King Charles III, shared a sweet moment with his eldest son, Prince William, as the pair carried out a centuries-old tradition at the coronation.
In the middle of Charles’ crowning moment at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, the Prince of Wales, 40, kneeled before his father and swore his loyalty as the heir to the throne.
When William leaned in for the customary kiss on the cheek, eagle-eyed viewers noticed that Charles, 74, touchingly whispered “Thank you, William.”
“This really was a beautiful moment,” one onlooker tweeted of the father-son exchange.
Another viewer said the moment “absolutely broke [their] heart,” while a third added that the monarch looked “close to tears.”
Charles and William’s united front was doubly affecting in light of the rifts created by the king’s younger son’s decision to move to California with his wife, Meghan Markle.
Since stepping down as senior royals in 2020, Prince Harry, 38, and Meghan Markle, 41, have hurled overseas lobs at the royal family through their bombshell Oprah sit-down and Netflix docuseries.
The Duke of Sussex then released a bombshell, protocol-shattering memoir “Spare” in January.
Prince William pledged loyalty to his father during the coronation. POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesAfter weeks of speculation, Harry announced last month that he would attend the coronation in London solo, while Meghan stayed in California.
The ginger-haired prince, who was seated with minor royals in the third row, barely looked at his father and brother throughout the Saturday morning service.
He also did not interact with them after the ceremony, as he immediately got into a car bound for Heathrow Airport.
The father and son shared a sweet moment during the solemn ceremony. AP
King Charles was crowned at Westminster Abbey. AFP via Getty ImagesMeanwhile, King Charles was supported by his siblings, Princess Anne, the disgraced Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh.
William was joined in the front row by his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, 41, and their children Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.
Prince George, 9, was a Page of Honour for his grandfather during the ceremony.
Prince William and Kate Middleton were joined by their children at the event. via REUTERSCharles was crowned and anointed alongside his wife, Queen Camilla, 75.
The royal family then processed back to Buckingham Palace, where they greeted the crowds from the balcony and observed a military flypast.
