Civ III had this feature as well, starting with the throne then out to the palace architecture and the wider palace complex

That was Civ 1. I think they dropped it in Civ 2.

Edit: actually not sure. In Civ 1 you build up your palace, not the throne room per se.

It definitely was there in Civ 2, that's the only Civ I've played and I remember the throne room well.

Vanilla Civ 2 had the throne room, but it was removed in the Test of Time version.

I remember this fondly. Too bad they took it out.