Andrew: We will stand vigil

The Queen Mother's four grandsons will pay their own private tribute to her by standing guard while the coffin lies in state, the Duke of York confirmed today.

An emotional Prince Andrew revealed that he and his brothers the Prince of Wales and the Earl of Wessex, with their cousin Lord Linley, will mount a guard of honour around the coffin at Westminster Hall.

It is expected that their vigil will take place on Monday, the eve of the funeral.

The remarkable gesture will mirror the tribute paid to the late King George V by his sons in 1936, when Edward VIII, afterwards Duke of Windsor, led his three brothers down the flight of steps at the back of Westminster Hall to take their place around the catafalque, where they stood guard for 20 minutes, bent over their swords.

Outside St James's Palace after he had paid his respects to the Queen Mother, Prince Andrew said: "The preparations for the vigil are now being addressed and the details will be finalised later. I think it's only right that we should mark it in that way. It's likely to go ahead, and we're planning it at the moment. It has been done before."

He praised Prince Charles's televised tribute, but added: "We each had an individual and unique relationship with our grandmother. She was very, very special indeed, as I've said already to some of the public I met this morning as part of that uniqueness."

Andrew, wearing dark suit, white shirt and black tie, said he supported Charles's views that the Queen Mother was a unique and gracious lady. He added: "The Prince of Wales did us proud on Monday when he made his statement. That was absolutely fantastic.

The Duke looked ashen-faced and was clearly upset as he inspected the floral tributes left by members of the public. He spent several moments standing alone, reading messages attached to the bouquets.

He then went on an impromptu walkabout along The Mall where members of the public had gathered in tribute to the Queen Mother. He stopped and talked at some length to several of them. One, Maggy Kenny from Camden, said: "He talked about how he was feeling and said that it was lovely of us all to come. I shook his hand and wished him well in his grief.

"He seemed very upset, I could tell by his eyes. And he asked whether I had experienced a loss in the family myself."

The Queen Mother's trusted steward Billy Tallon, 66, has also made a touching tribute to her, saying: "I loved her." The household member loyally served the Queen Mother for 51 years. He called her the "most incredible woman in the world", "very kind, compassionate and understanding", and "a wonderful employer".

Mr Tallon's comments came yesterday, when he joined other staff at St James's Palace as the Queen Mother's coffin was escorted back to London from Windsor. After the coffin, draped in the Queen Mother's personal standard, was taken inside the Queen's Chapel, he was clearly upset and was later seen consoling other staff.

? The Earl and Countess of Wessex today made an emotional visit to Windsor Castle to thank the public for their support. Dressed in dark suits, they spoke to well-wishers and read messages on the many floral tributes left outside St George's Chapel in the castle grounds.

Both managed to smile as stories of the Queen Mother were recounted to them. After 25 minutes the couple went inside the chapel to look at the book of condolence.

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