We’ve all been there.
Well, if not at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, at least in the awkward position of struggling for someone’s name.
Channel Nine presenters (and veteran reporters) Peter Overton and Tracy Grimshaw struggled to place the UK prime minister as she – along with about 500 heads of state and dignitaries – filed into Westminster Abbey for the Queen’s funeral.
As Liz Truss and husband, Hugh O’Leary, headed inside, Grimshaw asked: “Who’s this?”
“Hard to identify,” Overton replied. “Maybe, uh, minor royals … I can’t identify them at this point.”
“We can’t spot everyone,” Grimshaw said.
To be fair, the Queen only appointed Truss two days before she died.
Overton later blamed the slip up on problems with the live feed.
We were relying on a video feed for live stream of arrivals. At times the video would freeze so we’d turn around to try to catch a glimpse. I do know what British PM, Liz Truss looks like.The back of her hat,not so much! @9NewsSyd
— Peter Overton (@PeterOverton) September 20, 2022
The Aussies weren’t alone in failing to perfectly match names to faces during the ceremony. Some watching the BBC’s coverage speculated that UK presenters at the national broadcaster did not know who the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, was.
Rather than guess, though, the BBC presenters let the silence speak for itself.
“It’s clear the commentators have no idea who he is,” author Jane Caro tweeted as Albanese and his partner, Jodie Haydon, entered the building.
BBC focuses on Albo entering the church - it’s clear the commentators have no idea who he is.
— Jane Caro (@JaneCaro) September 19, 2022
Events in the wake of the Queen’s death were meticulously planned, and known as Operation London Bridge. Everything from a social media blackout to the precise route of her coffin’s procession were part of the project.
Perhaps a handy, pictorial guide to those invited into Westminster Abbey might have helped.
