An expert has revealed what King Charles III supposedly said after Prince William and Princess Catherine were late to the coronation.
The 75-year-old came into power in May 2023 after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, at the age of 96 in September 2022.
The monumental event took place at Westminster Abbey in London, England, which was packed with famous faces, including Prince William, 41, Princess Catherine, 42, and their three children George, Charlotte, and Louis.
According to royal biographer Robert Hardman’s book, The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy, the King was left angry after the Prince and Princess of Wales arrived late to the coronation.
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As reported by PEOPLE, Hardman claimed that William and Catherine were supposed to arrive at Westminster Abbey eight minutes before the King and Queen Camilla, 76, but they showed up “a minute and a half late”.
The author claimed in the novel that the lateness created “an awkward scene,” and “an added layer of stress” for Charles and Camilla.
“Although the congregation inside the abbey don’t know it, there is an awkward scene unfolding outside as the King and Queen are in their coach. It is an added layer of stress that the couple really do not want or need on a day like this,” he wrote, as cited by the outlet.
“As with his irksome pen in the days after his mother’s death, it’s a snapshot of a man under extreme pressure in the full gaze of the world’s media,” he added.
“We can never be on time…There’s always something…This is boring,’” the royal biographer claimed Charles said.
The author alleged that insiders told him that the royal couple were possibly late because they shot a coronation video the morning of the event.
He added that other sources claimed that the pair’s vehicle got caught behind Charles and Camilla’s cavalcade, which wouldn’t have happened if the king didn’t arrive early.
“It is unusual for the two most important arrivals at such a significant event, and over such a well-trodden route, to be so unpunctual. The result is some frantic rewriting of the running order,” Hardman said of the entrance the Prince and Princess of Wales made with their children.
“There isn’t time for the Waleses and their two younger children to enter ahead of the King and Queen. They must now follow behind and bring up the rear,” he added.
Despite the brief mishap, the coronation went off and Charles was named Britain’s new monarch.
Credit: Brandon Bell / Getty
Months after the affair, the King revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer and is currently receiving outpatient treatment. However, he returned to the spotlight and resumed his royal engagements.
Princess Catherine also disclosed in March that she is battling cancer and will pause public royal duties during treatment.
Prince William and Princess Catherine with their son Louis and daughter, Charlotte at King Charles III’s coronation. Credit: WPA Pool / Getty
Hardman also revealed a lip reader’s translation of what the monarch said in a video captured on a Sky News camera as he was waiting for his son and daughter-in-law.