Our line of charger plates has grown considerably the last few years. Seeing how many people use them now, I became curious about their etiquette. This is what I found out.
There really is no firm and strict rule regarding their use. Some people keep them on the table throughout the meal and serve dishes on top of them. Others use them for presentation and remove them while guests are initially seated. If you choose to serve meals on top of them, it is recommended to remove them during dessert since chargers are usually significantly larger then dessert plates.
Hope this helps!