When Princess Anne — the late Queen Elizabeth II's only daughter — honored her mother's
memory on September 12, she also made history.
Anne, the Princess Royal, was the first woman to participate in a tradition known as the
Vigil of the Princes, as NBC royal expert and commentator Daisy McAndrew explained.
The Vigil of the Princes is a "symbolic move" in which four people stand at each side of
a royal coffin.
In this case, the vigil was performed in St. Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The princess joined her siblings King Charles III, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward in standing
around their mother's coffin for approximately 10 minutes, according to Town & Country.
The Royal Company of Archers joined the grieving princess and princes in their vigil.
"This is a pretty monumental moment."
Queen Elizabeth died on September 8 at the age of 96.
Her funeral celebration marks the third time that this royal vigil has been held.
The tradition originated when the queen's grandfather, King George V, died in 1936,
and four of his children stood vigil around his coffin.
At that time, those standing vigil were all men: King Edward VIII, Prince Albert, Prince
Henry, and Prince George.
The vigil was held a second time for Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, in 2002 with
then-Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and royal cousin Viscount Linley,
David Armstrong-Jones, keeping watch.
Perhaps it is not surprising that Princess Anne would be the first woman to participate
in a royal tradition.
The princess has never been afraid to make her own mark.
She had an illustrious career as an equestrienne beginning at the early age of 11, according
to Biography.
The athletic princess, who was born in 1950, went on to become the first British royal
to win the gold medal in the European Eventing Championships in 1971.
In 1976, she made even more history by competing in the Olympics in Montreal, the first member
of the British royal family to do so, according to The Royal Family.
During the games, Princess Anne rode her mother's horse, Goodwill.
And mother and daughter shared a lifelong love of horses, according to Biography. in
general, royal experts say that the queen and princess had a good relationship.
In addition to her historic vigil, Princess Anne also played an important role in her
mother's funeral by being the only one of her children to travel with her coffin from
Balmoral Castle to Edinburgh to London, something people familiar with the family say the queen
probably requested.
"And riding in a State Bentley, a somber Princess Anne.
She escorts her mother every minute of the six-hour journey."
The princess profoundly respected her mother as well.
In a statement posted on the Royal Family website, she said:
"I was fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest Mother's life.
It has been an honor and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys."
According to National World, the Vigil of the Princes denotes, not only a period of
mourning, but more specifically, a period of mourning of a well-known political figure.
As you might have guessed, the latter part of this phrase – "Princes" – signifies
senior male family members of the well-known figure.
Traditionally, this has meant that the senior male family members stand guard by the side
of the recently deceased royal in a moment of silence and remembrance.
Now, much like the heads of the monarchy's coins, things are changing direction, and
the princess is stepping out from the shadows and into the spotlight.
Good Housekeeping reports that while making history as the first female to partake in
the long-held tradition Vigil of the Princes, Princess Anne has also turned some heads for
standing beside the coffin donning her navy ceremonial military uniform, embellished in
an array of medals including the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal among others.
She is currently the only female member of the royal family to wear this ensemble, an
additional honor alongside being the only female member of the royal family to take
part in this vigil.