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Harry and William stand shoulder-to-shoulder as they pay respects to Queen

The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex have united in honour of the Queen as her coffin was taken by procession from Buckingham Palace to its lying in state in Westminster Hall.

The brothers put on a united front – despite their long-running rift – as they joined King Charles and other senior royals on the coffin procession as the Queen left her London home for the final time.

William and Harry were positioned behind their father as part of the procession, which left the palace at 2.22pm, through the streets of London.

It brought back sad memories of when they walked behind the coffin of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales when they were just 15 and 12.

The Prince of Wales and Prince Harry stood side-by-side behind King Charles as they walked behind the Queen's coffin. (Getty)
The Prince of Wales and Prince Harry walked side-by-side behind King Charles. (Getty)
William and Harry appeared solemn as they walked behind the coffin. (Getty)
William and Harry appeared solemn as they walked behind the coffin. (Getty)

It was in marked contrast to Prince Philip's funeral last year, when the two brothers were separated by Peter Phillips, the Queen's eldest grandchild.

Read more: Which shops and businesses will be closed for the Queen's funeral?

Harry, who spent a decade in the forces including two tours of duty to Afghanistan, was not in military uniform, unlike William, because he is no longer a working royal.

PA News photo dated September 1997. Pictured: The Earl Spencer, Prince William, Prince Harry and The Prince of Wales wait as the hearse carrying the coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales prepares to leave Westminster Abbey following her funeral service. PA Feature SHOWBIZ Film Reviews. Picture credit should read: PA Archive/PA Images/Fiona Hanson. All Rights Reserved. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ Film Reviews. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)
William and Harry during the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997. (PA)
William and Harry appeared behind King Charles and his siblings. (Getty)
The brothers walk behind King Charles and his siblings. (Getty)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: King Charles III, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex walk behind the coffin during the procession for the Lying-in State of Queen Elizabeth II on September 14, 2022 in London, England. Queen Elizabeth II's coffin is taken in procession on a Gun Carriage of The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where she will lay in state until the early morning of her funeral. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III.  (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
King Charles and his siblings, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, walk behind the Queen's coffin. (Leon Neal/Getty)

Charles and his siblings appeared solemn as they walked behind the coffin to Westminster Hall.

The sun shone as the procession moved onto The Mall in central London and members of the crowd threw yellow roses into the road as the gun carriage passed them.

The last time Charles and his two sons were seen together in public was at the service of thanksgiving for the Queen in St Paul's Cathedral during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June.

The Prince of Wales and Prince Harry were watched by thousands of people who had lined the procession route. (Reuters)
The Prince of Wales and Prince Harry were watched by hundreds of people who had lined the procession route. (Reuters)

But on that occasion, Harry and the Duchess of Sussex were seated some distance from Charles and William on the other side of the aisle in the second row.

In April 2021, Harry and William joined their father when they walked behind the Duke of Edinburgh's coffin at his funeral.

The brothers were separated by their cousin Peter Phillips, but he dropped back half a pace at one point so the siblings appeared closer together.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: The Queen’s funeral cortege makes its way along The Mall from Buckingham Palace  during the procession for the Lying-in State of Queen Elizabeth II on September 14, 2022 in London, England. Queen Elizabeth II's coffin is taken in procession on a Gun Carriage of The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where she will lay in state until the early morning of her funeral. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III.  (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
The Queen’s funeral cortege makes its way along The Mall from Buckingham Palace during the procession. (Leon Neal/Getty)
A crown was placed on a purple cushion on top of the coffin which glistened in the afternoon sunshine. (PA)
A crown was placed on a purple cushion on top of the coffin which glistened in the afternoon sunshine. (PA)
The Queen's coffin, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown placed on top, is carried from Buckingham Palace. (PA)
The Queen's coffin, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown placed on top, is carried from Buckingham Palace. (PA)

The Duke of York, the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex also formed part of the procession, while Anne's son Peter Phillips and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of Gloucester and the Earl of Snowdon also walked behind.

The Queen Consort, the Princess of Wales, the Countess of Wessex and the Duchess of Sussex travelled by car, while thousands lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the royal procession.

A service at Westminster Hall lasting around 20 minutes was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury accompanied by the Dean of Westminster.

Members of the public join the queue on the South Bank, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state. (PA)
Members of the public join the queue on the South Bank as they wait to view the Queen lying in state. (PA)
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to join the queue to see the Queen lying in state. (PA)
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to join the queue to see the Queen lying in state. (PA)
WINDSOR, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 10: Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex meet members of the public on the long Walk at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England. Crowds have gathered and tributes left at the gates of Windsor Castle to Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle on 8 September, 2022. (Photo by Kirsty O'Connor - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
The Prince and Princess of Wales joined the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to meet members of the public at Windsor Castle on Saturday. (Kirsty O'Connor/WPA /Getty)

The Queen has now been handed to the care of the nation and will lie in state until the day of her funeral.

Wednesday's procession follows an earlier moment of unity when William and Harry were seen with their wives during a mammoth walkabout on Saturday, two days after the Queen's death.

The brothers have a well-documented troubled relationship but the death of their grandmother saw them unexpectedly come together when they viewed floral tributes left to the late Queen at Windsor Castle.

William and the Princess of Wales joined Harry and Meghan as they arrived in the same vehicle and greeted well-wishers for around 40 minutes.

The Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Sussex and Peter Phillips walking behind the Land Rover Defender carrying the coffin of the Duke of Edinburgh during his funeral at Windsor Castle in April 2021. (PA)
The Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Sussex and Peter Phillips walk behind the Land Rover Defender carrying the coffin of the Duke of Edinburgh during his funeral at Windsor Castle in April 2021. (PA)
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Peter Phillips and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex follow Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh's coffin in April 2021. (Getty)
Prince William, Peter Phillips and Prince Harry follow Prince Philip's coffin in April 2021. (Getty)

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to pay their respects to the Queen over the next few days after queueing for hours.

Mourners joined the queue to attend the Queen's lying in state, which began at 5pm on Wednesday and continues until 6.30am on Monday, the day of the Queen’s funeral.