM The King to wear uniforms for the occasion. As non-working royals, they are no longer accorded the honor, but as is tradition in the UK, may wear military medals on a suit, as both did during the procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.