Prince Harry And Meghan Put In Second Row At Queen’s Funeral, Harry Forbidden From Saluting Her Casket

Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral took place Monday in front of a global audience, and while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, were in attendance, they weren’t sitting in the front row.

Photos from the internationally televised royal family event showed Harry and Meghan sitting in the second row behind the new King Charles, Queen Consort Camilla, Princess Anne and her husband Sir Tim Laurence, William the Prince of Wales, Kate Middleton, and two of the couple’s children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. 

Even disgraced royal Prince Andrew got a front-row seat, as did Princess Anne’s children Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, who were not working royals at any point. The queen was said to be very close with Sophie, Countess of Wessex. 

Sarah Ferguson (“Fergie”), Duchess of York, who was previously married to Prince Andrew, was also relegated to the second row with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Her daughters Eugenie and Beatrice were there as well.

The tone of the funeral was somber and respectful as mourners paid their respects to the longest-serving queen in British history. Her coffin was draped in a Royal Standard and adorned with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign’s orb and scepter, per The Daily Beast.

The casket also featured a wreath of flowers gathered from Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, and Highgrove House per King Charles’ request. It also included a handwritten note from the new monarch which said, “In loving and devoted memory. Charles R.”

Mourners shed many tears upon seeing the casket pass by. Military members saluted, but Prince Harry was notably not allowed to do so himself despite his prior military service. That’s because the Duke of Sussex was stripped of his military titles when he stepped back from royal duties in 2020. 

Harry served ten years in the armed forces, including two tours of Afghanistan, Yahoo reported. The royal was promoted to lieutenant in 2008 and to captain in 2011. He left the army in 2015 but continued to work with active military personnel and veterans through The Invictus Games, a multi-sport event for wounded and disabled military members. Harry created the games in 2014.

Prince Harry did get to wear his military uniform during a vigil Saturday night due to an exception being made. However, keen observers noticed it was missing the insignia “ER” which was Queen Elizabeth’s royal cypher.

The duke wore a suit to the funeral which stood out among the military uniforms his family members were wearing, as it did when Harry could not salute his grandmother’s coffin.