King Charles Receives Sharp Rebuke from Camilla Over Coronation Expletive
A remarkable new documentary series has unveiled a strikingly human moment from King Charles's coronation, revealing that the monarch received a stern scolding from his wife, Queen Camilla, after uttering a swear word. The Channel 5 programme, Lip-Reading The Royals: What Are They Really Saying?, employs forensic lip readers to analyse footage from the historic event on May 6, 2023, exposing the private exchanges behind the public grandeur.
A Moment of Frustration and a Royal Reprimand
As the newly crowned King departed Westminster Abbey, visibly exhausted by the day's immense pressures, he let out a sigh before muttering, "f*** me" upon entering the carriage. Forensic lip reader Nicola Hickling, featured in the documentary airing this Saturday, detailed the immediate response from Queen Camilla. "And then very quickly Camilla responds, 'frankly, I don't want to hear that'," Hickling reported.
Body language expert Adrianne Carter interpreted this exasperated expletive as a clear sign of "the royals being as human as you and I". Royal analyst Cristo Foufas elaborated, noting the contrast between public perception and private reality. "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!" Foufas observed that Charles sat down "after effing and jeffing after obviously feeling very very worn out", with Camilla's reprimand swiftly following.
Attempts to Diffuse Tension and Further Exchanges
The documentary suggests Camilla quickly attempted to lighten the mood after her initial admonishment. Nicola Hickling indicated that the Queen appeared to tell Charles, "Perhaps we should run off somewhere... don't wallow." To this, the King reportedly retorted sharply, "I don't have to smile." The lip-reader added that Charles then "grumbled" sarcastically, saying, "Oh we have to be happy and have manners do we?"
In a final carriage exchange captured by the experts, Camilla simply asked, "Are you alright?" Charles's blunt reply was, "No, not really." Former Royal Press Secretary Dickie Arbiter expressed sympathy for the monarch's plight. "I am with the King on this," Arbiter stated. "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."
Pre-Ceremony Nerves and Balcony Anxieties
The programme reveals that Charles's frustrations and anxieties extended beyond the carriage. Forensic lip reader Khalil Anwar detailed how the King was terrified his two-kilogram crown might topple over while on the Buckingham Palace balcony. "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."
Queen Camilla, meanwhile, seemed equally concerned about her own headpiece, allegedly urging pageboys with the words, "Quickly quickly, I don't want it to drop down there. Move it, move it." Khalil Anwar also analysed footage of Charles entering Westminster Abbey, suggesting the King was "nervously" questioning the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. "What if something goes wrong?" Charles asked. "That's the moment I find bothersome. I hope I don't get anything wrong." The Archbishop reassured him with, "Of course," to which the King reiterated, "I bloody hope so."
Family Moments and Coronation Context
In contrast to these tense exchanges, the documentary also captured heart-warming family scenes. Khalil Anwar offered insights into the carriage ride of the Prince and Princess of Wales with their children. Prince William was reportedly heard instructing his family, "Ok wave now, wave to everyone. We're on TV so be on your best behaviour. Everyone seems to be having a jolly time celebrating with us."
The coronation itself was a landmark event, with thousands braving rainy weather to witness the procession in the Gold State Coach. The deeply religious ceremony at Westminster Abbey was followed by a weekend of celebrations, including a pop concert at Windsor where younger royals like Prince George and Princess Charlotte enjoyed themselves. Notably, Buckingham Palace formally dropped "Consort" from Camilla's title, solidifying her position as Queen. In a defining moment, St Edward's Crown was placed on Charles's head by the Archbishop, while Camilla was anointed and crowned with Queen Mary's Crown—a significant progression from her once-controversial role as Charles's mistress.
The event gathered approximately 100 heads of state, global royalty, celebrities, everyday heroes, and friends of the couple. Lip-Reading The Royals: What Are They Really Saying? airs on Channel 5 at 8.15pm on Saturday 28th February, offering an unprecedented glimpse into the unscripted humanity behind one of Britain's most ceremonial occasions.
