Veteran presenter Lisa Wilkinson was noticeably absent from any coverage of King Charles’ Coronation at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, as she enjoys an extended media break after exiting The Project last year.
And now, Wilkinson’s major royal gaffe from her coverage of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding back in April, 2011, has awkwardly resurfaced.
As reported by The Australian this week, Wilkinson, 63, covered the royal wedding as part of her hosting duties on the Today show at the time and infamously mentioned the late Dodi Fayed, who died in the Paris 1997 car crash alongside Princess Diana.
While his billionaire father Mohamed Al-Fayed was not invited to the event, reportedly having being ‘blocked’ from the wedding by the Royal Family, Lisa thought he was in attendance, confusing him with his late son and also the King of Tonga.
‘Is that Dodi al-Fayed?’ Wilkinson mistakenly asked on camera as a ‘mystery man’ – who turned out to be the King of Tonga – walked into the Westminster Abbey on April 29 for the nuptials.
Veteran presenter Lisa Wilkinson was noticeably absent from any coverage of King Charles’ Coronation at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, as she enjoys an extended media break after exiting The Project last year. Pictured on The Project
‘Yes, that’s Dodi al-Fayed,’ royal ‘expert’ James Whittaker replied, despite Dodi having tragically died years earlier.
The pair then thought it was Mohamed entering the church, but it turned out to be the King of Tonga.
Lisa has history of reporting on major events concerning the British Royal Family.
And now, Wilkinson’s major royal gaffe from her coverage of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding back in April, 2011, has awkwardly resurfaced
As reported by The Australian this week, Wilkinson, 63, covered the royal wedding as part of her hosting duties on the Today show at the time and infamously mentioned the late Dodi Fayed, who died in the Paris 1997 car crash that also killed Princess Diana. Pictured on Today
While his billionaire father Mohamed Al-Fayed (pictured in 2007) was not invited to the event, reportedly having being ‘blocked’ from the wedding by the Royal Family, Lisa thought he was in attendance, confusing him with his late son and also 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 the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and covered Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle back in 2018.
This year on Channel 10, national affairs editor Hugh Riminton landed the coveted gig to cover King Charles’ Coronation for the network.
Wilkinson is also, of course, the wife of journalist and commentator Peter FitzSimons, Australia’s most vocal republican and the chair of the Australian Republic Movement.
Despite no longer working, Wilkinson is still riding the Channel 10 gravy train.
Lisa Wilkinson missed covering King Charles III’s coronation for Channel 10. (She is pictured in the UK last year where she covered Queen Elizabeth II’s death)
The TV presenter, who hasn’t appeared on screens since her departure from The Project in November, is still collecting a ‘seven-figure salary’ from Ten thanks to the ‘watertight’ deal she signed in 2021, according to The Australian.
The question now remains as to how the 63-year-old will spend the remainder of her lucrative contract, which is said to extend beyond 2023.
It’s unclear where such a highly paid journalist would fit in 10’s schedule, however, as the station is mostly known for its reality TV content, not news and current affairs.
Channel 10’s national affairs editor Hugh Riminton (pictured) landed the coveted gig covering the Coronation
‘With Wilkinson unlikely to put her hand up for 10’s reality tentpoles like The Bachelor or jungle duty on I’m a Celebrity, her most likely next move is said to involve some form of interview special for 10,’ reports Media Diary.
Wilkinson signed a reported $1.7million-a-year deal with Ten in 2018, before inking another multi-year contract with the network in 2021.
The generous salary helped Wilkinson fund a dream lifestyle of high-end properties, fancy cars, luxury fashion and first-class trips overseas.
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 exit.
The star, who hasn’t appeared on screens since her departure from The Project in November, is still collecting a ‘seven-figure salary’ from 10 thanks to the ‘watertight’ deal she signed in 2021