Prince Harry being ‘blocked’ by Princess Anne at the coronation ‘wasn’t her choice’
In his new book “The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy,” royal biographer Robert Hardman delves into the intricate details surrounding King Charles’ coronation, including a notable incident involving Princess Anne’s hat.
The book, which has been serialized in the Daily Mail and is set to release on January 18, addresses various aspects of the coronation held at Westminster Abbey in May 2023, along with other significant moments in recent royal history.
One of the more light-hearted moments that caught the public’s attention during the coronation was Princess Anne’s choice of headwear. The Princess Royal, aged 73, opted for a black bicorn hat adorned with a red plume, which was quite large.
Hardman explains in his book that despite concerns about the size of the hat, Princess Anne was encouraged to wear it for the ceremony. This decision inadvertently led to the hat’s feather obstructing Prince Harry’s face in several broadcast shots, sparking social media commentary. However, Hardman clarifies that this was not a deliberate act to block Harry’s view.
Princess Anne’s role in the coronation ceremony was significant. As the Gold-Stick-in-Waiting, she was required to join the procession of 6,000 armed services personnel to Buckingham Palace following the crowning ceremony. Hardman quotes Princess Anne discussing the hat dilemma: “I said: ‘Are you sure you want me to keep the hat on? Because it’s quite a decent-sized hat.’ And the answer was yes. There you go. Not my choice.”
In preparation for the coronation, Princess Anne humorously remarked in an interview with CBC News that her role as Gold-Stick-in-Waiting and wearing the uniform of the Blues and Royals regiment solved her dress dilemma for the historic event. She arrived at the Abbey with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, and sat in front of her nephew, the Duke of Sussex, who had traveled from California for the occasion.
Hardman’s book also sheds light on other poignant royal moments, including the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. He recounts Princess Anne’s experience as she awaited the arrival of her brother, the new sovereign, outside Balmoral Castle following their mother’s death. He details a moment where a staffer, noticing her distress, offered her a brief hug, to which the Princess responded with a wry smile, saying it would be the last time such an event occurred.
Princess Anne was in Scotland coincidentally when Queen Elizabeth’s health deteriorated. Alongside Angela Kelly, the Queen’s senior dresser, and the Rev Kenneth MacKenzie, they took turns by the monarch’s bedside. Hardman also details how Charles and Camilla, now Queen Camilla, spent time with the Queen in her final hours and were summoned back to Balmoral by Princess Anne as the Queen neared her passing.
The book includes a memo from Sir Edward Young, the Queen’s private secretary, describing her final moments as peaceful and painless. This memo, now part of the Royal Archives, offers an intimate glimpse into the Queen’s last moments, adding to the rich tapestry of stories that Hardman presents in his book.