Unusual reason Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton were late to King Charles’ coronation

King Charles was seen looking frustrated when Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton were late for his coronation alongside Queen Camilla – but it was down to an error out of their hands.

It’s said the King was upset by the ordeal, which was watched by millions of people around the world. It was cost the taxpayer a hefty sum. King Charles’ coronation was planned meticulously for several months, and the royals undertook rehearsals for his big day.

However, a small coronation error was caught on camera, and King Charles was not best pleased by Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton being late.

King Charles wasn’t happy with Prince Charles and Princess Kate Middleton being late at his coronation

In the book Charles III, Robert Hardman wrote that Princess Kate Middleton and Prince William were late with their young children to King Charles‘ coronation by a minute and a half.

This meant Charles and Queen Camilla were left sitting in the Golden State Coach. The procession to Westminster Abbey was meant to take 33 minutes but was short by seven minutes and only took 26.

“Unbeknown to them, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their two younger children are running a minute and a half late. The Waleses are supposed to be there eight minutes ahead of the King and Queen. Yet they will now arrive after them,” he claimed.

He continued by saying it added a “layer of stress” to the coronation, which took place nearly seven months after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Hardman added: “Although the congregation inside the abbey don’t know it, there is an awkward scene unfolding outside as the King and Queen remain in their coach. It is an added layer of stress that the couple really do not want or need on a day like this.”

‘Frantic rewriting of the running order’

The author claimed Princess Kate Middleton and Prince William being late meant there was “some frantic rewriting of the running order” for King Charles’ coronation.

They ended up being behind the king’s coach when they should have been in front of it. Hardman suggested the royal couple’s decision to make a video on the important day caused the delay.

Hardman added: “Conflicting sources will suggest that the Waleses’ decision to make a Coronation Day video has added precious seconds to their schedule and made them late. Kensington Palace staff working for the Waleses say that because the King was early, the car carrying William and Catherine was caught behind his procession when it should have been ahead.”

He continued: “The Prince of Wales’s equerry, Commander Rob Dixon, will take a fair amount of flak, nonetheless. It is unusual for the two most important arrivals at such a significant event, and over such a well-trodden route, to be so unpunctual.”

“The result is some frantic rewriting of the running order. There isn’t time for the Waleses and their two younger children to enter ahead of the King and Queen. They must now follow behind and bring up the rear.”

However, he speculated it could have been down to nerves from the pair about those who were protesting.

“One factor, unspoken, may have been nervousness about street protests. More than 11,500 police have been drafted in from all over the country, making this the largest police operation ever mounted in London.”

Coronation lip reader catches King Charles’ reaction to Prince William and Kate Middleton being late

A lipreader claimed King Charles made his annoyance at Kate Middleton and Prince William being late to his coronation well known.

They caught him saying statements such as “We can never be on time…” and “There’s always something…. This is boring.”

Bishop of Chelmsford, Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani said after the ceremony there had been “one or two” hiccups but emphasised he wasn’t trying to point the finger at anybody in particular.

It wasn’t Kate and William’s fault

However, a source later said that it wasn’t the coronation video nor the new Prince and Princess of Wales’ fault for the ordeal.

They claimed it was down to the horses pulling the Diamond Jubilee State Coach.

An insider told The Telegraph that it made the King and Queen very early, throwing the running order out of whack.

“When they did the dress rehearsal it was the middle of the night so the horses were quite sleepy and took their time.

“But on the day of the Coronation, they were wide awake and consequently went a lot faster than they had in the practice. That’s what threw the timings out.”