Today, Wednesday, Harry, along with other senior family members, walked behind his grandmother’s coffin in a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, where she will lie in state until her funeral on Monday. Meghan could be seen getting visibly emotional (as could Catherine) at the short service once the coffin arrived.
Below Meghan rides in the car with Sophie, Countess of Wessex. Catherine, Princess of Wales rode with Queen Camilla in the car ahead of them.
When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex touched down in the U.K. over Labor Day weekend for a week’s worth of charitable engagements in Prince Harry’s home country (and across Europe), to say they had no idea what the month of September would morph into is an understatement.
Since her Majesty’s passing the afternoon of September 8—it has been a whirlwind of grief for the Sussexes, who will (obviously mutedly) celebrate Harry’s thirty-eighth birthday tomorrow, September 15, exactly one week since the Queen passed away. They are expected to stay in the U.K. not just through the Queen’s funeral on September 19, but through the following seven-day mourning period, which will last until September 26.
On Tuesday night, Harry and Meghan were at Buckingham Palace along with other members of the royal family to receive the Queen’s coffin as it arrived at her former home from Scotland, where she died peacefully at her summer home, Balmoral.
Below you can see Harry and Meghan coming down the stairs just behind King Charles III.
The procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall today included the King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. Just behind them were Prince William, Prince Harry and Peter Philips. And finally in the third row is Earl of Snowdon, Duke of Gloucester and Sir Tim Laurence.
Below a view of the Queen’s state crown sitting atop of her coffin.
Below a look inside Westminster Hall with the line of people coming in to pay their respects while the guard stand vigil.
More information From ITV on those keeping vigil —
The Gentlemen at Arms were the first royal bodyguards to begin the vigil, and can be seen standing closest to the coffin as Her Majesty rests on the raised platform, known as a catafalque.
The Royal Company of Archers and the Yeomen of the Guard will also stand guard.
The Gentlemen at Arms are the most senior of the sovereign’s guards.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla as they enter Westminster Hall.
Below, Edward, Sophie, William, Kate, Harry and Meghan follow behind the King and Queen.
Another view of royal family members in Westminster Hall during the service.
In our last post, we touched on Harry and Meghan joining the new Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, at a walkabout at Windsor Castle on Saturday, where they greeted mourners and viewed floral tributes for Her Majesty.
Later in the weekend, Harry shared a moving tribute to his grandmother on the Archewell website, writing in full —
In celebrating the life of my grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen—and in mourning her loss—we are all reminded of the guiding compass she was to so many in her commitment to service and duty. She was globally admired and respected. Her unwavering grace and dignity remained true throughout her life and now her everlasting legacy. Let us echo the words she spoke after the passing of her husband, Prince Philip, words which can bring comfort to all of us now: “Life, of course, consists of final partings as well as first meetings.”
Granny, while this final parting brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all of our first meetings—from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved great-grandchildren. I cherish these times I shared with you, and the many other special moments in between. You are already sorely missed, not just by us, but by the world over. And as it comes to first meetings, we now honour my father in his new role as King Charles III.
Thank you for your commitment to service.
Thank you for your sound advice.
Thank you for your infectious smile.
We, too, smile knowing that you and grandpa are reunited now, and both together in peace.
The family pays their respects before leaving the hall.
Below, Meghan and Harry pay their respects—Meghan’s deep curtsy showing tremendous respect.
More on the royal curtsy from the Australian School of Etiquette —
“The royal curtsy is one foot behind the other and the deep and the longer you stay down shows more respect,” — Australian School of Etiquette, Zarife Hardy
While we are not currently putting much focus on fashion IDs out of respect it is worth noting that today, Meghan wore a pair of pearl and diamond drop earrings gifted to her by Her Majesty in honor of their first solo outing together in 2018.
We also noticed Meghan’s bag and are wondering if that may have been another nod to the Queen. She first carried the Loewe postal bag in 2018.
Meghan’s coat was a repeat wear from 2018 – bespoke Givenchy along with her black Paul Andrew ‘Pump-It Up’ pumps. Her hat is Stephen Jones – past season and we’re thinking she has had this piece for some time.
Rest in peace, Your Majesty. You are so fondly remembered by us all.
Who is the maker of her purse? It was striking and seemed a perfect size.
Thank you!
Hi Linden -her purse is the Loewe postal bag – the info is included in our post. She first carried the bag in 2018. The bag is no longer available.Thanks, Susan
What a hard week it’s been for all the royals, but especially for Harry and Meghan who had no idea they would be here for so long and coinciding their time in Europe with the Queen’s death. I forget when she initially wore this coat but I always liked it on her. So nice to see the pictures of her solo outing with Queen Elizabeth again, they got along so well.
You always have done a great job of making what Meghan wears primarily about the event and then the fashion. I don’t think it’s disrespectful to give more detail about her clothes – her choices are communication to us all about her deep respect for the Queen. Please consider discussing her clothing choices!
Hi Heather, Thank you so much! We will be sure to include more detail about the fashion in our next post – which looks like it will be tomorrow. – Susan
I personally don’t think it’s inappropriate to discuss what members of the royal family are wearing during this period of mourning, in fact, it would be warmly welcomed to address it, as so many people have questions about the fashion “protocol” when attending a royal funeral and the funeral for a monarch. This family, unlike many other people who are part of pop culture, are historic figures and what they wear during this period of mourning is worth being documented. Perhaps at some point, you could do a story on the fashions from past royal funerals and any differences, between fashion choices now and then.
I also think that Meghan is wearing clothes she had left at Frogmore cottage when they moved to the US in 2020, since it’s doubtful she packed enough appropriate outfits to wear during the seventeen days of public mourning for HM The Queen. RIP Your Majesty, there will never be another quite like you!
Hi Susan Q – We didn’t want to make it all about the fashion – we’ve sort of always had that as a rule even during Remembrance Sunday out of respect. However, I understand your point and it’s a good one. In our next post on Saturday when we see the Duke and Duchess again for the vigil at Westminster Hall, we’ll talk a little more about the funeral attire. For the most part it’s always black with black tights for the royal women from what we’ve seen and heard. We also think that Meghan’s rewear pieces were purposely left at Frogmore for this reason to be prepared. Her hat is Stephen Jones past season and again, we’re thinking that she had this set aside for such occasion – whether that be Prince Phillip or the Queen. I’m trying to recall if the women wore the net veils at Philip’s funeral, I would have to go back and look.
I think her black dress that she wore for the walkabout the other day was possibly Emilia Wickstead – something she had her in closet already. I would think that all of the correct attire was reviewed with her either back when they were working royals or someone went over what she would need to wear and what she needed to do. We think she’s handled everything with such grace. Thanks, Susan