King Charles was affectionately offered a crown - a paper one - on the first official engagement of his State Visit to Germany today.
He was undertaking a walkabout at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin when he came across a number of well-wishers who were wearing ‘Burger King’ crowns given away by the fast food giant.
One man took his off and tried to press it into the king’s hands, saying politely:`This is for you, if you want it’.
Charles smiled broadly and said: ‘I’m alright!’ He, of course, has a number of real ones at home.
He also grinned and declined another crown from a woman who said: ‘I have a present for you’.
The King has become the first foreign head of state to be welcomed to Germany with full ceremonial and military honours at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate since the Second World War.
Charles finally kicked off the first state visit of his reign after a trip to France had to be shelved at the last minute.
He and Queen Camilla arrived in the German capital Berlin for a three-day trip this afternoon and were given a huge ceremonial welcome with military honours at the city's iconic Brandenburg Gate - the first time the landmark has been used to welcome any visiting head of state.
In the shadow of the monument– a national symbol of peace and unity – Germany’s president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and wife Elke Budenbender formally welcomed the King and Queen Consort.
The foursome posed for the waiting photographers with the famous landmark in the background before the national anthems of Germany and the UK were played.
The King inspected a guard of honour, accompanied by the president, before Charles, Camilla, the German statesman and his wife went on a brief walkabout meeting people waiting behind nearby crash barriers.
During the walkabout, Charles was affectionately offered a crown - a paper one - made by fast-food chain Burger King.
One man took his off and tried to press it into the king’s hands, saying politely:" This is for you, if you want it".
Charles smiled broadly and said: "I’m alright!" He, of course, has a number of real ones at home.
He also grinned and declined another crown from a woman who said: "I have a present for you".
Elsewhere, Hadley Drake, eight, got away with telling the king firmly to "wait" while she took a picture of him on her brightly-coloured toy camera.
The British youngster, who was being carried by her father at the front of the crowd, told the monarch that she wanted to get a better shot of him - and scooped the waiting press photographers by being rewarded with her own brief personal photocall.
"Wait!" she declared. "Hey you look..." but the King never got to hear how her picture had come out.
Earlier as the King and Queen descended on Germany, the RAF Voyager plane they were travelling in was escorted by German Eurofighter jets as a mark of respect.
The royal couple also released a personal message on social media that read: "Ahead of our first State Visit to Germany, we are very much looking forward to meeting all of those who make this country so special.
"It is a great joy to be able to continue the deepening of the longstanding friendship between our two nations." It was signed Charles R and Camilla R.
