No, Prince Harry will not be seated ‘ten rows back’ at the coronation

As an outsider looking in, it seems like British people are deeply obsessed with the smallest, most insignificant details of rank, precedence and class. Who is seated where, which honorary medals someone gets or wears, whether or not a veteran is allowed to wear a dress uniform to a state event. All of these details of rank have been weaponized constantly against Prince Harry. Not only that, but after those details are weaponized, these people then project their own pettiness on Harry, as if they’re so pleased with themselves for really pissing him off. This happened when Harry was banned from his dress uniform at QEII’s funeral, it happened when Harry and Meghan were put in the second row (just behind the king) at QEII’s funeral as well. As you can imagine, it’s happening with the coronation too. The palace and press are obsessed with creating imagery of Harry being “snubbed” in some way, so that has led to a focus on where the king will seat his younger son. Paul Burrell and Dan Wootton are obsessed with the idea that Harry will be seated “ten rows back.”

Prince Harry will be seated ten rows behind other senior royals at his father’s coronation before he makes a hasty exit, according to one royal insider. Former butler Paul Burrell says the Duke of Sussex may have little time to speak to the King or his brother, the Prince of Wales, during his visit next month.

He added there is ‘no chance’ of a reconciliation between the duke and the rest of his family following the fallout from his bombshell memoir Spare earlier this year, The Sun reports.

Although his position at the Westminster Abbey ceremony may give the impression of a snub, being far back in the audience will also help him if he wishes to make a quick exit, the ex-royal aide revealed.

Mr Burrell told GB News’ Dan Wootton: ‘He doesn’t want to spend much time around them [his family]. There is no chance of a reconciliation any time soon, I’m afraid – I think he will get a very icy reception from the Windsors.’

Mr Burrell believes the Duke of Sussex ‘is not going to hang around’, with some sources speculating he could be in and out of the UK within 24 hours in a flyby trip. Mr Burrell said: ‘He is coming to put his foot in the door and he is coming because his father wants him to be there.’

Despite this, Mr Burrell, who was a close attendant of Princess Diana, said the King ‘will be delighted’ both of his sons will be present at his crowning.

[From The Daily Mail]

The thing is, Charles would never do this. It’s not that Charles cares so deeply about Harry and wants to treat Harry with respect. No. That’s not it. Charles only cares about himself and his side-chick. But Charles also knows that it would look bad (for him) to have his younger son so far away from the rest of the family. It will be a repeat of QEII’s funeral in some ways – they’ll find a way to put Harry in the second row, away from his brother, but close to Charles. I also think that William has been rage-shrieking to everyone that he despises Harry and never wants to speak to Harry mostly because Harry must have made it clear to Charles that he doesn’t want to interact with William.

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55 Responses to “No, Prince Harry will not be seated ‘ten rows back’ at the coronation”

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  1. Tessa says:

    I hope he sits far away from the wails .

    • swaz says:

      Me too 😍 I would really love to see Harry 10 rows back 🙏I also believe this is exactly what Harry wants, the Rotas always say the opposite of the truth 🙄

      • Where'sMyTiara says:

        Chucky the Clownman will seat Harry close to himself like he did at the funeral for one reason and one reason only:

        It’s the only way for Chucky & Bride of Chucky to get the media’s undivided attention on camera and the both of them know it.
        Chuck only wants the *appearance* of Happy Families, in truth he loves being cast as the savior in a crisis. Even if he’s the dumba$$ that engineered that crisis (see also: H&M’s wedding, also every Bolland era stunt that pitted H against W so Chucky could “bring them together” and that insane “Scared Straight” rehab visit where Chucky set up Hazza, publicly embarrassing his son and using him to raise himself and William up).

      • HamsterJam says:

        Yes please, 10 rows back next to the bathroom, in and out with as little fanfare as possible.

      • Feeshalori says:

        At a certain age, it is very important to be seated near a bathroom.

      • BeanieBean says:

        These people are too fixated on birthday order & rank for them to seat Harry ten rows back. He’s going to sit wherever the fifth in line would be expected to sit. Are the rest is fantasy.

      • ML says:

        I totally agree with Where’sMyTiara: the camera will be looking for Harry and KC will be looking to be on camera. So in order to in RR-speak “appear magnanimous and forgiving,” (meaning clout-seeking), KC will want a good show with Harry.
        If Harry is not seated in camera range of KC, it’s probably because he doesn’t want to be part of the show.

      • Cara says:

        He should stand in the very back by the entrance holding a sign that says “NOT MY F*CKING FAMILY”.

  2. They think that saying he will be in the back hurts Harry but I think Harry has two fs to give about that. I think Harry is okay not having to sit with those who betray and hurt him. Also if he can get out quicker than all the better.

    • Giddy says:

      I wish that Jill Biden would request that Harry be seated next to her. It would be so great to see them chatting happily during the service.

      • Pam says:

        OMG…Yes! That would be awesome, wouldn’t it? I suspect, though, that they’ll put him one row back, out of striking distance from the abusive brother, but near enough so that the cameras (and the public interest) are on Charles, by association. I hope to God they crop Andrew the Prev’s mug from every shot they can…

    • Chloe says:

      Harry will not sit 10 rows backs because for a change, there is actually protocol about this stuff. Harry is 5th in line to the throne meaning that he will sit right next to Charlotte, provided that Louis stays home. If Louis is there after all, and there is no more place on the first row, harry will be seated as the first person on the second row.

  3. Jan says:

    I still remember Paul Burrell trying to sneak into the Chapel at Harry’s wedding and he was escorted off, can’t remember what Harry called him in his book, it was not complimentary.

    • Brassy Rebel says:

      He refuses to accept that his fifteen minutes are up.

      • Polo says:

        The man also has cancer you would think he would focus his energy on that. The bitterness isn’t good for his health

      • harpervalleypta says:

        Burrell is a professional mooch, selling his “insider” point of view for decades. He hasn’t done anything else, so if he stops shilling decades-old gossip, he has no other way of “earning” any money.

    • Jais says:

      Did he really? Okay, that’s bonkers. Restraining order much?

    • Digital Unicorn says:

      Paul Burrell was obsessed with Diana even when she was still alive – he had over 200 boxes of her personal items that he has pilfered over the years he worked for her and then refused to hand them back which prompted police involvement. He still claims Diana gave them those items but he has many worn clothes of hers, personal letters/photographs, perfume etc.. – it was quite creepy what he had and the sheer amount of items as well.

      At H’s wedding he also tried to get into the press pit for interviews but I think even they ignored him. There is footage of him flouncing around Windsor that day desperate for attention – he’s a nasty little man who got away with theft (and attempted blackmail) as TQ didn’t want a scandal.

    • Well Wisher says:

      I was unaware of Burrell’s attempt to attend the wedding.

  4. Polo says:

    I’m not planning on watching but I’ll catch highlights on here. I hope he’s sitting somewhere close to Jill. But I’m assuming he’ll be near Eugene like last time.

  5. Brassy Rebel says:

    I think it seems like the royalists are obsessed with rank, precedence, and class because they truly are. It’s like a whole cultish religion of inequality.

    • Teagirl says:

      They don’t think it through. They don’t always consider the perception others will have of their actions, and they certainly don’t think about what it might look like in photos. That one photo where Harry is not in uniform but the others are absolutely delights me because it looks like they are some sort of honour guard for him:-)

      ITA that Charles will want Harry nearby so the photos of Harry always show Charles, and they can pretend that the camera was looking for Charles. As if …

    • Emme says:

      @Brassy Rebel…yes, only the royal family and so called “royalists” are obsessed with rank, ribbons, medals and such-like. But as polls continue to illustrate, that is only 50% of the country, if that. I suspect it’s more like 30% tbh. British people as a whole don’t give a flying fig for any of that. The royals are non-entities barely thought about and when they are it’s usually with mild contempt, withering scorn and occasional pity. The British press like to try and persuade the world that the royals are hugely popular as part of the “contract” they have with them to keep themselves employed, but their cover was blown by Diana and now Harry.

  6. FC says:

    Charles knows the cameras will be looking for Harry, and seating him in the same frame allows him to pretend they are focusing on him (lol). That’s also why the RF is obsessed with controlling the broadcast like they did at the funeral.

    • Charfromdarock says:

      I think that’s what they’ll do too – seat him so he’s in the frame with Charles.

    • DancingCorgi says:

      I don’t think Charles will be in the front row at all. Doesn’t the monarch process to a throne that faces the congregation?

      • Jojo says:

        Exactly @DANCINGCORGI. Charles won’t be in the audience at all. He is what the audience will be looking at. Well, him and Cam obviously.

  7. LadyE says:

    I don’t think that Harry planned this or even thought of this, but I am so so pleased with how the Palace has completely played themselves in these “negotiations” about his attendance. Harry only attending the coronation and then leaving immediately is going to be like QEII’s funeral, but so much more so. By that I mean that, while I love Meghan and think she would have brought such style and class to this event (also very glad she’s not attending for her safety and mental health), Harry more than holds his own in charm and charisma. A full on blast of Harry in the flesh, in all his “Good King Harry” Harry-ness will completely magnify to all the Brits what they are missing once they are left with Camilla’s fugly fake stand-ins and sour-faced Will and Kate for the rest of these boring ass coronation events. I truly believe that this set up is the absolute worst for the Royal family. Give em just a taste, leaving the people wanting more!

    They can put Harry wherever they want. Won’t matter. Just like QEII’s funeral, you can strip him of his uniform, single him out, put him in the second row, and Harry will still shine above all these people and then be gone, making the lameness of the rest of the events, from the balcony to the concert all the more obvious and just making people think more “damn, wish Harry were still here”

    • Jais says:

      Yeah, I’m glad Meghan’s not going even if I would have loved to see what she wore. Harry will bring the shine and now I’m wondering if he’ll wear dior again. Is there a clothing requirement for men? As in only dark colors or can people wear whatever? I’m just gonna laugh when this dull coronation passes with little fan fare and then Meghan shows up to pick up her award. That it was what I can’t wait to see!

  8. ThatsNotOkay says:

    Doesn’t matter where Harry sits. The cameras will find him over and over again. Chew on that.

  9. Eurydice says:

    Wow, Burrell is still working the “ex-butler” angle. What’s it been – 25 years since he “buttled”? How would he know anything about the Coronation, where Harry will sit and what Harry is thinking?

    • Amy Bee says:

      Burrell believes he knows Harry because he was there when his mother was alive. Nevermind that during his time working for Diana, Harry was away at boarding school from the age of 8 and hasn’t spoken to Burrell since his mother died when he was 12.

  10. aquarius64 says:

    These people are exhausting.

  11. M says:

    The 6th in line for the throne cannot be put in the cheap seats because it devalues the very idea of a monarchy. It has nothing to do with Charles being a considerate father.

    • truthSF says:

      5th* in line, and the son of the king! So even more reasons putting him in the cheap seats will devalue the idea of the monarchy!

  12. Amy Bee says:

    I wish they would seat Harry ten rows back because that will overshadow the coronation.

    • notasugarhere says:

      Also to keep him from being in frame with Andrew. If they seat everyone based on line of succession, Andrew is seated next to Harry. If they seat the ‘non-working royals’ in a separate section and still in order of line of succession, Harry is seated next to Andrew.

      I don’t get a vote here, but I second the idea of him sitting with Dr. Biden.

  13. Isabella says:

    So they put the disgraced Andrew in the front row & the Sussexes in the second row at QE’s funeral. Then cropped the photo so you can barely see Andrew. Wow. That is a bad look.

    • Lara (the other) says:

      I wouldn’t wonder, if one of Harry non negotiables was a place far enough away from Pedrew to avoid any photos together.
      Apart from wanting to avoid a rapist, a photo of Harry and Pedrew close together is one of the few things that could actually damage the brand Sussex.

  14. Beverley says:

    These royals, enabled by the press, are the epitome of petty. They LIVE in a state of anxious jealousy and unhealthy competition. Having seen how desperately unhappy and dysfunctional they are, it’s easier to understand their constant jockeying. They’re so pathetic and low-class.

    Harry and Meghan hit the jackpot! They’re madly in love, fabulously wealthy, and have a genuinely happy home.

  15. Cathy says:

    How does Paul Burrell, someone who last worked for the royals a very long time ago, know anything about the seating arrangements? And did Paul Burrell ever give back the things he stole aka put in storage that belonged to Diana?

  16. Bklne says:

    Sending love to Mary Pester, knowing she’ll be reading: we all hope the treatment is effective and not too hard on you, love!

    • Teagirl says:

      Seconded! Mary P I hope your laughter is echoing down the hospital corridors as you read Celebitchy, and that we’re keeping you company at a tough time. Stay strong.

    • Saucy&Sassy says:

      Mary Pester, sending lots of positive thoughts your way.

      I’m hoping Harry is sitting right next to a side door, so he can dash out the moment the Clowning is finished. I suspect he’ll be seated where the brf will make as much use of him, visually, as they can.

      The amusing part of this is that I really doubt Harry wants to talk with any of them, so if they snub him, he won’t know it. They’re really trying to sell this as the brf aren’t talking to him, when I believe he’s not talking to them.

  17. QuiteContrary says:

    Wherever Harry sits, he’ll be the story of the day, which tells us everything we need to know about the reign of KC3.

  18. HeyKay says:

    Click Bait by the DM. Again.

  19. Smices says:

    I hope he sits next to Charlotte. They had some very sweet interactions during the Queen’s funeral.

  20. AC says:

    The Daily Mail and Telegraph loves to bring out drama based on old correspondences from Meghan or having Harry sit so many rows away from his family. Or articles about how old Biden is. But in the US media , it’s about the British polls, and the headlines that 70% of people aged 18-35 have no interest in their own country’s royal family. And Charles being not so popular. Interesting how one country’s POV is deflecting an obvious issue.