The Prince and Princess of Wales: The World's Most Awkward Couple
The Prince and Princess of Wales have found themselves in the spotlight for being dubbed the world’s most awkward couple. During a recent royal visit, Princess Catherine made a rather relatable blunder but quickly learned from the mishap.
When she and her husband, Prince William, first met at the University of St. Andrews, they were just friends before their relationship blossomed romantically. They dated for several years and, despite a brief breakup, finally announced their engagement in 2010. Throughout their long relationship, Catherine learned to navigate the intense public scrutiny that comes with being part of the royal family. However, she still retained her private persona, and adjusting to her official royal duties required time.
After their marriage, Catherine was gradually eased into public life, allowing her to learn the ropes while caring for their growing family. During the 2023 Royal Ascot, the couple had a particularly awkward exchange that was captured in photos and video clips, leaving onlookers cringing. In one video, Princess Catherine can be seen stretching her arm out and placing her hand on Prince William, seemingly resting it on his backside. William's reaction—looking down and then awkwardly over at Catherine—was filled with sheer discomfort. Spectators couldn’t help but comment, with one asking, “Was he sore?” while another noted, “I can’t tell by the video whether he’s annoyed with her or not.”
Catherine has openly admitted that royal engagements take some getting used to, and even the most innocuous interactions require adjustments in formal settings. She once shared that during her early engagements, she would often get so carried away chatting with people that she would lose track of time. Her enthusiasm for conversation became somewhat of an inside joke within the House of Windsor. More recently, at a high-profile wedding event in Jordan, William was spotted signaling to his wife to wrap up her conversation, indicating that her love of a good chinwag is still very much alive. Given that she lived in Jordan as a child, it's understandable that she had plenty to discuss with the newlywed Crown Prince Al Hussein of Jordan and Princess Raja.
Catherine also expressed her gratitude that the late Queen Elizabeth was there to guide her during her early days in royal life, a testament to the Queen's caring nature. The coronation of King Charles in May 2023 attracted millions of viewers eager to witness the historic spectacle brimming with pomp and pageantry. While the proceedings appeared flawless to outsiders, a minor hiccup in timing led to a significant blunder that left the king frustrated.
Royal events demand precise timing, with every moment meticulously planned. Even a slight disruption, such as a few minutes' delay, can have major repercussions. The day after the coronation, it was reported that Prince William and Princess Catherine were slightly late leaving the service, which affected the schedule for the king, queen, and their two younger children, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The Wales family was supposed to arrive eight minutes ahead of Charles and Camilla but ended up arriving after them due to the delay. This left the new king and queen waiting outside Westminster Abbey in their carriages—a less than regal situation.
Cameras captured Charles expressing his frustration, with lip readers conveying that he said, “We can never be on time; there’s always something. This is boring.” Some speculated that the Wales family was late due to their desire to create a memorable coronation video, while others reported that the king's car was simply early, resulting in the car carrying his family being caught behind the king’s procession when they should have been ahead.
