With months of preparation and days after days of rehearsals, the run-up to the coronation of King Charles III appeared to have taken its toll on everyone involved.
A source said that after hours of sitting through the different parts of the practice sessions for the event, bishops messed up their lines and a text from Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953 was used instead of an updated version.
The King was seen to be looking worn down and glum on his throne in Westminster Abbey during the rehearsal for the long-running, formal ceremony.
However, he appeared to look brighter and perkier upon spotting his grandson, Prince Louis, who was standing near him, reports the Express.
The five-year-old prince was said to have brought some levity to a tense practice session.
The source said that during two full rehearsals on the same day, it took Charles spotting Louis to bring some levity to a tense practice session.
He said: “It was a long day and everyone was getting a little tired and stressed. Even the King began to look a little worn down. He was sitting on the throne looking glum.
“Then suddenly he looked to the side and saw Prince Louis standing beside him. His eyes lit up and he said, ‘Hello, Louis. I didn’t see you there.’ You could see how much he adored the little boy. He put an arm around him and began showing him all the regalia.
“He explained everything to him and pointed out the different gems. In that snapshot the two of them seemed completely entranced. It was lovely to watch.”
On the day, Louis was seen letting out a big yawn, while also taking the opportunity to point out something of interest to his sister Princess Charlotte. He yawned again shortly after the King was crowned.
The Princess of Wales was also seen bending down to talk to her youngest son before he briefly left the two-hour-long ceremony, but he returned to sing the national anthem at the end of the service.
Louis then seemed enthralled by the crowds along the Mall as he travelled to Buckingham Palace by coach, and was seen chatting to his father while on the balcony with his family enjoying the Red Arrows flypast.
Last year he was seen letting out a howl and clapping his hands over his ears on the Buckingham Palace balcony during the Platinum Jubilee flypast as his “Gan Gan”, the late Queen, explained to him what was happening.
His older brother Prince George took on his biggest role yet on the world stage last week as he carried his grandfather’s coronation robes as one of four pages.
