As King Charles III sat in the second row of St George’s Chapel in Windsor next to his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort during the ceremony, a seat in front of the new monarch was left empty. The King’s seat was previously filled by the Queen when she sat in the second row during notable events. It used to be believed that an empty seat during royal events is meant to represent a member of the royal family who has died. However, the empty seat before the King was just royal protocol. No one is allowed to sit in front of the reigning monarch at this type of event so as not to obstruct the monarch’s view of the proceedings. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams previously told the Independent: “The seat in front of the Queen is always empty and she has a favorite place in St George’s Chapel.” The Queen sat behind an empty seat during the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding (PA) The same seat was left vacant during Princess Eugenia’s wedding in 2018 at St George’s Chapel. At the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding in 2018, the same protocol was followed, although many believed at the time that the seat was left empty in honor of Prince Harry’s mother, Princess Diana. The Queen sat alone during her husband Prince Philip’s funeral (PA) The late monarch also sat in the same seat during her husband Prince Philip’s funeral in 2021. During the engagement service, the King was joined by his siblings Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward and their respective families. The Prince and Princess of Wales, along with two of their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, were also in attendance, as were the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The Queen’s coffin will be interred at the George VI memorial in St George’s Chapel, alongside her husband Prince Philip and her parents – King George VI and the Queen Mother.
