Prince William and Kate Middleton suffered a royal mishap at King Charles' 2023 coronation. The historic ceremony took place at Westminster Abbey, where the reigning monarch was officially crowned king following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022.
While the coronation seemed to go off without a hitch, with millions watching at home, royal biographer Robert Hardman claimed the Prince and Princess of Wales were late to the ceremony.
In his recently published book The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy, Hardman claimed that King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived at the coronation venue early, while William and Kate were a minute and a half behind.
"The Welsh were supposed to arrive eight minutes before the King and Queen. However, they will now arrive after them," Hardman wrote, adding that the scheduling confusion came as the King and Queen arrived in their carriage. There was an "awkward scene" outside Westminster Abbey. "On a day like this, the couple really doesn't want or need that extra stress," he added.
In the book, the biographer adds that royal sources have different theories as to why William and Kate were late, with one suggesting that the couple's decision to film a coronation day video may have caused them to be delayed on the big day.
Hardman added: "It is unusual for two of the most important figures to arrive so late at such an important event, on such a well-trodden route." "The Welsh family and their two young children There is no time for the children to get in before the king and queen. They must follow behind now and rush in last."
Prince George makes history
Although the family arrived late, the couple's eldest child, Prince George, arrived in time to serve as page of honor at his grandfather's coronation, making him the youngest heir to the throne in history to attend the ceremony.
"We are all very excited about Prince George's role in the coronation," a Kensington Palace spokesman said at the time. "This will be a very special moment."
