King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend the Commonwealth Day service (Image: Getty)
King Charles issued Queen Camilla a brief three-word instruction during the annual Commonwealth Day service this afternoon. This is according to expert lip reader Jeremy Freeman who examined footage from Westminster Abbey.
It revealed Charles and Camilla acknowledging Prince William and Catherine who were also observed having an exchange with Princess Anne. The senior royals had just reached the church when their interactions were captured on camera.
However, after exchanging pleasantries, Charles suddenly seemed to notice that the service was about to commence, and according to Jeremy, he told his wife: “Quick, over here.”
Moments beforehand, Camilla greeted William by reportedly saying: “Hello darling, good to see you.”
She was also spotted blowing a kiss to Catherine before the pair laughed together.
Prince William and King Charles during the 2026 Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey (Image: Getty Images)
And at the beginning of the clip, which concluded with Charles’s instruction to Camilla, William was observed having a private exchange with Anne.
She had her back turned to the camera, but in response to something she said, he changed the subject by saying: “I agree of course, that’s another conversation.”
There were considerable protests outside the church from the anti-monarchist group Republic. Their members displayed banners that read “Abolish the monarch” and “Down with the crown” whilst another asked: “What did you know?” This came following the recent arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor – with the ceremonial occasion marking the first time senior royals have appeared together publicly since that shocking development.
The Prince and Princess of Wales arriving (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Despite the demonstrations, members of the Royal Family greeted well-wishers warmly upon their arrival at the church. Catherine looked elegant in a navy coat dress by Catherine Walker and wore a pearl necklace that once belonged to Queen Elizabeth II.
While attention focused on the royals, the service also welcomed Prime Minister Keir Starmer alongside members of his cabinet, as well as opposition leader Kemi Badenoch. Other distinguished guests included Prince Albert of Monaco.
It represents a significant occasion in the royal calendar, and in a written statement King Charles informed Commonwealth member nations that through “working together” the institution will continue to be a “force for good”.
In his annual address, he noted that when countries confront challenges such as “conflict, climate change and rapid transformation”, their shared “enduring spirit” becomes evident.
His statement concluded with: “Working together, we can ensure that the Commonwealth continues to stand as a force for good – grounded in community, committed to the kind of restorative sustainability that has a return on investment, enriched by culture, steadfast in its care for our planet, and united in friendship and in the service of its people.”
After telling Camilla “over here”, they then stood together for the national anthem (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
For the first time in decades, the BBC scrapped its live coverage of the massive event, opting instead to air an episode of Escape to The Country.
The BBC stated: “Our decision not to broadcast the Commonwealth Day ceremony in the same way we’ve done in previous years reflects the difficult choices we have to make in light of our funding challenges. “BBC News plans to cover the service across its platforms, including the BBC One bulletins and rolling news channel. “.