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Awkward seating arrangement at Queen's funeral revealed

Carly Bass
·Senior News Reporter
Updated ·3-min read

The royal family is united by their grief in losing Queen Elizabeth II, but there was a row of separation between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and other members of their family.

While King Charles III and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate, in the front row of Westminster Abbey, some couldn't help but question Harry and Meghan's seating arrangement.

Joining the senior royals front and centre were the monarch's children, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, as well as Princess Anne's husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence and Prince Edward's wife Sophie.

But while many understand why the monarch's children, most of whom are working royals, got a seat in the front row, some wondered why Princess Anne's children Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips were front and centre, while Harry and Meghan were forced to sit behind.

Queen's funeral seating arrangement
Harry and Meghan were seated in the second row at the Queen's funeral service, behind other members of the royal family. Source: AAP

The Sussexes, who flew to the UK from the US prior to the Queen's death, were seated directly behind the King in the second row during the service, with Princess Beatrice seated next to Meghan.

It's another brutal snub for Harry, who was initially banned from wearing a military uniform to a vigil for the Queen.

When Meghan and Harry stepped down as senior members of the royal family in 2020 before fleeing the UK, the Duke of Sussex was stripped of his military titles preventing him from donning his uniform.

Due to their decision to step back, some have argued that the couple are seated "where they should be".

Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales (C) attends the State Funeral Service for Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, at Westminster Abbey in London on September 19, 2022. - Leaders from around the world will attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The country's longest-serving monarch, who died aged 96 after 70 years on the throne, will be honoured with a state funeral on Monday morning at Westminster Abbey. (Photo by Ben Stansall / POOL / AFP) (Photo by BEN STANSALL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Prince William and Kate joined King Charles III and Camilla in the front row. Source: Getty

Fans speculate online

Journalist Richard Eden pointed out the awkward seating arrangement on Twitter.

"Notable that Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, who are not working #royals, are in the front pew, while the King's son, #PrinceHarry, is in the second," he wrote.

But the seating arrangement has nothing to do with Harry and Meghan's controversial history, according to some who said it's most likely "age order".

"They are the eldest of The Queen’s grandchildren though," one said of Zara Tindall, the Queen's oldest granddaughter.

"It the direct heirs followed by the grandchildren in age order," said another.

Because of this, Prince William's children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, are also seated in the front row, alongside their parents, the future king and queen.

Meanwhile, someone else suggested Harry and Meghan might have chosen to sit behind King Charles as "maybe that’s where he feels more comfortable".

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