'Every stinking time': King Charles frustrated as leaking pen stains his hand during signing ceremony

"I can't bear this bloody thing ... every stinking time," King Charles III said in a sudden outburst when a pen started leaking during a signing ceremony at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland.

Queen Consort Camilla holds a pen with King Charles III and another man standing next to her.

King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla had problems with a pen as they sign the visitors' book at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland. Source: AAP / Niall Carson / PA

Britain's vented his frustration at a leaky pen on Tuesday during a signing ceremony in Northern Ireland, the second time in recent days he has shown visible irritation during such proceedings.

The King, visiting Northern Ireland as part of a tour to lead mourning for his mother Queen Elizabeth II, was greeted by cheering crowds and welcoming speeches, before delivering his own pledge to the region.

Shortly after, when signing a visitors' book in front of cameras at Hillsborough Castle near Belfast, the King reacted in frustration when a pen he was using leaked on his hand.

"Oh, God, I hate this [pen]!" King Charles said, standing up and handing the pen to his wife and Queen Consort Camilla.

"Oh look, it's going everywhere," the Queen Consort said as the King wiped his fingers.

"I can't bear this bloody thing ... every stinking time," King Charles said as he walked away.

One former aide told Reuters before Queen Elizabeth II's death that Charles could be fun, but was also short-tempered and demanding.
On Saturday when signing documents in London, an irritated King Charles gestured for aides to help when a pen holder on the table got in his way.

When completing the documents on Tuesday he also used the wrong date, before checking with an aide who told him it was 13 September, not 12 September.

Share
Published 14 September 2022 3:42pm
Updated 14 September 2022 3:50pm
Source: Reuters, SBS


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world