People believe he was ‘sidelined’ out of the way
Viewers of the Queen’s funeral have been left questioning why Prince Harry was seated in the second row behind King Charles II, his father, rather than on the same row.
Prince Harry arrived wearing his morning suit and military medals, but as the world watched on many noticed he was seated behind his cousins, non-working royals, Zara Phillips and Mark Tindall.
Some Twitter users were left wondering if Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle were ‘snubbed’, while others believed it was just because they are no longer working royals. Others, however, felt it was merely ‘optics’ so he could be capture on the cameras properly.
Meghan and Harry Snubbed at Queen's Funeral … Did You Notice Where They Were Seated?
It appears that, when it comes to the seating arrangement, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were snubbed at Queen Elizabeth II's…https://t.co/XXD1qW2eaI
— Down Right News (@real_DRN) September 19, 2022
My observation is that Prince Harry is sat behind Charles in the first block of seating so everytime the camera shows Charles Prince Harry is right there – sitting in the front row further down – not so much – #optics
— hookedgalthe1WT (@the1WT) September 19, 2022
You just know that were Prince Harry and Mike Tindalls seating places bee the other way around, people would be complaining that Harry has been sidelined out of the way 🤷🏻♂️
— Jason Ingham🐀 (@inghamjj55) September 19, 2022
Following the first service at Westminster Abbey, Prince Harry then processed behind his grandmother’s coffin as another conversation gripped the people of the internet. This time his choice of clothing, or rather the clothing he was not allowed to wear.
The ongoing conversation throughout the mourning season fixated itself on wether Prince Harry, or the Queen’s son Prince Andrew, would be able to to wear their military uniform at the funeral today.
The King’s eldest son, Prince William, were both seen in their uniforms.
Harry gave up his honorary military titles in 2020 when he and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped down as senior members of the royal family.
Originally, the Duke of Sussex was not allowed to wear his military uniform to this weekend’s vigil.
A spokesperson for Harry released a statement last week, saying, “Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex will wear a morning suit throughout events honouring his grandmother. His decade of military service is not determined by the uniform he wears and we respectfully ask that focus remain on the life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”
But over the weekend, King Charles III did permit Harry to wear his uniform while standing vigil at their grandmother’s coffin for 15 minutes of silence alongside William and their cousins.
William and Harry also processed behind their grandmother’s coffin as it traveled from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall on Wednesday.
The brothers famously processed behind the coffin of their late mother, Princess Diana, at her 1997 funeral. Most recently, they reunited in April 2021 to walk behind the coffin of Prince Philip during his intimate funeral in Windsor, England.
Prince Andrew was stripped of his royal duties and military titles following his controversial relationship with convicted sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein, and wore his morning suit despite earlier reports that he would be allowed to wear his military uniform as a ‘mark of respect’ for his mother.
There had been questions about whether children would attend the service considering their age but the attendance of Prince William’s oldest two was confirmed in an order of service on Sunday.
Prince George, 9, is the second in line to the throne after his father Prince William, while Princess Charlotte,7, is third in line.
As well as the royal family, the funeral is being attended by hundreds of dignitaries from across the globe, including all of the Queen’s former prime ministers, US President Joe Biden and French President Macron.
Related links:
- People are losing it at how world leaders are being ‘treated’ at the Queen’s state funeral
- Prince Harry left ‘heartbroken’ after ‘ER’ initials stripped from military uniform
- Man charged after mourner grabbed the Queen’s coffin
- Prince Andrew’s return to public life condemned by Jeffrey Epstein victims
