A lip reader has claimed that King Charles was overheard making an ’emotional’ confession to Queen Camilla during last year’s Trooping The Colour, as he continued his recovery from cancer

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 15: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) King Charles III, wearing his Irish Guards uniform, and Queen Camilla watch an RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after attending Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024 in London, England. Trooping the Colour, also known as The King's Birthday Parade, is a military ceremony to mark the official birthday of the British Sovereign. The ceremony takes place at Horse Guards Parade followed by a flypast over Buckingham Palace and was first performed in the mid-17th century during the reign of King Charles II. The parade features all seven regiments of the Household Division with Number 9 Company, Irish Guards being the regiment this year having their Colour Trooped. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
A lip-reader has claimed what King Charles and Queen Camilla may have said to each other at a royal event(Image: Max Mumby/Indigo, Getty Images)

A lip reader has disclosed they witnessed a heartfelt admission by King Charles during last year’s Trooping The Colour ceremony. The monarch was diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer last year, yet continued performing royal engagements including attending key ceremonies despite his condition.

A forensic lip reader has examined a private exchange between Charles and Queen Camilla whilst they travelled in their carriage during the event to determine what the pair appeared to be discussing.

After careful analysis, lip reader Nicola Hickling believes Charles may have experienced an emotional moment in the carriage whilst continuing his cancer recovery journey.

Speaking in the documentary, Lip-Reading The Royals: The Secret Conversations airing on Channel 5 tomorrow (Saturday, July 19), Nicola claimed it was straightforward to identify Charles was experiencing an emotional moment through the King’s arm movements.

She explained: “Here Queen Camilla senses Charles’ emotional state and she says: ‘Are you absolutely certain?’. Charles responds, he makes a subtle hand gesture which appears to reinforce his own determination as he replies, he says: ‘I’ll get through today, it makes me feel emotional and I don’t know why’.

“At this point he uses his hand to wipe away perhaps a tear from his eye. I can see on closer inspection that his eyes are quite red and he does look quite tearful.”

King Charles III and Queen Camilla during Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade on June 15, 2024
ing Charles III and Queen Camilla during Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade on June 15, 2024

This isn’t the first time a lip-reader has revealed the private exchanges of the royals during public events.

At this year’s Trooping The Colour, expert lip-reader Jeremy Freeman caught a snippet of dialogue between Charles and Camilla as they journeyed in a carriage.

Jeremy claims that the king was overheard saying: “Absolutely crazy, disgrace, absolutely extraordinary.”

He also noted that the King remarked: “Meanwhile, not like me. That’s the difference between me and him.”

King Charles III and Queen Camilla during Trooping The Colour 2025
King Charles III and Queen Camilla during Trooping The Colour 2025

While the identity of the person Charles may have been referring to remains unknown, speculation suggests it could be his brother Prince Andrew, given their reportedly strained relationship.

Royal commentators have noted longstanding issues between the siblings, including the controversy surrounding the withdrawal of taxpayer-funded police protection for Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

Royal commentator Jennie Bond recalled: “I do remember him being very upset, affronted, insulted on behalf of his daughters by Charles’ decision.”

Baroness Ayesha Hazarika also weighed in, stating that the decision was a significant blow to the Duke of York, elaborating: “That certainly sent a signal Andrew and it certainly sent a signal to the wider public that there was definitely a cooling in relations.”