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King Charles in Northern Ireland: "Every damn time"
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WPA Pool/Getty Images
King Charles and the public signing ceremonies.
It still doesn't seem to match.
After the unfortunate appearance at his proclamation over the weekend, the son and successor of the late Queen Elizabeth II appeared to have his problems at a ceremony in Northern Ireland.
When he wanted to sign a guest book at Hillsborough Castle near Belfast, Charles reacted frustrated to what appeared to be a leaking pen.
"Oh god, I hate him," Charles said, getting up and handing the pen to his wife and queen consort Camilla, who replied, "Oh look, it goes everywhere."
Charles then wiped his fingers, apparently wanting to wipe away the ink that had run out.
"I can't take that damn thing...every damn time," Charles swore.
How beautifully a king curses only becomes clear in the original: "I can't bear this bloody thing ... every stinking time."
Earlier, Charles had also written down the wrong date.
"Is it September 12?" he asked.
When told it was already the 13th, Charles said.
"Oh god, I wrote the wrong date."
Accompanied at every turn
All of this was once again captured by television cameras, which accompany him everywhere these days.
On Saturday, cameras had already recorded Charles gesturing angrily at the proclamation ceremony, apparently in the direction of a court official.
This caused criticism on social networks.
Reuters, citing a former adviser to Charles, reported that while the new king can be funny, he can also be irritable and demanding.
Charles was controversial in the British population for a long time, but in recent years - also thanks to a PR campaign by the royal family - he has managed to gain popularity.
For Charles, the public appointments continue: In London he receives his mother's coffin, which landed on Tuesday evening at Northolt Air Force Base in the west of the city.
Despite the rain, numerous people were waiting along the route towards the city center and at the palace.
hba/Reuters/dpa