At last week’s VE Day commemorations on 5 May, King Charles was briefly thrown off guard after Queen Camilla misplaced an item during the parade, prompting an unexpected assist from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who inadvertently breached royal protocol in the process.
The occasion marked the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, a significant date in British history that drew members of the royal family together for one of their first major public appearances of the year.
While citizens across the UK celebrated with street gatherings and local events, the royals took part in a formal parade and observed the traditional military flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
But amid the day’s solemnity and pageantry, a minor incident caught public attention. During the parade, Queen Camilla briefly lost an item—reportedly a water bottle—causing visible concern from King Charles. As the monarch appeared momentarily flustered, Prime Minister Starmer stepped forward to retrieve the missing item and tapped Camilla on the shoulder to return it.
While his action was clearly well-intentioned, it did violate long-established royal protocol. Traditionally, touching a member of the royal family—especially initiating physical contact—is discouraged unless they offer a handshake or gesture first.
This custom exists to maintain a sense of formal separation between the monarchy and the public. Still, younger royals like Prince William and Princess Catherine have occasionally relaxed these boundaries, particularly during informal engagements.
Lip reader Nicola Hickling, speaking to The Express, claimed to have interpreted the brief exchange that followed. After Starmer handed the Queen her water, Camilla reportedly said, “Thank you, I am so parched today.” Though the prime minister’s actions may have crossed a royal line, they were clearly appreciated in the moment.
This wasn’t Queen Camilla’s only awkward moment during the day.
While the royal family was gathered on the palace balcony to watch the RAF flypast, Prince William was engaged in a playful “guess the aircraft” game with his eldest son, Prince George.
According to reports, Princess Kate asked George, “What is this, George?” prompting him to respond hesitantly, “Err… that’s erm a… I can’t see it yet,” before correctly identifying the aircraft as an Atlas.
William then attempted to include Queen Camilla in the fun, though she appeared less confident about her answers. When she gave an incorrect guess, William jokingly told her, “It’s the wrong answer.”
Camilla replied with good humor, reportedly saying, “Are we playing this still? I need to try harder.”
Despite the light-hearted moments and the brief protocol slip, the event remained a meaningful commemoration of a major milestone in British history.
The royals’ presence—and their interactions, both formal and informal—added a human touch to a day marked by national pride and remembrance.
