A former lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret has described the moment she saw the late Queen Elizabeth II scold a young Prince William. Lady Anne Glenconner, who also served as a maid of honour at the late monarch's coronation in 1953, was Margaret's lady-in-waiting for 29 years.
It was during a visit to Balmoral Castle for a Royal Family get together in 1990 that Lady Glenconner witnessed the future heir to the throne being told off by the longest reigning monarch in British history. Said gathering also reportedly included the then-Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Princess Diana, Prince Harry and Princess Margaret's son David Linley.
Lady Glenconner recalls the telling off
It is one of many tales that Lady Glenconner speaks of in her upcoming royal memoir Trunks and Tiaras, which is due for release later this week on October 8.
Speaking to the Daily Mail on their Palace Confidential podcast, Lady Glenconner, 94, remembered how she first became aware of the telling off.
She said: "Well, well, um. Princess Margaret, I think she was in her wheelchair anyway. I was waiting for her and I just heard the raised voice outside and looked out, and there was the Queen and there was Prince William on his pony."
Upon seeing what was going on, Lady Glenconner went to ask Margaret for more information, at which point the Queen's only sibling assured her that she would find out.
Prince William had ridden off without telling the grooms
Lady Glenconner added that it turned out the future King had broken off from the group whilst out riding his pony, something that had greatly panicked the attending grooms.
She said: "Evidently, Prince William had been out riding with all his cousins and the grooms, and had peeled away without telling the grooms.
"And they had come back to Balmoral without telling them and, of course, the grooms are frantic, you know, thinking he might have fallen off or hurt his head.
"And, quite rightly, the Queen was telling him in no uncertain terms, you know, that that was not the right way to behave. It was rather like if one's child races out into the main road, you know, and grabs them and gives them a telling off, but that was all."
Another scolding at Trooping the Colour
However, this wouldn't be the final time the late Queen would scold her grandson, with Hello! reporting she was "not impressed" by a 33-year-old William when he appeared alongside her at Trooping the Colour in 2016. The heir to the throne got himself into trouble when he bent down to have a chat with his son, Prince George.
According to the publication, the monarch is alleged to have told him: "Stand up, William."
Speaking about the matter reporter Jack White added: "Her Majesty was not impressed. Clearly aware of the fact that thousands of eyes were on them, she appeared to tell her grandchild to stand up. And William did not waste any time in following granny's orders."
