After the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, her son Charles became king. On Saturday, May 6th, 2023, King Charles III and Queen Camilla were crowned at Westminster Abbey with great splendor. However, beneath the grandeur of the occasion, royal tensions were simmering.
Tom Bower, a royal biographer, claimed that Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, disregarded her years of royal etiquette training during the coronation event. According to the New York Post, Bower stated that the Princess of Wales was particularly upset with the newly crowned Queen Camilla and refused to bow to her as she left Westminster Abbey. The reason for Kate’s frustration reportedly stemmed from the guest list. While the King and Princess of Wales were allowed to invite only four members of the Middleton family, Queen Camilla had 20 guests in attendance.
The tension between Camilla and Kate grew, according to Bower. He also claimed that individuals who had helped Camilla transition from being known as King Charles’ mistress to becoming Queen were not invited to the high-profile event. During the royal celebration, Camilla reportedly wanted her children and grandchildren to be at the center of attention. Reports suggest that Kate became furious when her siblings were not allowed to bring their partners.
On the UK television program “Dan Wootton Tonight,” Bower stated that Camilla invited 20 members of the Parker Bowles family to the coronation, while only four members of the Middleton family were allowed. Additionally, Kate’s siblings’ spouses were not permitted to accompany them. Bower explained that if you watch the coronation footage closely, you’ll notice that everyone bows and curtsies to the King, but no one reacts when Queen Camilla walks by. He added that this was because people were upset with Camilla.
The royal biographer further mentioned that many individuals who had helped Camilla ascend to her role as Queen were excluded from the celebration and felt slighted by their omission. Reportedly, William and Kate were also furious, and their anger was evident during the ceremony. According to Bower, it was noticeable that Kate did not bow to Queen Camilla, and this tension was still apparent the following day during the coronation concert at Windsor.
During his speech at the concert, Prince William made no mention of Queen Camilla, further highlighting the strain in their relationship. Bower added that in the weeks leading up to the coronation, Camilla appeared exhausted, and the event seemed to have taken a toll on her. He noted that those who met her before the coronation could see that she was tired, worn out, and feeling the effects of her age.