The Queen's four children have united for a last vigil as the nation prepares to say a final goodbye to Elizabeth II.
King Charles III, the Princess Royal, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, each stood on one of the four corners of Her Majesty’s coffin, inside the majestic Westminster Hall.
The steady procession of people filing past the coffin since last Wednesday when the late Queen’s lying-in-state began, last night resulting in 24 hours queues as hundreds of thousands more joined the line, suddenly halted while guards resplendent in red and gold uniforms slowly marched across the hall.
Bound by their grief, the four senior royals led by the new monarch, all in ceremonial military dress, entered down the stairs by the north door as hushed silence descended on the great room.
In support, on a raised platform to the east stood in complete silence, four generations of the Queen’s family - including all four royals’ children.
As part of a rota system for the British print media, I was one of only a handful of journalists chosen to witness this moment in history unfold.
I had been privileged enough to stand in the same position for the breathtaking lying-in-state ceremony on Wednesday, but this time was remarkably different.
Striding ahead, the King, followed by his siblings in unison, made his way to the head of the coffin with purpose.
At the bed of the catafalque, Charles, 73, bowed and closed his eyes as in a final prayer marking the end of his mother’s life and era.
At the coffin’s foot, Prince Andrew, without his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson who he earlier surveyed floral tributes at Windsor Castle with, decked out in his Vice Admiral navy uniform stared straight ahead before bowing.
It was the first time the Prince had been seen in the ceremonial outfit of his only remaining office since stepping down from all royal duties.
Once the line of mourners was gently allowed to file to the back of the room, a number bowed as they passed the King and his family on all four sides of Her Majesty’s coffin.
For the mourners who stop by the Queen, most stop to bow their head in a moment of silent reflection, some make the sign of the cross.
As they walk away many wipe away tears.
Some are visibly sobbing, overcome with emotion while others simply walk arm-in-arm with their friends or family, comforting each other.
A few looked up in awe at the mediaeval timber hammer-beam roof, while many mourners openly broke down, uttering words such as “so powerful” and “emotional”.
Charles, in full Royal Navy Ceremonial Dress, appeared to gently rocked back and forth on his heels, while his sister and trusted confidant Anne, decked out in the uniform of the Blues and Royals, stopped motionless, despite a man waving at her during the vigil.
Prince Edward, who paid a glowing tribute to his late “beloved mama”, stood with his back to the coffin opposite his sister.
Proudly wearing the Blues Uniform with the rank of Honorary Royal Colonel of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry, he stood motionless and ramrod straight throughout.
Prince Edward said: “It is now time to allow others to be able to say their farewell” as he thanked the nation, saying: “We have been overwhelmed by the tide of emotion that has engulfed us and the sheer number of people who have gone out of their way to express their own love, admiration and respect to such a very special and unique person who was always there for us.
"And now, we are there for her, united in grief. Thank you for your support, you have no idea how much it means.”
At the side of the grand hall, by the east on a raised platform, other royals playing a much needed supporting role stood still with their gazes transfixed on the Queen’s coffin as they witnessed the historic vigil.
The party included the Queen Consort, the Countess of Wessex and Princess Anne’s husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
Princess Beatrice and her husband Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, who looked close to tears throughout, stood alongside her sister Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank.
Prince Edward’s children Lady Louise and Viscount Severn, were also in attendance, alongside Peter Phillips, Zara and Mike Tindall; The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, The Duke of Kent, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy.
In this towering stone walled arena dating back to the 11th Century, hundreds of thousands have filed through the day night for their own piece of history.
Every 20 minutes, the eerie silence is broken by a double tap of a ceremonial staff on the stone floor, signifying the change of the guard.
The sound of the rhythmic footsteps of soldiers descending the stairs into the hall fills the air as a new guard forms.
On Monday, the Queen’s four children had taken part in the ceremonial ‘Vigil of the Princes’ at St Giles cathedral in Edinburgh, where they once again “took guard” of their late mother's coffin for 10 minutes.
For the first time the tradition has taken place since 2002, following the death of the Queen Mother, each stood on one of the four corners of the coffin with their heads bowed.
As the vigil was brought to an end by the tap of a ceremonial staff which heralds the changing of the guard, the King stepped off the platform, to walk back toward the North Door.
As the Princess Royal, Earl of Wessex and Duke of York followed behind expressionless, not one looked back for a final glance.
In the same grand hall tomorrow, the Queen’s eight grandchildren, including Princes William and Harry, will unite to stage their own farewell.
The end of the era is finally upon us.
