Lisa Wilkinson’s major royal gaffe from covering William and Kate’s wedding resurfaces
Veteran presenter Lisa Wilkinson was conspicuously absent from any coverage of King Charles’ coronation at Westminster Abbey on Saturday as she enjoys an extended media break after leaving The Project last year.
And now Wilkinson’s major royal blunder of her coverage of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding in April 2011 has resurfaced in a clumsy fashion.
As reported by The Australian this week, the 63-year-old Wilkinson covered the royal wedding as part of her then-hosting duties on the Today show and infamously mentioned the late Dodi Fayed, who was killed in the 1997 Paris car accident along with Princess Diana.
Although his billionaire father Mohamed Al-Fayed was not invited to the event as he was reportedly ‘blocked’ from the wedding by the royal family, Lisa thought he attended, confusing him with his late son and also with the king of Tonga.
“Is that Dodi al-Fayed?” Wilkinson falsely asked on camera when a “mysterious man” – who turned out to be the King of Tonga – walked into Westminster Abbey for the wedding on April 29.
Veteran presenter Lisa Wilkinson was conspicuously absent from any coverage of King Charles’ coronation at Westminster Abbey on Saturday as she enjoys an extended media break after leaving The Project last year. Pictured on the project
“Yes, that’s Dodi al-Fayed,” replied royal “expert” James Whittaker, despite Dodi having died tragically years earlier.
The pair then thought it was Mohamed entering the church, but it turned out to be the King of Tonga.
Lisa has covered important events related to the British Royal Family in the past.
And now Wilkinson’s biggest royal blunder from her coverage of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding in April 2011 has resurfaced in a clumsy fashion
As reported by The Australian this week, Wilkinson, 63, covered the royal wedding as part of her duties as host of the Today show at the time and infamously mentioned the late Dodi Fayed, who died in the Paris car crash in 1997 in which Princess Diana also died. . Pictured on Today
Although his billionaire father Mohamed Al-Fayed (pictured in 2007) was not invited to the event, as he was reportedly “blocked” from the wedding by the royal family, Lisa thought he attended, confusing him with his deceased son and also with the King of Tonga
Dodi Fayed is pictured before his death in Paris in 1997
She was flown to the UK last year to cover Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018.
This year, Channel 10 national affairs editor Hugh Riminton landed the coveted gig of covering the coronation of King Charles for the network.
Wilkinson is, of course, also the wife of journalist and commentator Peter FitzSimons, Australia’s most outspoken Republican and president of the Australian Republic Movement.
Despite no longer working, Wilkinson still rides the Channel 10 just train.
Lisa Wilkinson missed the coronation of King Charles III for Channel 10. (She was pictured last year in the UK covering the death of Queen Elizabeth II)
The TV presenter, who has not appeared on screens since her departure from The Project in November, will still receive a ‘seven-figure salary’ from Ten thanks to the ‘watertight’ deal she signed in 2021, according to The Australian.
The question now remains how the 63-year-old will spend the rest of her lucrative contract, which is said to run beyond 2023.
However, it’s unclear where such a highly paid journalist would fit into 10’s schedule, as the station is best known for its reality TV content, not news and current affairs.
Channel 10 national affairs editor Hugh Riminton (pictured) got the coveted coronation gig
“Since Wilkinson is unlikely to raise her hand for 10’s reality tentpoles like The Bachelor or jungle duty on I’m a Celebrity, her most likely next step would be some form of 10’s interview special,” reports Media Diary.
Wilkinson signed a reported $1.7 million per year deal with Ten in 2018, before signing another multi-year contract with the network in 2021.
The generous salary helped Wilkinson fund a dream lifestyle of luxury properties, fine cars, luxury fashion and first class travel abroad.
Wilkinson abruptly quit The Project in November after four years on the panel, citing “targeted toxicity” from sections of the media as the reason for her departure.
The star, who has not appeared on screens since leaving The Project in November, is still receiving a “seven-figure salary” from 10 thanks to the “watertight” deal she signed in 2021.