Last Saturday, King Charles III was officially crowned in a lavish ceremony that reportedly cost UK taxpayers as much as £100 million ($125 million) in a time of economic turmoil.
The event was filled with pomp and circumstance, but it seems not everyone was pleased with the proceedings.
A lip reader hired by Sky News claimed during the coronation, Charles complained about various aspects of the event.
In a video posted by Sky News, Charles can be seen appearing displeased while waiting outside Westminster Abbey before the ceremony began.
The video is superimposed with alleged complaints from the King such as "This is boring," "We can never be on time," and "There's always something."
You can see the video below.
\u201cThe King was pictured looking grumpy as he arrived early at Westminster Abbey for the #coronation ceremony\n\nThis is what a lip reader thinks he is saying \ud83d\udc47\n\nRead more: https://t.co/tgsUz6zrBE\u201d— Sky News (@Sky News) 1683497700
While it's difficult to say for certain whether the lip reader's claims are accurate, the footage sparked a debate over whether Charles was truly unhappy with the ceremony.
Some Londoners have taken to social media to express their own dissatisfaction with the event, citing its cost and lack of relevance to their everyday lives.
\u201cCharles has spoken & he thought the \u00a3250m celebration was boring as he had to wait in his golden carriage.\u201d— #Bekind (@#Bekind) 1683528164
\u201cTypical #KingCharles grumpy - will never be as grand as his mother in the reigning role.. Time to end this charade!\nhttps://t.co/GdMwicbWqj\u201d— TweetCanadaGreen (@TweetCanadaGreen) 1683656971
\u201cTrust the new King and Queen of Great Britain to give us drama as the former was spotted complaining to his wife about how elaborative and time-taking the coronation ceremony can be. \n\nhttps://t.co/PAK0krJOxO\u201d— WION (@WION) 1683523200
\u201c"We can never be on time" - he appears to tell Camilla\n\n"There's always something... this is boring"\n\nGood to know even Charles thinks the whole thing is a complete waste of time...\n\nhttps://t.co/4cyK5FMjRs\u201d— Marina Purkiss (@Marina Purkiss) 1683490090
\u201c"This is boring"\n\nI'm so glad King Charles share the same opinion with those of who did not watch his coronation.\u201d— K\u00e1y\u00f2\u0323d\u00e9 \u00d2g\u00fand\u00e1mis\u00ed \ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddec (@K\u00e1y\u00f2\u0323d\u00e9 \u00d2g\u00fand\u00e1mis\u00ed \ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddec) 1683533057
\u201cSo Charles gets \u00a3250mill spent on his coronation & complains to Camilla \u201cthis is boring\u201d. Good to know the King appreciates the \u00a3 spent while millions of his \u201csubjects\u201d are forced to use food banks. Heaven forbid he tried to get a GP appointment or a Dentist in this country. FFS\u201d— Claire #EnoughIsEnough \ud83d\udc99 (@Claire #EnoughIsEnough \ud83d\udc99) 1683489335
\u201c_\n\ud83d\udde3 Your Master, Charles III, the Great, the Illustrious, from the height of his inaccessible Greatness, by grace of God, the Magnanimous King of UK of Great Britain and its other territories, head of Commonwealth, defender of faith, deigns to speak to you: " This is boring "\n_\u201d— \ud83c\uddfe\ud83c\uddea Yemen \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 Ukraine \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf1 \u05d0\u05e8\u05e5 \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc = \ud83d\udca5 or \ud83e\udd1d (@\ud83c\uddfe\ud83c\uddea Yemen \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 Ukraine \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf1 \u05d0\u05e8\u05e5 \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc = \ud83d\udca5 or \ud83e\udd1d) 1683575790
\u201cCharles the Sponger caught complaining to Camilla, \u201cthis is boring\u201d. Perhaps the \u00a3250 million of our money would have been better spent on the NHS or housing for the eldery, not a moaning guy with palaces #coronation \n\nhttps://t.co/PqpXF8xMll\u201d— Spartacus (@Spartacus) 1683543480
The cost of the coronation has been a particular point of contention for many in the UK.
With the country still reeling from the economic impact of the pandemic, some questioned the wisdom of spending so much money on a single event, especially when there are so many pressing issues that need to be addressed.
Others criticized the ceremony for its outdated and antiquated symbolism, which they argue does not reflect the diverse and multicultural society the UK has become. The emphasis on royalty and tradition, they argue, is out of touch with the reality of modern-day Britain.
And King Charles III and Queen Camilla are not as beloved as the late Queen Elizabeth II or Charles' ex-wife Princess Diana. Many cite the couple's adulterous affair while both were married as a reason for public disapproval.
The King himself has not commented on the lip reader's claims, but it's clear the coronation sparked a wider debate about the role and relevance of the monarchy in modern-day Britain.
With so many pressing issues facing the country, many are asking whether the monarchy is still worth the cost and whether it truly reflects the values of the British people.
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The Washington Post