There is still time for reconciliation. The seating chart at Queen Elizabeth II‘s funeral was not a snub at Prince HarryFrom King Charles III, Royal historian Gareth RussellOnly tells Us Weekly.
“That’s the etiquette. If you know what the etiquette is, it actually is a place of honor,” Russell explained on Tuesday, September 20, about Harry, 38, sitting behind his father, 73. “To be the one behind the king is actually a sign of favor. This etiquette is not prioritized, however. [Prince William] or Harry.”
According to the royal expert Charles made the decision to pay respect to his sister. Princess Anne.
“The king’s major concern has been to give a place of honor to his sister and for the older roles to be relaxed,” Russell continued. “So we saw for the first time a female member of the royal family marching behind the coffin. What we were seeing really was a time for the queen’s children rather than necessarily a focus on the grandchildren.”
For the king, Anne was his priority. “Giving princess Anne her rightful place in the 21st century in monarchy [shows that] she really is her brother’s confidant. She is hugely admired in Britain for her charitable work, and we’ve seen that she is someone who’s dealing with great heartbreak at her mother’s passing,” he shared with Us. “But I don’t think there was necessarily a priority about William and Harry.”
Russell’s insight comes after the royal family came together to honor the late monarch on Monday, September 19. Elizabeth died in Scotland, after seven decades of serving on the British throne.
Charles was joined by Anne, his siblings. Prince Edward Prince Andrewto pay their respects. Harry and his wife. Meghan MarkleWilliam, 40, was also present at the memorial service. Princess Kate.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s relationship with the royal family previously took a turn when they announced their decision to step back as senior members in January 2020. The couple, who have a son Archie, three, and a daughter Lilibet, fifteen months, made their exit permanent in February 2020.
Harry later reflected on his tense relationship with his father, saying during a tell-all interview in March 2021, “I feel really let down because he’s been through something similar, he knows what pain feels like … Archie is his grandson. I will always love and cherish him. There’s a lot of hurt that’s happened. I will continue to make it one of my priorities to heal that relationship.”https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/inside-queen-elizabeths-relationship-with-daughter-princess-anne/
A source told the story exclusively at the time. Use that Charles didn’t react positively to his son’s comments. “Charles does not agree with Harry trashing his whole family in public,” the insider revealed. “Charles thinks these matters could have easily been addressed in private.”
Amid Harry and Meghan’s arrival in the U.K., Charles surprised the public when he wished for the pair to “continue to build their lives overseas” in California during his first address as king.
Charles’ bond with his youngest son made headlines again recently when Harry and Meghan were seemingly disinvited from a reception with world leaders on Sunday, September 18.
“A Palace spokesperson has reiterated this morning that Sunday’s state reception is ‘for working royals only.’ No further comment or guidance on why the Sussexes were invited (and now seemingly uninvited),” royal reporter Omid ScobieTwitterged after Harry and Meghan weren’t there at the Charles event.
Christina Garibaldi reporting
