Andrew’s family has been going through the most difficult phase since the latest release of the Epstein case, taking each step carefully to avoid media attention as the former Duke and Duchess of York’s connections have engulfed the entire family.
King Charles’ niece once impressed royalty with her deeply emotional decision on their auspicious day.
He sacrificed one of the best seats in St George’s Chapel, deliberately leaving it empty out of respect for his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.
Her marriage to Jack Brooksbank in October 2018 attracted around 900 guests and millions of viewers around the world. He left an empty seat in the front row during the ceremony.
Eagle-eyed royal watchers noticed an empty chair and some speculated that it was reserved in memory of a deceased relative or marked the absence of a guest.
However, the chair was left empty for Queen Elizabeth. Longstanding protocol reportedly makes clear that no guest should sit in front of the monarch in a way that blocks her line of sight during the service.
A palace aide said of the empty chair: “For Eugenie and Jack’s wedding, that seemingly minor adjustment was to ensure the Queen was comfortable and could watch every moment as her granddaughter married the man she loved.”
In Eugenie’s case, the Queen chose not to occupy the front row seat, apparently because she did not find it comfortable.
Instead, the late monarch opted to sit in the second row next to her husband Philip, intentionally leaving the front seat empty so that nothing would block her view of her granddaughter exchanging vows.
Eugenia’s gesture captured hearts, explaining her lifelong closeness with her grandmother, whom she affectionately called “Grannie.”
The then Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, along with Eugenie’s sister, as well as Zara Tindall and Mike Tindall occupied the front row.
In the second row with the Queen and Philip were the then Prince Charles, Prince William, his wife Catherine, Prince Harry and Markle, who had married in the same chapel five months earlier.
