Reason Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton didn’t attend vigil with royal grandchildren

Meghan MarkleandKate Middleton were not present as their husbands took their places in a vigil forthe Queenon Saturday 17 September.

Meghan, 41, and Kate, 40, were not at Westminster Hall asPrince HarryandPrince Williamtook their places alongside the late monarch's other grandchildren to pay their respects. Queen

A statement by Buckingham Palace said: "The grandchildren, at the King's invitation, are very keen to pay their respects—just as their parents are doing the evening before."

The Prince of Wales, 40, stood at the head, with the Duke of Sussex, 38, at the foot of their grandmother’s coffin.

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However, Meghan and Kate as well as the Queen's other grandchildren's spouses were not in attendance. It's believed the pair met with the likes of Mike Tindall, Jack Brooksbank, and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi to mourn together instead.

AtKing Charles' request, his sons were both in uniform, after Harry wasgiven special permissionto wear his for the occasion.

Also present at the vigil wereZara Tindall, 41, and Peter Philips, 44, who are the daughter and son ofPrincess Anne, known as the Princess Royal, 72.


Prince Harry was stationed besidePrincesses Beatrice, 34, andEugenie, 32, the daughters ofPrince Andrew, the Duke of York, 62.

The children of Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex, Lady Louise, 18, and Viscount Severn, 14, stood near the middle of their grandmother’s coffin.

Prince Harry was stripped of his military duties and banned from wearing his military uniforms in public after quitting his royal role in 2020, when he and wife Meghan stepped down as senior members of the royal family and moved to Montecito, California.

The decision to allow the Duke of Sussex to wear his uniform during the vigil at the Queen’s coffin was made by his father, King Charles III, royal sources have said.


Harry, who saw action on the front line during two tours of duty in Afghanistan, has been denied the chance to wear his military uniform, as he publicly mourns, because he is no longer a working royal.

The late monarch has been Lying-in-State in London since Wednesday and thousands of mourners have filed past to pay their final respects after queuing for hours.

On Friday evening,the Queen’s children – Charles, the Duke of York, the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex – took part in their own vigil.

The King, Anne, Andrew and Edward had solemn looks on their faces as they stood vigil around their mother’s coffin, with their heads bowed throughout as members of the public filed slowly past them.

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Other members of the Royal Family were also seen in attendance, including Zara and Mike Tindall and their daughters, Princess Beatrice, the Queen Consort Camilla, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

It comes as final preparations are under way for the funeral on Monday, with politicians and royal dignitaries from around the world arriving throughout the weekend.

The Queen will Lie-in State in Westminster Hall where her coffin will be visited by members of the public to pay their respects until 6.30am on Monday, 19 September, before her funeral takes place at Westminster Abbey later that day.

READ MORE:

  • Kate and William say it's 'strange' going from Queen’s Platinum Jubilee to her funeral

  • Charles and William greet stunned mourners queuing to see Queen Lying-in-State

  • Camilla is the King’s 'companion, friend and lover – he needs her more than she needs him'

  • Queen's funeral details and timings confirmed as nation prepares for emotional goodbye

  • For the latest updates on the Royal Family, sign up to OK!'s royals newsletter

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