Coronation of King Charles III: Where are Harry and Andrew seated for coronation? Was Prince Andrew booed?

Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and Prince Andrew are not seated in the front row for the coronation

The Duke of Sussex took his seat in the third row for the coronation of his father the King, two rows behind his brother the Prince of Wales.

Harry, wearing medals pinned to his suit jacket, chatted to his cousin Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi as he entered Westminster Abbey on Saturday in the drizzling rain. He also nodded and smiled to guests as he walked down the nave of the abbey.

It is understood the prince wore what he was asked to wear, which consisted of a dark morning suit and tie. However, Harry is a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order after being made so by the late Queen in 2015.

Prince Andrew and Prince Harry. Picture: PA

This means he would be entitled to wear the order’s vivid blue mantle.

The Duke of Sussex was later seen in the television footage watching intently as the archbishop raised St Edward’s Crown above his father’s head before crowning him.

And when a few minutes later the congregation paid homage to the new monarch, Harry was seen, along with the other royals around him, speaking the words: “God save King Charles. Long live King Charles. May the King live forever.”

Buckingham Palace had earlier confirmed that Harry and his uncle, the Duke of York, would not have any formal role at the event. They are no longer working royals.

The Duke of Sussex arriving ahead of the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey. Picture: Phil Noble/PA Wire

For the late Queen’s funeral in September last year, Harry sat in the second row at Westminster Abbey, directly behind Charles.

All eyes were on Harry on Saturday as he sat with his relatives in public for the first time since he criticised Charles, the Queen, William and the Princess of Wales in his memoir, Spare. The Duchess of Sussex has stayed at home in Montecito, California, with their children, Archie and Lili.

Archie’s fourth birthday is on Saturday, the same day as the coronation. The duke, 38, was seated in the third row at Westminster Abbey with his cousin Princess Eugenie’s husband, Jack Brooksbank, together with Eugenie, Beatrice and Mr Mapelli Mozzi.

Also in the third row, at the other end from Harry, was the Duke of York, who stopped using the title His Royal Highness in an official capacity in January 2022. He wore his Order of the Garter robe.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, arrives to attend the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Picture: Toby Melville - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Prince Andrew’s arrival had earlier been met by boos from the crowd as he was driven along The Mall in a state car to the coronation service at Westminster Abbey.

William and Kate are sitting in the front row at the abbey for the historic ceremony, with their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Their youngest child, Prince Louis, who recently turned five, took his seat after processing through the abbey, but was due to retire once the ceremony begins.

Also in the front row to see Charles and Camilla crowned was the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. In the second row were the Duke and Duchess of Kent and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

Harry and Andrew will be absent from the procession behind the Gold State Coach carrying the newly crowned King and Queen from Westminster Abbey back to Buckingham Palace after the ceremony. Harry is expected to attend only the abbey ceremony before returning to the US.

Andrew stepped away from public life after a controversial Newsnight interview in November 2019 and the furore over his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Virginia Giuffre sued Andrew for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was 17 after she was trafficked by Epstein.

Andrew denied the claims, but paid millions in an out-of-court settlement in the US civil case.