Poignantly a space remained next to him, where the Queen's slightly larger missing throne would usually be located, as power continues to slowly transition from Britain's longest reigning monarch to her son and grandson. Prince William and the Duchess of Cornwall flanked the Prince of Wales as he delivered the speech from the consort's throne, used by his father Prince Philip for decades, in a major constitutional moment for the UK. He had addressed the House of Lords after the monarch, 96, obeyed doctor's orders to miss the State Opening of Parliament for the first time in 59 years. Today was a highly symbolic and historic moment for the British monarchy where the Prince of Wales took on his closest role yet to that of king.
