King Charles III has found himself in his first viral story, and it all involves a misbehaving leaky pen. The incident, which shows the King’s frustrated reaction, soon went viral when it came out on Tuesday.
Image Source: YouTube
England’s newest monarch called the offending writing device a “bloody thing” after it leaked while he was signing a guest book in Northern Ireland. Four days earlier, Charles faced criticism for a similar outburst during his proclamation and accession council in London.
Charles was visiting Northern Ireland on Tuesday with Camilla, the Queen Consort, for audiences at Hillsborough Castle, the King’s official residence in Ireland, and service of reflection for the life of Queen Elizabeth II at St. Anne’s Cathedral, in Belfast.
Queen Elizabeth passed away on Thursday at age 96 at her Scottish home Balmoral Castle. A state funeral will take place on Monday, September 19.
Image Source: YouTube
On Tuesday, after a series of audiences at Hillsborough Castle and receiving a message of condolence from the speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the King, and his Queen consort were signing the castle’s visitor’s book.
In news footage, Charles is seen asking an aide what the date was. Then after realizing the pen he was using leaked, the King said in frustration: “Oh, God, I hate this pen!”
He then passed the pen to Camilla, who replied, “It’s going everywhere,” before taking her turn to sign her name.
Image Source: YouTube
Charles is then heard saying, “Can’t bear this bloody thing!” while walking off, before adding: “[It’s] what they do every stinking time.”
The news outlet NowThis uploaded the clip to Tiktok, where it’s since been watched over 4.5 million times in under 12 hours. Many people had a lot to say about the incident.
Image Source: YouTube
A number of TikTok commenters criticized Charles for his outburst, with one user writing:
“He’s known for being bratty, dudes like 70+ been that way his whole life. Shouldn’t be a surprise.”
Another added: “He’s always been this way…can only imagine what kind of king he’ll be.”
Image Source: YouTube
Other commenters sympathized and called for understanding. Writer and food poverty campaigner Jack Monroe tweeted that the brief expression of emotion was not the “gotcha everyone wants it to be.” He continued:
“I’m a multifaceted human being + admit to being conflicted about the Royals discourse at the moment. But Charles getting frustrated over a leaky pen, days after the death of his mother where he’s had no space + time to grieve, doesn’t feel like the gotcha everyone wants it to be?”
I’m a multifaceted human being + admit to being conflicted about the Royals discourse at the moment. But Charles getting frustrated over a leaky pen, days after the death of his mother where he’s had no space + time to grieve, doesn’t feel like the gotcha everyone wants it to be?
— Jack Monroe 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 (@BootstrapCook) September 13, 2022
Broadcaster Sophie Corcoran also shared her support for the King on Twitter, writing:
“Charles has lost his mother and has had to become king and mourn in full public view. Who cares if he got upset over a pen. He’s done incredible.”
Image Source: YouTube
On Saturday, Charles was again criticized for chastizing an aide concerning the placement of a tray of pens and inkwell on a desk at St. Jame’s Palace.
In news footage from the event, the King is seen waving his hand in a frustrated manner at the pens, after which his equerry Major Jonathan Thompson removed them.
“Manners cost nothing!” wrote one Twitter user after the clip had been viewed more than 19 million times in 24 hours. Another added: “Took him more effort to wave his hand a dozen times than to move it himself.”
Image Source: YouTube
When Charles was the Prince of Wales, he gained a reputation for being very demanding of his staff. Reports circulated that his valet would even squeeze the toothpaste onto his toothbrush from a silver crested dispenser every evening.
Charles and Camilla later returned to London to greet the queen’s coffin as it arrived at Buckingham Palace. The official lying-in-state started on Wednesday evening.
You can watch footage of the pen incident below.
Thanks for reading. Please be so kind as to pass this story along to your friends and family?
Sources:
- “King Charles Loses It Over a Pen Again: ‘Every Stinking Time'” Newsweek.
