The Empty Chair: A Royal Wedding Mystery

The empty seat next to Prince William at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was not a tribute to the groom's late mother, Princess Diana, as many viewers speculated. Instead, it was left empty so that the Queen, who was seated in the second row, could have an unobstructed view of the ceremony.

The empty chair was not left in tribute to Princess Diana

The empty chair at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was not left in tribute to Princess Diana. While it is true that the late Princess was honoured during the ceremony, the empty seat next to Prince William was not one of the tributes. It was, in fact, left empty as a matter of protocol, as it is customary to leave the seat in front of the Queen unoccupied. The Queen sat in the second row, and the empty seat in front of her ensured she had a clear view of the proceedings.

Although the empty chair was not a tribute to Princess Diana, there were plenty of other nods to her memory during the ceremony. Meghan Markle's bridal bouquet, for example, included forget-me-nots, which were said to be Diana's favourite flower. The bouquet also included flowers that Prince Harry picked himself from the private gardens of Kensington Palace, where Diana lived.

There were also several other tributes to Princess Diana throughout the ceremony. Lady Jane Fellowes, Diana's sister, gave a reading during the ceremony, and Markle wore an engagement ring with diamonds from Diana's personal collection. Markle also wore an emerald-cut aquamarine ring that had belonged to Diana during the evening reception.

The empty chair was left vacant as a matter of protocol

The empty chair at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was not left vacant as a tribute to the groom's late mother, Princess Diana, as many viewers speculated. Instead, it was a matter of protocol to leave the seat in front of the Queen empty.

Queen Elizabeth II was seated in the second row at St. George's Chapel, and the seat in front of her was left vacant to ensure she had a clear and unobstructed view of the proceedings. This is in line with standard royal protocol, which dictates that no one should sit in front of the Queen to allow for an unobstructed view.

The royal reporter, Rebecca English, clarified this, stating, "The seat in front of the Queen is always left empty. She needs to be seen, and the seat she was sitting in today is her favourite seat in that chapel, apparently!"

While the empty chair was not a direct tribute to Princess Diana, there were numerous other ways in which the late Princess was honoured during the wedding ceremony. Meghan's bouquet included forget-me-nots, which were reportedly Diana's favourite flower, and the couple's lavish floral arrangement featured white garden roses, another flower closely associated with the late Princess.

Additionally, Diana's sister, Lady Jane Fellowes, gave an emotional reading during the ceremony, and Meghan's engagement ring featured diamonds from Diana's personal collection. These thoughtful gestures ensured that Princess Diana's memory was honoured and celebrated throughout the royal wedding.

The empty chair was left vacant so the Queen had a clear view

The empty chair at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was not left vacant as a tribute to the groom's late mother, Princess Diana, as many viewers speculated. Instead, it was left empty so that the Queen, seated in the second row, could have a clear view of the ceremony.

Royal reporter Rebecca English clarified that the vacant seat was not a tribute to Princess Diana. She explained that it is standard protocol to leave the seat in front of the Queen empty, stating, "She needs to be seen—and the seat she was sitting in today is her favourite seat in that chapel, apparently!"

While the empty chair was not meant to honour Princess Diana, the royal wedding included several other tributes to Harry's late mother. Meghan's bouquet included forget-me-nots, which were said to be Diana's favourite flower. The couple also included white garden roses in their lavish floral arrangement, another flower associated with the late Princess.

In addition to the floral tributes, Meghan's engagement ring featured diamonds from Diana's personal collection. Lady Jane Fellowes, Diana's sister, also gave a reading during the ceremony.

Although the empty chair was not a direct tribute to Princess Diana, her memory was honoured in multiple ways throughout the royal wedding.

There were other tributes to Princess Diana at the wedding

There were indeed several tributes to Princess Diana at the wedding of her youngest son, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle.

The couple honoured Diana in a number of ways, including through the flowers. Meghan's bouquet included forget-me-nots, Diana's favourite flower, which Prince Harry hand-picked from their private garden at Kensington Palace. White roses, another flower closely associated with Diana, were included in the flower crowns of the bridesmaids and throughout the decorations of St. George's Chapel. The chapel was adorned with an elaborate archway of white peonies and white garden roses, Diana's favourite flowers.

The hymn "Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer", which was sung at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997, was also included in the ceremony. Diana's sister, Lady Jane Fellowes, gave a moving reading from the Song of Solomon, which included the words, "For love is as strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it."

The couple also paid tribute to Diana through their choice of guests. All three of Diana's siblings were invited to the wedding, and Harry's maternal aunt, Lady Jane Fellowes, gave the only reading at the ceremony. Harry and Meghan also invited Diana's good friend, Elton John, who famously performed "Candle in the Wind" at her funeral.

In addition, Meghan's veil was reminiscent of Diana's long headpiece from her wedding to Prince Charles in 1981, and Meghan wore a ring that once belonged to Diana at the reception.

Meghan Markle's bouquet included Princess Diana's favourite flowers

There were many tributes to Princess Diana at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. One of them was Meghan's bouquet, which included forget-me-nots, Princess Diana's favourite flowers. Prince Harry handpicked the flowers for the bouquet from the couple's private garden at Kensington Palace. The couple specifically chose forget-me-nots to honour Harry's late mother on their wedding day.

The bouquet also included sprigs of myrtle, a tradition that dates back to Queen Victoria's reign. The rest of the bouquet featured delicate blooms, including scented sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine, and astrantia. The flowers were tied together with a naturally dyed, raw silk ribbon.

The couple's florist, Philippa Craddock, created the bouquet and the other floral displays at the wedding. She used locally sourced foliage, including branches of beech, birch, and hornbeam, as well as white garden roses, peonies, and foxgloves. The white roses were also included as a tribute to Princess Diana, who was known for her love of white flowers.

In addition to the bouquet, other tributes to Princess Diana at the wedding included Meghan's veil, the floral arrangements, and a reading from Lady Jane Fellowes, Diana's sister.

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