Princess Anne Makes History As She Joins King Charles, Other Brothers In Vigil Of The Princes

Princess Anne made history when she participated in a traditional ceremony alongside her brothers Monday.

The 72-year-old Princess Royal and her brothers King Charles III, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward reunited for a symbolic watch over their mother Queen Elizabeth II's coffin as it laid in state at St. Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland, Monday evening, People reported.

Princess Anne, who wore her military uniform, became the first female member of the British royal family to participate in the somber royal tradition, which is known as the Vigil of the Princes.

The siblings joined the Royal Company of Archers for about 10 minutes to symbolically guard their mother's casket, which was draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland and topped with a floral wreath and the Crown of Scotland, according to the outlet.

King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward watched over their mother, who died Thursday at the age of 96, as well-wishers came to pay their respects in the cathedral.

This is only the third time the Vigil of the Princes has been performed. The first time was following the death of the Queen's grandfather, King George V, in 1936. The second was during the Queen Mother's funeral events in 2002, The Independent reported.

Monday's Vigil of the Princes marked the second time that Queen Elizabeth II's three sons have ceremoniously protected a casket as it laid in state.

The brothers and their cousin David Armstrong Jones, the son of Queen Elizabeth II's sister Princess Margaret, guarded the Queen Mother's coffin for the same rite the day before her funeral two decades ago.

In addition to participating in the vigil, Princess Anne followed her mother's coffin for the six-hour trip from Balmoral Castle to Edinburgh Sunday and walked with her brothers behind the casket as it moved from the palace to St. Giles' Monday.

Queen Elizabeth's coffin will lie at the medieval cathedral overnight to allow staff members from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to pay their respects. On Tuesday, it will be flown to London, and Princess Anne will accompany her mother's remains again during the trip.

When the casket arrives at Buckingham Palace, a rehearsal will be held for its procession to the Palace of Westminster.

The late British monarch will be honored with a state funeral on Sept. 19 at Westminster Abbey in Central London. King Charles declared the day a bank holiday, so schools and businesses in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be closed.

It will be the first time a monarch's funeral has been held at Westminster Abbey since the 18th century.

Only working members of the royal family who hold military rank will wear military uniforms at the Queen's state funeral, Buckingham Palace said Monday.

Prince Harry and Prince Andrew are expected to appear in mourning dress, or dark suits, as they are no longer working royals.

However, a special exception was granted for the Duke of York to wear a military uniform at the final vigil as a sign of respect for the late monarch, according to People.

Working members of the family will wear their uniforms at the Service of Thanksgiving at St. Giles' Cathedral, the procession to and vigil at Westminster Hall, the state funeral service and the committal service at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, where Queen Elizabeth will be laid to rest, the palace announced.