How Beatrice and Eugenie’s assigned seating at Jubilee event prevented William and Harry photo opportunity
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie's seating at the Service of Thanksgiving was 'deliberate', a royal expert has claimed


Princess Eugenie and Beatrice's seating arrangements at the Queen's Service of Thanksgiving earlier this month was a 'deliberate' move to prevent Prince William and Prince Harry from being photographed together, a royal expert has claimed.
- Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice's seating arrangements at the Queen's Service of Thanksgiving were designed to prevent Prince Harry and Meghan Markle being pictured with Prince William and Prince Charles, a royal insider has claimed.
- The royal sisters' positioning in the second row of St. Paul's Cathedral made it near-impossible for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to be snapped in the same photo as the Cambridges or the Prince of Wales.
- In other royal news, Camilla Parker Bowles wears 'beautifully elegant' white dress for Royal Ascot - showing us how to stay stylish in a heatwave.
Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice's assigned seating at the Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen was intended to prevent Prince William from being pictured with Prince Harry, according to a royal expert.
The daughters of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson observed the Platinum Jubilee ceremony from the second row of St. Paul's Cathedral on Friday, June 3, in celebration of the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty's reign.
They were notably seated next to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, whose attendance at the event marked their first joint public appearance in the UK since their high-profile withdrawal as senior royals in January 2020. Eugenie's husband, Jack Brooksbank, and Beatrice's husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, were also present in the pew.
Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla were seated in the front row of the historic cathedral, about 20 ft away from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They were joined by Prince William and Kate Middleton, as well as Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence. The Queen was, unfortunately, unable to make the event due to her ongoing mobility issues.
It's now understood that this distance between the Sussex couple and the upper tiers of the Royal Family was no accident.
According to royal expert Richard Eden, there were some serious behind-the-scenes discussions to ensure that Meghan and Harry did not appear with Charles and Camilla, or the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, in any photos.
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
"From what I'm told there really was [assigned seating]," he said on the Mail Plus' Palace Confidential, after being asked by host Jo Elvin about the seating arrangements.
"Why it was, so, Beatrice and Eugenie didn't move, they didn't, sort of, move down the row to let them [Harry and Meghan] in, they stuck to their seats.
"Why they left there was a procession to leave the cathedral.
"It meant that Harry and Meghan were far behind, they had to wait for everyone else in their row to leave first so they couldn't be photographed."
As a result of this delay, the Sussexes "weren't in the same shots as Prince Charles or the Cambridges" and were, in fact, "nowhere near them."

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.
Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.
-
I used the '60-30-10 rule' to decorate my living room to restore balance, as recommended by interior designers
Applying this interior design rule has made my space feel more considered and chic
By Tamara Kelly
-
If you like the butter yellow trend, you'll love the even brighter shade Eva Longoria's wearing
We all know butter yellow is huge news this year, and Eva's hot take on the trend is inspiring me
By Caroline Parr
-
Kate Middleton broke royal tradition on wedding day after she ‘had her heart set’ on key detail
The Princess of Wales isn’t someone who breaks with royal tradition or protocol a lot, but she reportedly did on her wedding day.
By Emma Shacklock
-
Princess Eugenie gives knitwear a spring makeover with short sleeved jumper and satin skirt at poignant London visit
Princess Eugenie isn’t a working member of the Royal Family, but she’s a dedicated Patron of several vital charities and organisations.
By Emma Shacklock
-
Bye skinny jeans, hello palazzo trousers - Meghan Markle nails New York spring style with her ultra-wide leg look
Jeans will never fully be replaced in my wardrobe but I’ve been finding myself drawn to wearing trousers more and more recently.
By Emma Shacklock
-
Kate Middleton is that you? Her floral dress, side-swept fringe and pink blazer deserve a comeback
The building blocks for the Princess’ signature style were always there in her looks and this outfit can easily be updated for 2025.
By Emma Shacklock
-
Kate Middleton and Prince William to spend anniversary in bittersweet location holding 'happiest and saddest' memories
Just like King Charles and Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales will mark their wedding anniversary away from home this year.
By Emma Shacklock
-
I’ve been writing about the royals for years - here’s what I predict Kate Middleton will wear at Easter (and what I wish she’d wear instead)
All eyes will be on the Princess of Wales if she attends the Royal Family's Easter Sunday church service for the first time since 2023
By Emma Shacklock
-
Remember when Prince William and Kate Middleton broke royal protocol at Easter? Here's why it's unlikely to happen again
The Royal Family might be taking a more modern approach these days, but there are some traditions and protocols that they still uphold.
By Emma Shacklock
-
Kate Middleton's go-to bag for special occasions is a wedding season essential you'll reach for time and time again
The Princess of Wales always reaches for the same elegant style of bag for formal events and it works beautifully for weddings.
By Emma Shacklock