Camilla wore thistle brooch gifted to her by the late monarch as she attended vigil in Edinburgh 

Camilla paid tribute to the Queen yesterday by donning a thistle brooch gifted to her by the late monarch during yesterday’s vigil in Scotland. 

The Queen Consort was solemn but stoic as she joined her husband King Charles III at a vigil for the Queen in Edinburgh last night. 

The 75-year-old sat alongside the Countess of Wessex on seats opposite the Queen’s coffin, where King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward stood guard.

Both Camilla, 75, and Sophie Countess of Wessex, 57, appeared sombre as they looked on at their husbands, who stood with their hands clasped and heads towards the floor. 

Today, PEOPLE confirmed that Camilla’s poignant thistle brooch was gifted to her by the late monarch.

Meanwhile Camilla also gave a subtle nod to the Duke of Edinburgh with her outfit yesterday. 

She donned the same black coatdress with white piping detail across the bodice which she wore for the Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021. 

It was a touching sartorial decision, and appeared to be a subtle link between yesterday’s poignant event and that of the Queen’s husband.

After years, decades even, of uncertainty over what Camilla’s official title would be when King Charles finally took the throne, the late Queen took matters into her own hands by making a surprise announcement in February 2022.

It is a remarkable transformation for Camilla, who was once branded the ‘third person’ in Charles’ stricken marriage to Diana, and received a lukewarm reception from the royal family when the then Prince announced his intention to make Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall.

In recent years though, Camilla has grown into life as a senior royal and ahead of the Coronation, the new Queen Consort will undoubtedly be a great support to King Charles in a time of grief and long-anticipated change.

The treasured Monarch declared it was her ‘sincere wish’ for her daughter-in-law to be fully acknowledged when Charles succeeded her – and the wish made in the twilight of her life has now come to fruition.  

The wife of King Charles III has remained by her husband’s side since the loss of the Queen, providing support and care for him. 

During the vigil she looked on at the coffin for a while before bowing her head and looking away. 

She kept her emotions under tight control despite the gravity of the situation. 

Members of the public continued to file past in St Giles’ Cathedral, where Her Majesty’s coffin lies in state. 

Following the 10-minute vigil, Camilla left the cathedral alongside her husband, walking down the steps by his side. 

The couple have made a string of high profile appearances in the days since the Queen’s death aged 96.  

Charles paid tribute to his wife’s unwavering support in his first address as King.  

After a short procession, King Charles III, Anne, the Princess Royal, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward each stood on one of the four corners of the oak coffin with their heads bowed in a ceremony known as the Vigil of the Princes.

The Duke of York kept his eyes closed for a period of time during the 10-minute vigil, while the Princess Royal and Earl of Wessex had their eyes fixed towards the floor. The King – his eyes moistening – kept his hands joined and also looked towards the floor as members of the public filed past.

The King and his family stood alongside four suited members of the Royal Company of Archers, who were standing guard dressed in long-feathered hats and armed with arrows and quivers.

 Earlier on in the day the Queen Consort attended the Queen’s service of thanksgiving in Edinburgh alongside King Charles III, his siblings, the Countess of Wessex and Princess Anne’s husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. 

As the Queen’s casket made its way to St Giles, Camilla followed the procession by car, where she was snapped looking downcast.

While the coffin was lifted out of the hearse, the Queen Consort appeared pensive.

It was carried through the cathedral, as the choir sang Thou Wilt Keep Him In Perfect Peace, Whose Mind Is Stayed On Thee.

Then the Queen’s coffin was placed on a wooden catafalque as the congregation continued to stand.

At this point, the King, Queen Consort, and other members of the royal family, then walked to their seats alongside the coffin.

Today, the Queen will make her final journey down to London, where King Charles III and Camilla will follow.