As the UK tries to adjust to a world without the longest reigning monarch at the helm, some Royal Family members are undertaking official engagements today in order to thank people involved in the Queen’s state funeral on Monday.
While King Charles has retreated to Balmoral to privately mourn the loss of his mother, the newly appointed Prince and Princess of Wales have been spotted on their first public outing since the Queen’s passing.
Dressed in all-black for the occasion, Prince William and Kate headed to Windsor Guildhall to meet volunteers and operational staff involved in the Queen’s funeral to share their gratitude.
Other Royal Family members are also set to step out on official duties today following the late monarch’s funeral, including Prince Edward, who is on a visit to Estonia and Germany, and The Princess Royal as she heads to Portsmouth to meet Royal Navy personnel who took part in the late Queen’s funeral procession.
Close attention has been paid to regal attire since the sad news of the late monarch’s death was announced on 8 September, as various royals attended a number processions and walkabouts to console mourning members of the public and show their respects.
Following the death of his mother, Charles instantly took over as King which meant that the UK entered an official period of mourning two weeks ago.
The new sovereign made his first public address as King the evening after the Queen’s death, and announced that the national mourning period would continue for ten days, ending after the day of the state funeral, which fell on 19 September.
Kate and William’s appearance during their first public outing since the Queen’s funeral has left people wondering why royals are still wearing black despite the national period of mourning coming to an end.
Small sartorial details have come into sharp focus throughout the mourning period, as Buckingham Palace initially barred Prince Harry from wearing his military uniform while attending mourning processions, as he is no longer a working royal.
Although the same rule applied to the state funeral, the Duke of Sussex was eventually allowed to wear his military uniform at a vigil with the Queen’s eight grandchildren – but the ‘EIIR’ symbol was stripped from his attire.
While the UK’s mourning period drew to a close after the late monarch’s state funeral, which saw hundreds of thousands of people flock to London to mourn the Queen, the Royal Family have their own extended period of mourning that is still in place.
A statement from Buckingham Palace confirmed that the period for royal mourning will end seven days after the state funeral, meaning Royal Family members as well as royal household staff and troops on ceremonial duties will continue to observe a seven-day bereavement period.
This means that people should expect to see royal family members dressed in all-black until their mourning period has ended next week.
English