Lisa Wilkinson’s infamous gaffe from her coverage of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding in April 2011 has resurfaced after she was conspicuously absent from Channel Ten’s coverage of King Charles III’s coronation on Saturday.
The veteran TV presenter, 63, who lives on a career break after leaving The Project last year, maybe not was in London to cover Charles’ accession to the throne, but she was there to cover the marriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales twelve years ago.
Wilkinson, who co-hosted Nine’s Today at the time, infamously said that the late Dodi Fayed – Princess Diana’s friend who died with her in a car accident in Paris in 1997 – was present at the wedding of the Welsh.
“Is that Dodi al-Fayed?” Wilkinson was heard on camera saying that a ‘mysterious man’ – later identified as the King of Tonga – walked into Westminster Abbey for the wedding.
“Yes, that’s Dodi al-Fayed,” an alleged royal “expert” replied during the live broadcast – despite Dodi having died years earlier.
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
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.
