The row-by-row seating plan of the royal family inside Westminster Abbey for the Queen’s funeral prompted much discussion online.
On social media, fans discussed why Prince Harry and Meghan were sat in the second row behind the King, while Prince William and Kate were sat in the front pew.
Now a palace source has claimed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were sat in the second row 'because of their age', it is claimed.
An official claimed that the grandchildren were organised in approximate age order meaning the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were behind King Charles.
The source also claimed the seating plan was designed to ensure families were kept together
On social media, royal watchers wondered why non-working royals Zara and Mike Tindall sat in the front pew, while Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi were sat behind them.
Next to them were Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn, the children of the Earl and Countess of Wessex.
On the front row, the Prince and Princess of Wales sat with children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Alongside them was Peter Phillips, 44, and Zara Tindall, 41, Princess Anne’s two children.
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The seating plan did mean Harry was sat behind his father, and close to the coffin, but also meant Prince William and Harry could not be focused upon together in any close-up shots by the cameras.
While it remains unclear how the seating plan had been decided, a palace source told the Telegraph that the Queen's grandchildren were placed in approximate age order, with efforts taken not to split families up.
US President Joe Biden sat 14 rows back on the south transept behind the Polish leader and in front of the Czech Republic. The First Lady Jill Biden sat next to a leader from Switzerland.
Here is a guide as to who was who inside Westminster Abbey during the Queen's funeral:
- King Charles III
- Camilla, Queen Consort
- Princess Anne, Princess Royal
- Sir Timothy Laurence
- Prince Andrew, Duke of York
- Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
- Sophie, Countess of Wessex
- Prince William, Prince of Wales
- Prince George
- Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales
- Princess Charlotte
- Peter Phillips
- Zara Tindall
- Mike Tindall
- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
- Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex,
- Princess Beatrice
- Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
- Lady Louise Windsor
- James, Viscount Severn
- Jack Brooksbank
- Princess Eugenie
- Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York
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