King Charles III was seen expressing his frustration on camera while waiting for his coronation ceremony to begin. The video clip has gone viral, with people around the globe wondering what might have agitated the King and what he could have said to his wife, Camilla.
The royal couple’s impatience resulted from the late arrival of Prince William, Kate, and their children at Westminster Abbey. The delay caused them to join the procession behind King Charles, rather than preceding him into the Abbey.
Independent lip readers have analyzed the footage and come to the conclusion that Charles was voicing his annoyance during the wait. One lip reader suggested he said, “I’m worried about time, I mean it’s been longer this time and, well… I mean look! I know.” Another offered an alternative interpretation, proposing that he said, “We can never be on time. Yes, I’m…this is a negative. There’s always something.”
A behind-the-scenes video released by Kensington Palace on Monday showed William, Kate, and their children rushing to a vehicle to get to the coronation ceremony in time.
Since his mother’s passing last year, King Charles has been in the spotlight for several brief outbursts of anger, including two incidents caught on film. In one case, he curtly instructed an aide to clear his desk, and in another, he grew irate over a malfunctioning pen as he signed crucial documents.
Another unscripted moment involving the King occurred during the coronation concert. Host Hugh Bonneville – yes… the actor from Downton Abbey! – began his speech by congratulating the new King and Queen, then acknowledged Charles’ passion for the arts. He mentioned that Charles is a painter and made a witty reference to the artist formerly known as Prince, causing Charles to briefly laugh before quickly frowning.
Ultimately, these episodes serve as a reminder that even a King is human, with emotions and reactions (and family drama!) like anyone else.