Eight-year-old Princess Charlotte momentarily forgot to curtsy to Queen Camilla as the royal box passed in front of the stage during the Windsor Coronation Concert on May 7, 2023. Video captured the passing moment, with Camilla turning toward her step-granddaughter and offering a gentle pat on the shoulder, prompting a shy smile from the young princess.
The event, held outside Windsor Castle, featured a star-studded lineup including Take That, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry. The concert drew about 20,000 attendees, with roughly 10,000 members of the public receiving free tickets, and was watched by more than 10 million people at home. The King and Queen took their seats in the middle of the front row of the Royal Box, walking past Prince William, Catherine, and the couple’s two eldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, as the performances began.
In the moment that drew headlines, Camilla appeared to gently reassure Charlotte after the curtsy mishap. As she passed, Camilla gave the young royal a reassuring pat on the shoulder, and Charlotte responded with a smile. Later in the evening, Charlotte looked to her mother for help adjusting a loose wristband on her arm, and Kate quickly tightened it so she could keep waving her Union flag and enjoy the show.
The concert pace included playful interludes in the royal box, with Charles reportedly enjoying the comedic musings of Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog, who appeared on stage with the performers. The Muppets’ presence underscored the lighter, family-friendly tone of the Windsor weekend that included the coronation ceremonies.
Take That closed the Windsor show with a celebratory performance of Never Forget, marking a high-energy finish after a four-year gap since the group last performed together. Earlier in the set, the royal family was shown dancing along to Shine, as George and Charlotte waved their flags from the stands. In a moving moment captured onstage, Prince William stepped away briefly to offer a tribute to his father, King Charles, telling the audience, Pa, we are all so proud of you. He added that the late Queen Elizabeth would be fondly looking down from heaven on his Coronation weekend.
The Windsor celebrations also reflected the public-facing roles of Charlotte and George during the royal weekend. Charlotte’s public appearances have become a focal point for fans, with her handling of protocols and her spirited participation in family moments drawing praise. This year, she celebrated her 10th birthday, and changes made in 2013 to the succession rules—favoring gender equality—placed her ahead of a younger brother in the line of succession, making her the first British princess to rank above a younger brother under those rules.
Earlier in the year, a TikTok video showing Charlotte's first public curtsy at the Warsaw leg of the royal tour went viral. The two-year-old dipped into a curtsey as she bid farewell to Polish dignitaries, prompting commentary about her poised demeanor and early glimpse of her public responsibilities. The coronation weekend and Charlotte’s presence were seen as a continuation of her growing role within the royal family, with observers noting her ease in front of crowds and her close attention to family cues during events.
Taken together, the Windsor weekend underscored the blending of tradition and modern family life in the royal narrative. Charlotte and George—still young but increasingly visible—continue to capture public attention for their behavior, warmth, and moments of levity amid long-standing ceremonial duties. The coronation concert, with its mix of pomp, humor, and pop performances, served as a cultural bookmark for a younger generation growing into the responsibilities and privileges of royal life.