Despite his composed appearance on his coronation day, King Charles III has admitted to feeling “slightly anxious” during the ceremony on May 6, 2023. In a candid moment featured in a new documentary, the monarch revealed his concerns about the weighty St Edward’s Crown, which is a significant five pounds.
“The big one that you’re crowned with, the St Edward’s Crown, is much heavier and taller. There’s always that feeling of being slightly anxious, in case it wobbles,” he shared.
The historic event saw the Archbishop of Canterbury place the crown on Charles’ head as he sat in the 700-year-old Coronation Chair, the same one his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, used for her own coronation.
The revelation comes as part of Coronation Girls, a FeltFilm documentary following the story of 50 young Canadian women who attended Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953. Decades later, 12 of them returned to London to retrace their steps and met King Charles.
In the documentary, Charles shared a charming memory of his mother preparing for her coronation by practicing with the crown, even during bath time with him and Princess Anne.
“My mama used to come up at bath time wearing the crown to practice. You have to get used to how heavy it is. I’ve never forgotten that—it’s such a vivid memory,” he said.
The late Queen Elizabeth II, renowned for her grace and poise in public, balanced her royal duties with her roles as a mother and grandmother. Stories from her summers at Balmoral highlight her ability to enjoy a simpler life away from royal protocol.
Paul Burrell, her former butler, once revealed on Vicky Pattison’s The Secret Podcast that the Queen even enjoyed doing the washing up during picnics at Balmoral. “She puts on the Marigolds and stands at the sink washing up, with her lady-in-waiting drying,” he said.
This sentiment was echoed by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who recalled seeing her wash dishes during a stay at Balmoral with his wife, Cherie. “She puts the gloves on, stacks the plates, and heads to the sink. It’s no joke; I saw it with my own eyes,” Blair recounted.
Such anecdotes offer a rare glimpse into the humanity of the royal family, showing a side of Queen Elizabeth and King Charles that resonates deeply with the public.
