Nine presenters don’t recognise UK Prime Minister during Queen’s funeral

Whoops. Nine’s Peter Overton and Tracy Grimshaw suffered an awkward gaffe as they covered the arrivals at the Queen’s funeral.

There was an awkward gaffe during Nine’s live coverage of the Queen’s funeral as the presenters momentarily seemed unable to recognise the UK’s new Prime Minister, Liz Truss.

Nine on-air personalities Peter Overton and Tracy Grimshaw were both unable to recognise Truss as she emerged from a car to attend the funeral.

Australian presenters Peter Overton and Tracy Grimshaw unable to identify UK PM Liz Truss. pic.twitter.com/uG0eQPqBqN

— Shahryar Sultan (@Shahryar_Sultan) September 19, 2022

“So, this is a significant motorcade, we are being told now. Come with us as we try and identify who is getting out of the car. This is under police escort of course. I would suggest this might be royalty, Tracy,” said Overton.

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Peter Overton outside Buckingham Palace.

British Prime Minister Liz Truss arrives. Picture: Oli SCARFF / AFP

But as Truss emerged, the pair were stumped: “Hard to identify. Maybe minor royals, members of the … I can’t identify them at this point …”

As viewers at home yelled at their televisions, “THAT’S LIZ TRUSS!”, some took to social media:

Happened to be passing by the living room in my house where my family are watching the Queen’s funeral.

Tracy Grimshaw: …and we’re not sure who this is who has arrived. Unfortunately we can’t identify everyone, they look like local dignitaries.”

It was Liz Truss.

I howled.

— Zazrit: Pandemic Edition (WEAR A MASK) (@zazrit) September 19, 2022

Lol Liz Truss just misidentified as a ‘minor Royal’ by whoever is commentating on channel 9.

— Amanda 💉💉💉 (@tartanthermos) September 19, 2022

Peter Overton and Tracy Grimshaw having no idea who Liz Truss - the new British Prime Minister - is during the live coverage of the Queen’s funeral was so *awks*

— Rebekah Scanlan (@rebekahscanlan) September 19, 2022

Peter Overton - “ I’m not sure who that is - minor royals I think” as the New British PM gets it if the car. #doyourresearchpete#queensfuneral

— Dee Peak 🎀 (@peakydee) September 19, 2022

Good job Peter Overton 😂😂
Didn't know the new PM

— Melanie (@melleegee) September 19, 2022

Shortly after, Overton relayed the intel they’d just been given.

“I’m told that was Liz Truss the new Prime Minister in the distance, she could see hopping out of the car. Thank you very much for that information,” he said.

As they crossed to their Nine co-stars Karl Stefanovic, Ally Langdon and UK royal expert Dickie Arbiter, they conceded that their British guest might be better placed to spot some of the famous faces arriving.

“Karl and Ally, and Dickie, Dickie particularly, you’ll be spotting these faces and recognising them better than us, I think,” Overton said.

Truss was, of course, famously the last world leader photographed with the Queen on what was to be the monarch’s final official duty, just 48 hours before her death.

The Queen formally appointed Truss as the new Prime Minister with a special audience at Balmoral.

The meeting on September 6 was the first time the Queen has held the event outside of London or Windsor.

She had been moved to Balmoral in her final months amid concerns for her mobility.