Princess Anne's 'concern' over hat at King Charles' coronation amid claims it 'obscured Prince Harry's view'
It's been three years since the king's coronation ceremonyAnne, Princess Royal, reportedly raised concerns about the size of her hat ahead of King Charles’ coronation, following suggestions it obstructed Prince Harry’s view during the ceremony at Westminster Abbey last May.
Her prominent red feathered bicorn hat quickly drew attention during the service. Social media users speculated that it had been deliberately positioned to block the Duke of Sussex, whose relationship with the royals has been strained for some time.
The moment became a talking point online, spawning a wave of memes in the days that followed.
Princess Anne’s hat at King Charles’ coronation
Details surrounding the incident later emerged in Robert Hardman’s book, Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story, which chronicled the first year of the king’s reign.
As reported by The Daily Mail, the book offered insight into the arrangements for the historic ceremony. It also addressed the claims surrounding Princess Anne’s seating and attire.
According to the book, Prince Harry sat in the third row of the royal section, directly behind his aunt, who wore the striking headpiece throughout the service.
Hardman wrote that speculation about the seating arrangement being intentional is unfounded, noting that such considerations would not factor into official planning.
The Princess Royal herself was quoted reflecting on the matter. She allegedly said: “The hat was an interesting question. 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.”
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The account also suggested that her seating position was adjusted to allow for a quicker exit, rather than any effort to obscure the view of others.
Harry and Anne’s interaction at coronation
During the ceremony, cameras also captured a brief interaction between Princess Anne and Prince Harry.
A lip-reading expert later indicated that the duke appeared to reassure his aunt, reportedly saying: “I don’t mind,” and suggesting she “sit at the front,” in what was interpreted as a light-hearted exchange.
I said: ‘Are you sure you want me to keep the hat on? Because it’s quite a decent-sized hat.’
Hardman’s book further shed light on the relationship between the two, including Princess Anne’s role in welcoming Harry to Balmoral following the death of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II. The duke described the encounter in his memoir, Spare, recalling how his aunt greeted him warmly upon arrival at the Scottish estate.
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He wrote: “Hunched against the cold, I hurried into the foyer. Aunt Anne was there to greet me. I hugged her. Where’s Pa and Willy? And Camilla? Gone to Birkhall, she said. She asked if I wanted to see Granny. Yes… I do. She led me upstairs, to Granny’s bedroom. I braced myself, went in.”
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