Prince Andrew set to be banished to third row in Coronation seating plan alongside Harry
Prince Andrew will have no formal role during the Coronation of his brother King Charles, despite being eighth-in-line to the throne and a former prominent member of the Firm.
The Duke of York may end up sitting in the third row during today's service at Westminster Abbey. Speculation is rife over the sitting plan crafted by officials ahead of the historic Coronation, and everybody's position will only become apparent once guests are sat down ahead of the beginning of the ceremony.
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It has already been reported Prince Harry has been relegated to the third row, and will reportedly sit between Princess Eugenie's husband, Jack Brooksbank, and Princess Alexandra, one of the late Queen's cousins.
Given Andrew's daughters are also sitting in the third row and that the Duke of Sussex and the Duke of York share a similar status within the Firm, some royal watchers believe Andrew may also have been positioned far from the core members of the Firm.
The front row is reserved for senior working members of the Firm, including the Prince and Princess of Wales.
An insider told The Sun: "There were discussions that the seating could be arranged on line of succession."
A similar move would have placed Prince Harry, fifth-in-line to the throne, front and centre.
The source added: "Instead the decision was working royals only at the front and work back from there. Harry will be a long way from his father."
This comes after Buckingham Palace confirmed neither Harry nor Andrew will have a formal role at the Coronation.
The two men will also be absent from the Coronation Procession behind the Gold State Coach carrying the newly crowned King and Queen from Westminster Abbey back to Buckingham Palace after the ceremony.
READ MORE: Harry and Andrew to play no official part in King Charles's Coronation
The Duke of York stepped back from public duties in mid-November 2019, after his disastrous interview with Newsnight focused on his association with Jeffrey Epstein.
The royal hasn't carried out an official engagement since, and in January last year, he returned his military and royal patronages to the late Queen, a move seen by many as the final nail in the coffin for his future as a senior royal.
Despite his new status as a minor royal within the Firm, both Elizabeth II and King Charles have signalled Andrew remains very much a member of the Royal Family.
On Christmas Day, the Duke joined the King and several other members of the Royal Family for the traditional service and even took part in the following walkabout.
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Similarly, the Duke of York walked from Windsor Castle to St George's Chapel on Easter Sunday to attend the morning service.
Signalling he is still an integral part of his family, Andrew walked next to his sister Princess Anne and right behind Queen Camilla and King Charles.
On Friday, the Duke also joined his daughters, the Tindalls and other royals for a family dinner in London ahead of the Coronation. The royals dined at the exclusive Mayfair club Oswald's.