Welcome to this week’s special Coronation edition of to get all the latest royal news and gossip with Tom Sykes and Tim Teeman.
Prince Louis remains king of the funny face
He did it again. Prince William and Kate Middleton’s youngest, whose mugging was a viral centerpiece of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, returned to facially slay at King Charles’ coronation. As the New York Post reported, he started with some epic yawning, and then looking stunned at his mother in all her finery.
But these were mere apéritifs for—once in the carriage taking the family back to Buckingham Palace—pouting with raised hand, then some wide, toothy grins, some open-mouthed looks of surprise, and then some wide open-eyed, stunned facial freezing. On the palace balcony, Louis’ mouth was agape at all the spectacle. And, as social media commenters noted, his yawning also spoke for a great many watching.
Britain’s Prince Louis yawns as he arrives at Westminster Abbey for King Charles’ coronation ceremony, in London, Britain May 6, 2023.
REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
BRITAIN-ROYALS/CORONATION
Prince Louis and the Princess of Wales at the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in Westminster Abbey, London.
Victoria Jones/Pool via REUTERS
Prince Louis of Wales and Prince George of Wales travel back to Buckingham Palace from Westminster Abbey, following Britain’s King Charles’ coronation ceremony, in London, Britain May 6, 2023.
Jack Boskett/Pool via REUTERS
Britain’s Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and their children Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Marc Aspland/Pool via REUTERS
Meghan in disguise? Sadly not
In all the social media joshing of the day, one of the funniest was the enthusiasm for the idea that Meghan Markle had sneaked into the Coronation in disguise. The cause? Step forward legendary composer Sir Karl Jenkins, who social media wags judged to have the kind of looks that could be concealing—well—another person entirely. It wasn’t true, but it produced some fun gags and speculation. As one Twitter user said, “Meghan’s disguise worked a treat.”
Critical eye
Britain’s largely right-leaning newspapers are awash with patriotic Coronation fervor today, as one would expect, but a few contrary voices have managed to smuggle themselves into even the most dutiful of publications. Michael Deacon in the Telegraph, for example, couldn’t help engaging in some light mockery, observing that the “inelegant placing of St Edward’s Crown upon the King’s head by the Archbishop of Canterbury” made it look “as if he was struggling to fit the lid on a recalcitrant jam jar.”
Sarah Vine in the pro-royal Daily Mail allowed herself a comment on the king’s “rather wistful air” and the queen’s apparent nervousness, adding: “The King looked weary and at times a little peeved…The whole thing started to feel a bit pedantic, a bit gluten-free granola. Some of the assembled great and good, who had been in their seats for hours, began to look glassy-eyed.”
“This does not feel like a moment of renewal. Savvily managed decline is perhaps the best Charles can hope for.”
— Josh Glancy, The Sunday Times
While it’s no surprise that the left-leaning Guardian was largely not a huge fan of the event, the ever-brilliant John Crace’s review is a wonderful read, in which he says of Charles: “He could take the trinkets but the obligations of kingship were too heavy a burden. Luckily, for once the pen with which he had to sign his name worked perfectly. Otherwise he might have snapped.”
In the Sunday Times, Josh Glancy wrote in his survey of the day’s events: “‘I come not to be served, but to serve,’” Charles told the world in his deep, familiar, patrician baritone. Yet he cannot come close to matching his mother’s service, in length or acclaim, and he knows it. This does not feel like a moment of renewal. Savvily managed decline is perhaps the best Charles can hope for.”
What did you miss?
The Daily Beast covered all aspects of King Charles’ Coronation Saturday, but if any royal fans out there missed any of the articles and want to immerse themselves in the news and color of the day, grab a cuppa or beverage of choice, a comfy chair, and enjoy.
The ceremony itself, as King Charles and Queen Camilla were finally crowned
Prince Harry immediately jetted out of the country after the service
How Princess Anne won the day, with swagger—and a viral sensation hat
Prince Harry not on palace balcony—but Camilla’s grandchildren are
Royals reveal behind-the-scenes images from the big day
King Charles’ equerry caused a mass horniness outbreak—again
Processional horse crashes into barrier at Coronation
Charles and William’s tender moment in the Abbey
Jill Biden and her granddaughter wear their support of Ukraine
Jill Biden loved the “surreal” ceremony, and then went to afternoon tea
Katy Perry responds after viral Coronation seat confusion
Prince Harry arrives at the Coronation
This week in royal history
Well, from one Coronation to memories of another—George VI’s—which happened on May 12, 1937.
Unanswered questions
Did Prince Harry share any words with his dad and his brother while he was back in Britain? Are the royals planning any surprises for the next two days of Coronation celebrations, including tonight’s pop concert? And will the Coronation ultimately be successful in convincing people the royals are still fit for purpose?
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