Commentators on the BBC struggled to recognise Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as he filed into Westminster Abbey for the Queen’s funeral.
Mr Albanese and partner Jodie Haydon were among hundreds of world leaders who attended the historic service on Monday, but the UK’s public broadcaster evidently missed the memo when it came to the new Aussie leader.
The BBC’s commentators mentioned Queen Elizabeth II‘s impact on Commonwealth partners as New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau entered the hall, but fell silent when Mr Albanese joined the mourners.
This lead many to believe the BBC’s presenters had no clue who he was.
The BBC appeared to not recognise Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as he filed into Westminster Abbey for the Queen’s funeral
The BBC commentators recognised Canadian PM Justin Trudeau but not his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese
Social commentator Jane Caro was quick to pounce on the mistake.
‘BBC focuses on Albo entering the church – it’s clear the commentators have no idea who he is,’ she wrote.
‘BBC commentary not recognizing Albo was pretty great,’ another woman said.
‘Obviously no one at the BBC knows what Albo looks like,’ another said on Twitter.
It wasn’t the only embarrassing moment for broadcasters, with Australia’s Channel Nine contingent not knowing the Prime Minister of the country they were filming from.
Senior journalists Peter Overton and Tracy Grimshaw were unable to identify Britain’s new leader as they provided commentary on the Queen‘s funeral from outside the church on Monday.
As Prime Minister Liz Truss climbed out of her car to attend the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, Overton and Grimshaw were left scratching their heads as to who she was.
‘So, this is a significant motorcade, we are being told now,’ Overton said.
Overton and Grimshaw stumbled trying to identify Liz Truss and thought she might be ‘minor royalty’
‘Come with us as we try and identify who is getting out of the car. This is under police escort of course. I would suggest this might be royalty, Tracy.
‘Hard to identify. Maybe minor royals, members of the … I can’t identify them at this point …’
Viewers at home took to social media to call them out on the blunder.
‘Good job Peter Overton. Didn’t know the new PM,’ one person tweeted.
Another wrote: ‘Happened to be passing by the living room in my house where my family are watching the Queen’s funeral. Tracy Grimshaw: ‘And we’re not sure who this is who has arrived’.’
”Unfortunately we can’t identify everyone, they look like local dignitaries.’ It was Liz Truss. I howled.’
Britain’s prime minister Liz Truss, pictured left, has proven to be a mystery to Nine newsreaders Peter Overton and Tracy Grimshaw
Someone else said: ‘Peter Overton and Tracy Grimshaw having no idea who Liz Truss – the new British Prime Minister – is during the live coverage of the Queen’s funeral was so *awks*.’
Another Twitter user posted a photo of Ms Truss and jokingly asked if she was the mayor of Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, or a ‘minor royal’.
‘Hi Tracy Grimshaw, can you help me out who this is? Is it the Local Mayor of Reykjavík or is it a minor Royal?’
Moments later, Overton issued a correction.
‘I’m told that was Liz Truss the new Prime Minister in the distance, she could see hopping out of the car. Thank you very much for that information,’ he told viewers.
He then conceded to Nine co-stars Karl Stefanovic, Ally Langdon and UK royal expert Dickie Arbiter that their British guest might be better at spotting local famous faces.
‘Karl and Ally, and Dickie, Dickie particularly, you’ll be spotting these faces and recognising them better than us, I think,’ Overton said.
Ms Truss was the last world leader to be pictured with the Queen in her final official duty, just 48 hours before she died.