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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Chiara Fiorillo

Touching moment shared between William and Charles as Harry cranes his neck to watch

Prince William and his father King Charles shared a special moment during today's Coronation while Prince Harry watched on from his seat at Westminster Abbey.

The Prince of Wales pledged loyalty to the monarch in a solemn rite, kneeling to give an oath of allegiance to his father.

He said: "I, William, Prince of Wales, pledge my loyalty to you and faith and truth I will bear unto you, as your liege man of life and limb. So help me God."

He then stood up, touched the crown and gave his father a kiss on the cheek. The King appeared to be moved by his son's gestures, as he nodded and said "amen".

Prince Harry watched the scene from his seat (Getty Images)

The monarch also appeared to say "thank you, William" as they briefly made eye contact in front of more than 2,000 people.

Body language expert Judi James told The Mirror that the pair appeared to have made "a pact to avoid too much eye contact" to avoid Charles being "overwhelmed with emotion".

She said: "Touching body language between Charles and William.

"The two men seemed to have made a pact to avoid too much eye contact during the ceremony, possibly because Charles did look in danger of getting overwhelmed with emotion at some points.

William touching St Edward's Crown on the head of his father (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

"There was a micro-glance as William tied his cape and then we could see William looking away as he did his pledge, although there was one moment after that when they met eye contact briefly and we got a look of warmth and gratitude from Charles to his son.

"Harry did seem to lift his head and crane his neck to watch this bit of the service."

The Duke of Sussex took his seat in the third row for the coronation of his father the King, two rows behind his brother William.

Harry, wearing medals pinned to his suit jacket, chatted to his cousin Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi as he entered Westminster Abbey on Saturday in the drizzling rain.

He also nodded and smiled to guests as he walked down the nave of the abbey.

It is understood the prince wore what he was asked to wear, which consisted of a dark morning suit and tie.

However, Harry is a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order after being made so by the late Queen in 2015.

This means he would be entitled to wear the order's vivid blue mantle.

Harry took his seat in the third row (BBC)

Buckingham Palace had earlier confirmed that Harry and his uncle, the Duke of York, would not have any formal role at the event. They are no longer working royals.

For the late Queen's funeral last September, Harry sat in the second row at Westminster Abbey, behind Charles.

All eyes were on Harry on Saturday as he sat with his relatives in public for the first time since he criticised Charles, the Queen, William and the Princess of Wales in his memoir, Spare.

The Duchess of Sussex has stayed at home in Montecito, California, with their children, Archie and Lilibet.

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