King Charles made a self-deprecating joke about ageing during a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, drawing laughter from guests. The monarch and Queen Camilla attended the third garden party of the season, mingling with some of the 8,000 attendees.
During the walkabout, the King spoke with Virginia Cavill, who was in a wheelchair after a fall that broke her ankle. He quipped: 'This is the trouble as you get older, I know it's going to happen to me.' When Ms Cavill asked about his wellbeing, Charles replied with a smile: 'I'm OK, I totter along.'
Elsewhere, Charles spoke with historian Tom Holland, who described the encounter as 'surreal'. Holland said: 'We were chatting about his speech in America… I just congratulated him on it and some of the excellent jokes.'
Queen Camilla voiced support for a parole board decision to keep a BA pilot who murdered his wife behind bars. She discussed the case with domestic abuse campaigner Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, who said the Queen thought it was 'absolutely the right decision'.
The King and Queen were joined by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. Yeomen of the Guard processed through the gardens as military bands played wartime classics and popular songs.
