Queen to address the nation with mother’s eulogy

The Queen of England is tomorrow expected to address the nation with a eulogy for her mother.

The Queen of England is tomorrow expected to address the nation with a eulogy for her mother.

The royal address is also expected to thank the more than 100,000 people who have queued around the clock to pay their respects at the Queen Mother's coffin as it lies in state in Westminster Hall.

On the eve of her mother's funeral, the Queen will speak to the nation from Windsor Castle.

She is expected to give thanks for the Queen Mother's long and eventful life.

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And the Queen is likely to set the tone for Tuesday's Westminster Abbey funeral service which, although a sad and solemn occasion full of pageantry, is an opportunity to celebrate the Queen Mother's 101 years.

Also tomorrow, the Queen Mother's four grandsons - Charles, Andrew, Edward and David Linley will mount a solemn vigil at her coffin.

They will echo history in a poignant ceremony reminiscent of a royal vigil, on the same spot at Westminster Hall, for King George V in 1936.

The Prince of Wales will wear the dress uniform of a Rear Admiral and the Duke of York that of a Royal Naval Commander.

The Earl of Wessex, who left the Royal Marines, and Princess Margaret's son Viscount Linley, who also does not hold military rank, will wear black morning coats.

Charles and Andrew will rest both hands on their swords and all four grandsons will stand silently, heads bowed. They are expected to perform a 20- to 30-minute Vigil of the Watch, late in the afternoon, as members of the public continue to file past the coffin, paying their respects.

The ceremony is reminiscent of the vigil mounted for George V, some 66 years ago, in the medieval setting of Westminster Hall, when his sons - Edward, Albert, Henry and George - stood guard around the late King's coffin.

PA