he Queen's four children have mounted a touching vigil around the Queen's coffin - hours after an emotional procession saw it taken along Edinburgh's Royal Mile.

King Charles, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Princess Anne have carried out the first of several Vigil of the Princes at St Giles' Cathedral this evening - guarding the four corners of the coffin.

All of the royals looked solemn and lowered their heads as they stood to form a heartbreaking guard around the coffin - looking on were Queen Consort Camilla, Sophie Wessex and Princess Anne's husband Sir Timothy Laurence.

As they stood guard, Charles wore a traditional Scottish kilt, Andrew was in a morning suit while Anne and Edward were in military dress as members of the public filed past the coffin.

It came just hours after the King led the royal family in a poignant display of respect for the late Queen by walking behind the monarch’s coffin with his siblings on the Royal Mile this afternoon.

Expressionless and looking straight ahead, Charles was joined Anne, Andrew and Edward as they followed the hearse carrying the Queen’s oak coffin.

In bright autumn sunshine, the procession set off at a slow walking pace, with the Queen’s children arranged by age, with the eldest Charles on the right and Anne, Andrew and Edward on his left, with Anne’s husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence behind them.