The One Show descends into painfully awkward royal muddle over the Queen

Comedian Frank Skinner plunged The One Show into an incredibly awkward stretch of confusion over the Queen after mistakenly correcting presenter Alex Jones.

The West Bromwich comic, 66, was appearing on Monday’s episode to chat about his current UK tour, alongside other guests Clare Balding and Coleen Rooney.

However, when Alex and co-host Jermaine Jenas were wrapping up a segment on the BBC’s 500 Words challenge for children, Frank leapt in to offer what he obviously thought was a helpful correction.

Except he was wrong – cue a series of quietly panicked and rather excruciating seconds as Jermaine got caught up in Frank’s comment.

Alex said to camera: ‘Some 50 finalists will go the palace next year and might even meet Her Majesty, the Queen.’

‘We’re having a day out at the palace, aren’t we? Can’t wait,’ she added.

As the broadcast cut to a wide angle shot of the studio, Frank then interjected: ‘They won’t meet Her Majesty, the Queen.’

Jermaine, who had been seen looking momentarily confused, then responded: ‘Yeah, I think we got that bit slightly wrong, didn’t we? His Majesty, who they might meet, yes.’

Frank was seen nodding, as both were clearly thinking of King Charles.

However, Alex doubled down with, ‘Yeah – the Queen,’ which she repeated a few times.

Jermaine then suddenly realised that Alex had meant Camilla, and not the late Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September 2022 at the age of 96.

Since their joint crowning in May, Camilla is now officially known as ‘Queen Camilla’ (or just ‘the Queen’) although her role remains that of a consort, who does not formally share the monarch’s powers.

‘Sorry no, the Queen Consort!’ he corrected himself.

‘It’s not my business – just trying to be helpful,’ quipped Frank as nervous laughter could be heard in the studio, including from Alex and then Jermaine.

‘We’re alright,’ confirmed Alex, as Jermaine admitted: ‘It threw me off as well!’

Former footballer-turned-pundit Jermaine then attempted to swerve the show back on course with rather an inelegant segue.

‘Anyway, Coleen, you’ve got four sons, right?’ he asked, before asking if they had any interest in creative writing, as per the competition.

During the show, Coleen admitted that since the high-profile defamation court case against Rebekah Vardy has been resolved she has been able to be ‘present again’ with her family.

The mum-of-four, 37, is telling her side of the story in Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story, a three-part docuseries on Disney Plus.

‘It was so stressful, I feel like a massive cloud’s been lifted now. And even though I was there physically looking after the children, mentally I just wasn’t.

‘So now I just feel so grateful to be present again and to be there with the kids, both physically and mentally.’

The One Show airs weekdays at 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer. Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story releases on Wednesday, October 18 on Disney Plus.

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