Real reason royals were late to coronation as Catherine dazzles at garden party
The mystery behind the Wales family’s coronation drama is revealed as Princess Catherine dazzles at a garden party. See the new photos.
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It’s the mystery that left royal fans baffled as they tuned in to watch the arrival of King Charles and Queen Camilla at the coronation.
The King and Queen were left awkwardly waiting in their Diamond Jubilee State Coach when they arrived five minutes before the ceremony was due to start.
The royal pair could not enter Westminster Abbey before Prince William and Princess Catherine, who had not yet arrived with their children.
Buckingham Palace had released the Order of Service ahead of the coronation, which confirmed the Wales family was supposed to arrive before King Charles and Queen Camilla.
According to Omid Scobie, Harper’s Bazaar royal reporter and an ally of Meghan Markle, the Wales children “were to blame” for the family’s lateness.
He wrote: “The room for error was nil. And thankfully, due to the weeks of rehearsals that the royals took part in ahead of the coronation, the day went ahead smoothly.
“In fact, apart from Prince William and Princess Kate joining the procession late (children were to blame, a source tells me), and Camilla’s ladies in attendance - sister Annabel Elliot, and queen’s companion the Marchioness of Lansdowne - accidentally creating an unfortunate wedgie moment out of her silk Bruce Oldfield dress on the way into the Abbey, very few hitches took place.”
Scobie also wrote that Ms Markle “didn’t feel comfortable or welcome enough” to attend the coronation.
He said: “While Charles clearly has an interest in enhancing diversity, it was impossible to ignore the fact that the royal family’s only family member of colour (and mother of the House of Windsor’s only mixed-race children), Duchess Meghan, didn’t feel comfortable or welcome enough to attend.”
KATE DAZZLES AT GARDEN PARTY
Prince William and Princess Catherine heard how a 93-year-old woman camped out for three nights to see the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
The royals were all smiles talking to Dame Elizabeth Watts, who has been alive for the three coronations of three British monarchs and who was among thousands at Buckingham Palace for a garden party to celebrate the work of volunteers, military personnel and members of the public.
“I came to Elizabeth’s coronation and slept on the pavement for three nights,” said Dame Elizabeth, of Solihull.
“I had measles for George’s coronation when I was seven years old. Of course, there was no television then so I couldn’t watch it but we had an accumulator radio.”
Instead of the radio, Dame Elizabeth watch King Charles’ coronation on the television and celebrated at a street party on Monday.
“I had to recuperate ready to come here,” she said. “It means absolutely everything [to be at the garden party]. I was so surprised, I was nominated by St John Ambulance Service because I’ve done 79 years of voluntary service and when I was invited I was just amazed.”
Among the people waiting to meet the Princess of Wales was Aldith Grandison, 93, and her daughter and carer Jay Cee La Bouche, 56, who were representing Carers UK.
“I’m over the moon to meet Kate and be here with all these people. My daughter Jay Cee is my rock. This is a memory of a lifetime, I will never forget this,” Ms Grandison said.
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Originally published as Real reason royals were late to coronation as Catherine dazzles at garden party
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