Prince Harry received a surprise during his father’s coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday, as he found himself seated in the third row.
The renegade royal was placed between Eugene’s husband, Jack Brooksbank, and Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin, Princess Alexandra.
The front row, reserved for working royals only, was occupied by his estranged brother, Prince William, and sister-in-law, Kate Middleton.
Prior to taking his seat, Harry smiled and greeted attendees inside the abbey, appearing quite enthusiastic.
However, Harry’s demeanor quickly changed when he realized that the King’s personal close protection bodyguard was seated just behind him, alongside his cousins.
The Duke of Sussex displayed a startled reaction, with an expression of astonishment on his face.
It remains unclear whether Harry was carrying any recording devices, but it had been arranged for the bodyguard to sit behind him during the coronation rehearsal.
Positioned in the fifth row, the security staff had a clear view of the prince’s every move.
Charles, emphasizing the importance of security, strategically placed his chief bodyguard close to Harry.
The security officer made a discreet appearance, blending into the crowd with a formal suit and a purple striped tie.
However, he was undoubtedly prepared to assist the King, Queen Consort, or other royal family members if needed.
This bodyguard, who remains unnamed, has been present during many of the monarch’s public engagements over the past few months, including the King’s walkabout along the mall on Friday afternoon.
While the King and Queen Consort had their personal security staff present during the coronation, King Charles also entrusted his sister, Princess Anne, with a special role.
Anne served as his gold stick-in-waiting during the procession back to Buckingham Palace, essentially acting as the King’s bodyguard.
Mounted on horseback, she led a procession of armed forces personnel behind the royal couple as they departed Westminster Abbey.
On Friday, Harry and Charles did not have the opportunity to meet, as Charles was at Buckingham Palace while Harry headed directly to his Windsor home, Frogmore Cottage, for what would be his last visit before vacating the property.
Last month, Prince Harry confirmed that he would attend King Charles’ coronation without his wife, Meghan Markle.
Neither Harry, Eugene, nor Beatrice joined the rest of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the military flyover later in the day, as this moment was reserved for working members and their children only.
Given the recent revelations about the royal family in his book “Spare” and his Netflix documentary with Meghan Markle, fans were eager to observe Harry’s reaction upon seeing his older brother, Prince William, and his father, King Charles.
Unfortunately, cameras did not capture any interaction between Harry and Prince William.
In conclusion, Prince Harry experienced a surprising revelation during his father’s coronation ceremony.
Seated in the third row, he discovered the King’s close bodyguard positioned just behind him, closely monitoring his every move.