THIS is the poignant moment King Charles took the Queen's place inside St George's Chapel as her coffin was lowered into the vault.
As the Monarch said his final heartbreaking farewell to his mother while she was laid to rest beside his father, he sat in the seat Her Majesty had called her own for 70 years.
St George's Chapel is the Queen's private chapel at Windsor Castle and royal protocol bans anybody from sitting in front of a monarch.
This is to ensure that the Monarch has a clear and unobstructed view of the royal service taking place.
It comes as…
- Her Majesty's coffin has been lowered into the royal vault at St George's chapel in Windsor.
- The Queen's coffin passed Buckingham Palace on its final journey as thousands of mourners lined the streets.
- King Charles led his family in an outpouring of grief today at his mother's funeral
- Princess Kate paid a touching tribute, wearing Her Majesty's pearl choker
- Princess Charlotte cried after The Queen’s emotional funeral in a heartbreaking moment
- Meghan Markle was teary-eyed as she watched the Queen's coffin be placed into a hearse
And while it may make sense for the Royal to sit in the front row, the Queen would sit in the second row as she was said to have found the first uncomfortable.
This meant the seat in front of her was always empty – as protocol ruled.
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And today, King Charles sat in his mother's seat for the first time during her committal service.
The Queen is said to have preferred to sit in the second row alongside her husband Prince Philip, and other senior royals.
But, the mourning Monarch sat alone in her seat during his funeral in 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions at the time.
Heartbreaking photos show a stoic Queen during the sombre moment.
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In 2018, many questioned by Princess Eugenie left an empty seat at the front row of her 850-guest wedding.
This saw the royal protocol explained.
The seat was also left empty at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding, and royal fans mistakenly thought it was a poignant tribute to Princess Diana.
Today's committal service followed the Queen's state funeral, which started at 11am at Westminster Abbey.
Thousands lined the streets and gathered outside to pay their final respects to Her Majesty, 11 days after her death.
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And in moving scenes, the Queen's coffin was taken into the abbey in a procession led by her son King Charles and his siblings Andrew, Edward and Anne.
The march also saw Princes William and Harry put aside their differences after months of rumoured feuds – with the brothers standing side-by-side as they followed their grandmother's coffin.
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