SHE’S Queen Elizabeth II’s oldest great-grandchild, and joined her family on Friday to mourn the death of her “Gan-Gan”.
And during the live feed of King Charles III, Prince Edward, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew‘s 15-minute vigil at Westminster Hall, royal fans spotted a touching moment from Savannah Phillips that captured the family’s grief in just one look.
Savannah Phillips turned to look at her father Peter Phillips during Queen Elizabeth II’s vigil on Friday night
She gave her father a sombre smile as she stood alongside her younger sister Isla
The rarely seen 11-year-old struggled to hide the sorrow on her face as she stood with her relatives
Peter bent down to talk to his two daughters after his eldest’s sweet smile
As she stood alongside sister Isla, Savannah, 11, turned and gave her father Peter Phillips – the son of Princess Anne – a heart-wrenching smile.
“Perhaps the most poignant and touching moment at this vigil tonight came when Princess Anne’s eldest grandchild Savannah, who was watching her grandmother’s vigil from a balcony with the other royal relatives, turned to her father Peter and offered him a beautiful, sympathetic smile of support,” body language expert Judi James said.
Peter was then seen “wiping a tear away with one finger”, before bending down to cuddle his daughters.
Further along the line, Princess Anne’s husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence “leaned forward slightly with an expression of what looked like concern for his dutiful and very static wife,” Judi added.
Other members of the Royal Family to watch the vigil from the balcony included James, Viscount Severn, Lady Louise Windsor, the Countess of Wessex, the Queen Consort and Mike and Zara Tindall.
The couple were joined by their daughters Mia, 8, and Lena, four.
“Zara’s two girls leaned over the balcony to watch their granny, causing Mike to pull the elder in for a cuddle while Zara bent to speak to the other,” Judi said.
Also present were Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who were joined by their husbands, Jack Brooksbank and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
“Watching Eugenie’s still distraught facial expression in the row behind it will be hard to see how her generation of royal grandchildren will hold their emotions together during their own vigil tomorrow night,” Judi concluded.
Beatrice, Eugenie, Zara and Peter will join Prince William, the Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, at another vigil on Saturday, ahead of the Queen’s funeral on Monday.
And after Prince Andrew was granted permission to wear his military uniform at Friday night’s vigil, it’s expected that Prince Harry will also be wearing his uniform on Saturday.
Harry, who has served two tours of Afghanistan and ten years in the military, was given special permission by the King to appear in uniform for the 15-minute period of reflection at Westminster Hall.
The ruling was not a U-turn but a “one-off” decision by the King as a mark of respect for the late monarch.
“The King invited the Queen’s grandchildren to mount a vigil and Harry can wear his uniform,” an insider said.
Savannah watched her grandmother Princess Anne join siblings King Charles, Prince Edward and Prince Andrew to stand vigil to Queen Elizabeth II
