King Charles got a scolding from his wife about swearing during his Coronation, a lip reader has revealed.
In a new Channel 5 series, Lip-Reading The Royals: What Are They Really Saying?, experts offered insights from the historic occasion, which showed that amid the grandeur and pageantry, there is a very human side to members of The Firm.
In one instance, the monarch, visibly overwhelmed by the events of the day on May 6, 2023, appeared exhausted as he left Westminster Abbey following the ceremony.
‘As Charles gets into the carriage, he lets out a sigh and then mutters, “f*** me”,’ said forensic lip reader Nicola Hickling on the documentary, airing on Saturday at 8.15pm. ‘And then very quickly Camilla responds, “frankly, I don’t want to hear that”.’
The exasperated expletive, said body language expert Adrianne Carter, showed ‘the royals being as human as you and I’.
‘He swears, he swears a lot, King Charles, doesn’t he,’ added royal analyst Cristo Foufas.
‘Because he’s the King we see him as incredibly classy… and there he is, saying “f*** me” as he gets into the carriage, because it’s hard work!
‘Sits down after effing and jeffing after obviously feeling very very worn out; and Camilla says, “I don’t want to hear that!”.’
King Charles got a scolding from his wife about swearing during his Coronation (pictured), a lip reader has revealed
King Charles got a scolding from his wife about swearing during his Coronation (pictured), a lip reader has revealed
A few moments later, however, Nicola suggested it seemed like Camilla was trying to ‘diffuse the mood’ and appeared to tell Charles: ‘Perhaps we should run off somewhere… don’t wallow.’
To this, however, Charles reportedly quickly replied: ‘I don’t have to smile.’
The lip-reader added the King then seemingly ‘grumbled’ as he ‘sarcastically’ said: ‘Oh we have to be happy and have manners do we?’
In one final carriage exchange, Nicola claimed, Camilla simply asked: ‘Are you alright?’ To this, Charles reportedly said: ‘No, not really.’
‘I am with the King on this,’ said former Royal Press Secretary Dickie Arbiter. ‘There was obviously an element of frustration. At the age of 75, you’re normally retired, but the monarchy doesn’t retire…
‘Fortunately Camilla was with him and Camilla’s able to calm him down… He won’t go OTT in her presence.’
But it seems Charles’s frustrations were far from over. Speaking to the programme, forensic lip reader Khalil Anwar also detailed how the King was scared to move on the balcony, lest his two-kilogram crown fall down.
‘I’m not going to get too close, I don’t want my crown to topple over. Imagine that,’ he reportedly told Camilla. ‘I’m terrified of it falling off my head.’
King Charles and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the Coronation
King Charles and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the Coronation
But the Queen, meanwhile, seemed to have her own worries about her headpiece too, allegedly rushing the pageboys to help her as she said: ‘Quickly quickly, I don’t want it to drop down there. Move it, move it.’
And Khalil shared how the nerves could have been hitting the King and Queen long before the ceremony even kicked off.
Analysing Charles walking into the Abbey, the lip-reader believes he was ‘nervously’ asking the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, questions.
‘What if something goes wrong?’ he asked. ‘That’s the moment I find bothersome. I hope I don’t get anything wrong.’
The Archbishop simply said: ‘Of course.’ To this, the King reiterated: ‘I bloody hope so.’
In other heart-warming family scenes, Khalil offered insights from the Prince and Princess of Wales, who rode in a carriage with their children.
‘Ok wave now, wave to everyone. We’re on TV so be on your best behaviour,’ William reportedly told his family. ‘Everyone seems to be having a jolly time celebrating with us.’
Charles and Camilla’s coronation took place on May 6, 2023 – with thousands braving the rainy weather to take to the streets to watch their procession in the Gold State Coach.
King Charles (pictured centre) after being crowned at Westminster Abbey, London, in May, 2023
King Charles (pictured centre) after being crowned at Westminster Abbey, London, in May, 2023
The deeply religious ceremony in Westminster Abbey was followed by a weekend of celebrations including a pop concert at Windsor, where royals including Prince George and Princess Charlotte danced the night away.
Buckingham Palace finally dropped ‘Consort’ from Camilla’s title, having cautiously let the idea of a new Queen settle into the public’s consciousness in the wake of Elizabeth II’s death.
In the defining moment, St Edward’s Crown was lowered onto the King’s head by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Camilla was also anointed and crowned with Queen Mary’s Crown – a move unthinkable in the 1990s when she was derided for being Charles’s mistress.
The Coronation brought together around 100 heads of state, kings and queens from across the globe, celebrities, everyday heroes and family and friends of the couple.
