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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Kyle O'Sullivan

Why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were behind George and Charlotte at Queen's funeral

Prince George and Princess Charlotte walked behind the Queen's coffin today as they said a final goodbye to their 'Gan Gan'. The Prince and Princess of Wales' eldest children, aged nine and seven, were part of the procession before the Queen's funeral, while youngest son Prince Louis, four, was kept at home.

It's the first time that Prince William and Kate Middleton's kids have been seen in public since their great-grandmother's death - and it's understood the royal couple thought long and hard while having discussions with the children before deciding they would attend. Princess George and princess Charlotte stood beside their parents as they followed the Queen's coffin into Westminster Abbey.

The Prince and Princess of Wales with Prince George and Princess Charlotte (Getty Images)

For the latest updates on the Queen's funeral, follow our live blog.

George and Charlotte walked with their parents - so they were ahead of Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, in the order.

They are also further up the line of succession, as Prince William is now next in line to be King, followed by George and then Charlotte.

The King and the Queen Consort walked immediately behind the coffin, followed by the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of York and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

King Charles and Queen Camilla were sat in the ornate Canada Club chairs, with Camilla next to Princess Anne, then her husband Sir Tim, then Prince Andrew, Sophie Wessex and Prince Edward in the front row of the south lantern.

Across the aisle were the Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, and then Peter Phillips and Zara and Mike Tindall.

Directly behind the King was sat the Duke of Sussex, with the Duchess of Sussex behind Camilla, and Princess Beatrice next to her.

George and Charlotte were in front of Harry and Meghan (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
George and Charlotte were praised by royal fans (WireImage)

William and Kate agreed, after long discussions with aides, as the future of the monarchy, George, who affectionately called the Queen ‘Gan Gan’, should attend with his sister with whom he is especially close to.

The scene revived memories of princes William and Harry walking behind their mother Diana’s coffin aged just 15 and 12, after her tragic death in a Paris tunnel in August 1997.

Prince William told one royal fan in Windsor that they decided to "keep some sense of continuity" for their children at school in order to keep things "as normal as possible."

Elaine Gee, a teacher from Wokingham spoke to the royal couple during the walkabout, and discussed this upheaval.

Elaine told People Magazine she told Prince William that she works at a school, and it's been "a strange year celebrating the Jubilee and now its all changed and we are talking about this."

She added: "William spoke about George, Charlotte and Louis, saying that they were trying to keep some sense of continuity for them at school and keep things as normal as possible."

Prince George, center, and Princess Charlotte, left, arrive for the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II (via REUTERS)

On Thursday, Kate Middleton told well-wishers that her younger children 'don't understand' the loss of their great-grandmother quiet yet.

During a walkabout at Sandringham yesterday Kate provided royal fans with an update on her children as she said her children are “doing well” following the sad loss.

But she admitted that Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, four, are struggling to understand the momentous death. Speaking to the BBC, a royal fan revealed revealed that Kate told her that Prince George “understands the loss” of the Queen. However, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis understand “less so”.

She said: "My daughter asked her how the children were doing, and Kate thanked her and said yes, they were doing well and they were being looked after at school, so that was a nice exchange."

It is the first time that the pair have used their new titles in public - Prince George of Wales, and Princess Charlotte of Wales - and it is thought the pair are the youngest royals to take part in a royal funeral procession.

Queen Elizabeth II, Prince George and Princess Charlotte during the Platinum Pageant this year (Getty Images)

They both attended Prince Philip's memorial service in March, and are expected to attend the committal service later in the afternoon at St George's Chapel, Windsor.

At 12.15pm, the coffin will be taken in procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch and then travel to Windsor.

The hearse will then travel in procession to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle via the Long Walk, after which a televised committal service will take place in St George’s Chapel at 4pm.

Later in the evening, there will be a private interment service with senior members of the royal family befoore the Queen is laid to rest in the King George VI memorial chapel, an annex to the main chapel where her mother and father were buried, along with the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret.

You can leave your tributes to Queen Elizabeth II here

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