Twitter users have expressed sympathy for King Charles III after he wrote the wrong date down and then swore at a pen during his visit to Northern Ireland.
The incident, captured on video, happened during his royal tour of the four nations following the death of his mother, the Queen. The King was at the royal residence of Hillsborough Castle in Co Down in Northern Ireland, when the ink appeared to drip from the pen as he tried to sign a book.
It came after he asked if it was September 12 - only to be told it was the 13th. "Oh God, I put the wrong date down," said the King.
Queen Consort Camilla then appeared to suggest he'd written the wrong date earlier. "You signed the 12th earlier," said Camilla.
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King Charles then began lambasting his pen. "Oh, God, I hate this pen. I can’t bear this bloody thing… every stinking time." said the King, before handing the inky implement to Camilla.
"It's going everywhere," said Camilla, who signed the book while the King was lead away by aides. The new Monarch told aides “I can’t bear this bloody thing” after a pen he was using appeared to leak and got confused about the day's date.
Spoof Twitter account Parody Prime Minister was quick to mock the grieving monarch. It tweeted: "Reassuring to know we have a Head of State who can remain calm in a crisis."
However, Twitter users were equally quick to show sympathy and support for the King, reported WalesOnline. Angela King wrote: "If you’ve ever lost a parent or indeed anybody you were particularly close to, then you will absolutely understand how Charles will be feeling right now. It’s not about the date or the pen but how he’s feeling both physically and mentally right now."
Daren Curtis replied: He’s 73, just lost his mother and is now being pulled from pillar to post and all being played out in front of the world's media, I’m no royalist but give the guy a break."
It comes after another pen-related incident on Saturday, when the new monarch was seen gesturing for an ornate holder to be taken away by an aide while signing a document during his first Privy Council. Later it was back in place, after privy councillors used its pens to sign documents, but the King once again took offence over the item, when called upon to give his signature, and pulled a face before it was removed again.
Pay tribute to The Queen - without having to use a pen - in our book of condolences here .
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