Princess Charlotte

Prince George and Princess Charlotte had a special role at the state funeral of their late great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, on Monday.

Their attendance was confirmed by Buckingham Palace Sunday night with the release of the order of service for the event. The siblings followed the coffin behind their parents and ahead of their uncle and aunt, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. George, aged 9, and Charlotte, 7, along with their parents, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, are joining world leaders, politicians, public figures and European royals, as well as more than 500 dignitaries from around the world, in mourning Britain's longest-reigning monarch, who died on September 8 at the age of 96.

As world leaders descended on London to bid farewell to Queen Elizabeth II, Buckingham Palace announced on September 18 that Her Majesty's ...

The Princess of Wales previously revealed that George is the only one of her children to really understand his great-grandmother’s passing fully, and that he is just now beginning to realize her importance in British society. Prince Louis, whose classic four-year-old antics delighted the nation during Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee Weekend, will remain at home throughout the day. The children will join the royal family at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, during the private committal service this afternoon, too—although whether they will take part in the latter procession is still to be decided.

George, second in line to the throne, and his sister, were youngest mourners at Westminster Abbey service.

Here they were in the bosom of their family. George held his arms by his sides and Charlotte clasped her hands in front of her. Their appearance came amid a narrowing of the royal family’s focus on figures at the top of the direct line of succession, overseen by the King. On Sunday, it was reported that George and Charlotte’s presence was suggested by “senior palace advisers”, with an unnamed official saying George’s presence would be desirable “if only to reassure the nation of the order of succession”. The Duke of Sussex, who was 12 at the time, has said: “I don’t think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances.” Charlotte’s presence was a reminder of how the Queen’s reign ended hundreds of years of male primogeniture in the British monarchy.

The future King, Prince George, and his sister, Princess Charlotte, bid farewell to their beloved "Gan Gan" as the youngest members of the royal family to ...

Prince George and Princess Charlotte attended their great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II's funeral with parents Prince William and Kate Middleton.

She will be buried next to her husband, [Prince Philip, who died on April 9, 2021.](https://www.today.com/news/prince-philip-husband-queen-elizabeth-dies-t95291) Both Andrew and Harry were permitted to wear their military uniforms at the vigils despite being nonworking royals and [previously not wearing them](https://www.today.com/news/news/prince-harry-wont-wear-military-uniform-queens-funeral-rcna47648). ](https://www.today.com/news/news/prince-william-says-walk-behind-queens-coffin-brought-back-memories-rcna48038) Many were reminded of the two brothers walking side by side during the same walk for the [funeral procession for their mother](https://www.today.com/news/why-prince-philip-walked-william-harry-princess-diana-s-funeral-t214424), Princess Diana, 25 years ago. [Kate and Camilla](https://www.today.com/news/news/camilla-kate-middleton-meghan-markle-follow-queens-coffin-solemn-proce-rcna47647), the queen consort, followed behind the procession in a car, while Meghan and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, traveled in a separate vehicle. [her final resting place](https://www.today.com/news/news/where-queen-elizabeth-ii-buried-windsor-castle-rcna47864). William told a group gathered outside of the royal estate of Sandringham on Sept. 14 as the coffin traveled from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, where it stayed to lie in state for several days to allow the British public to pay their respects before the funeral. [stood vigil before the queen's coffin](https://www.today.com/news/news/prince-william-prince-harry-stand-vigil-queen-elizabeths-coffin-rcna48045) for 15 minutes, one day after [Elizabeth's four children also stood vigil](https://www.today.com/news/news/queen-elizabeth-children-surround-coffin-vigil-rcna48138). The United Kingdom has spent more than 10 days mourning her death, with her coffin spending several days in Scotland before traveling by train to Britain. 8 at her beloved Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands at age 96. [Britain's longest-serving monarch](https://www.today.com/news/news/elizabeth-wasnt-originally-raised-queen-became-britains-longest-reigni-rcna46982), died on Sept. [Prince Louis](https://www.today.com/news/news/kate-middleton-prince-louis-queen-elizabeth-death-rcna47222), was not in attendance.

Princess Charlotte wore a horseshoe brooch to the Queen's funeral, a nod to the Queen's love of horses and a gift from the Queen herself.

The sentimental piece of jewelry was a gift to Charlotte from the Queen herself, according to Charlotte also wore a matching black hat, a custom for British women attending formal events and another first for the princess. Brooke Knappenberger is the Editorial Fellow at Marie Claire, where she writes across the board from books and celebrities to fashion and beauty. Princess Charlotte's outfit at her great-grandmother's funeral included a touching tribute to one of the Queen's greatest passions. As a pop culture junkie, Brooke obsessively consumes and writes about the latest movie releases, streaming TV shows, and celebrity scandals. Brooke is a proud St.

The headpiece may signal that the wee royal is already following the royal protocol for women in the family to wear hats to all formal occasions.

What’s more, the headpiece may signal that Charlotte is now considered old enough to be required to follow the royal protocol of women in the monarchy wearing hats to all formal royal occasions. (Her mother, who could reliably be found in her great-grandmother-in-law’s jewels all throughout last week, chose her Bahrain pearl drop earrings and a four-strand pearl choker.) It made for the seven-year-old’s most grown-up look yet; in fact, she bore a striking resemblance to her mom,

Princess Charlotte was captured giving her big brother, Prince George, instructions about when to bow during their great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II's ...

13