King Charles III couldn’t conceal his emotions when his royal regalia failed him during the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday.
The 75-year-old monarch appeared annoyed when his extravagant Robe of State refused to lay correctly after he sat on the throne for the ceremony in London, marking the second State Opening of Parliament during his reign.
Charles’s embarrassing snafu was caught on camera, and a viral video showing him anxiously instructing a page boy to fix the wardrobe error has already collected more than 1.5 million views.
The ceremony required the cancer-stricken King to wear the Imperial State Crown and the Robe of State. In the clip, he struggled with the garment after sitting on the Sovereign’s Throne next to Queen Camilla.
One of the Pages of Honors seemed confused about how to lay the velvet robe properly, reaching for the material near the King’s right hand before pulling away. The monarch then repeatedly flicked his hand, gesturing to move the royal garb and causing the page boy to rush to his aid.
He flipped the piece of Charles’s robe over to display the inner gold design. The King responded by kindly telling the page boy, “Thank you. Thank you.”
The Page of Honor is a role typically held by “sons of extended family or friends and are usually 10-13 years old,” per Gert’s Royals. The boys are required to wear the traditional red outfits passed down generations, and their tenure is contingent “on how long they can fit into the uniform.” It was an honor bestowed on Prince George during his grandfather’s Coronation in May 2023.
King Charles isn’t the only royal to face a wardrobe blunder this week. As The Post reported, Camilla was caught struggling with her coat in the rain on Monday during an official trip to the Channel Islands.
Charles failed to hide his annoyance again, reportedly getting into a heated exchange with one of his aides. Expert lip reader Jacqui Press told the Daily Mail that the King shouted, “Come and help her!” while his wife fumbled with her jacket in the storm.
The monarch returned to royal duties at the end of April after disclosing in February that he had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing treatment.
“During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted,” the palace announced in a statement via email. “Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer.”
It was later confirmed that Charles did not have prostate cancer.
The King’s diagnosis came just weeks before Kate Middleton’s own cancer struggle was revealed. The Princess of Wales, 42, made a rare public appearance at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships on Sunday.
During the event, she looked radiant in a purple dress while being greeted with a standing ovation from the audience. Palace insiders shared that the appearance has “given her sustenance.”
“She has gone through something awful and stressful, and it is crucial to have little wins to look forward to or to give you the courage and energy to go forward. And this was it,” a source told People.
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