King Charles III played a ukulele and joined musicians for a jam session during a visit to allotments in Northern Ireland on Wednesday. The monarch, who was touring Ards Allotments near Newtownards, County Down, was serenaded by the Loughries Men’s Ukulele Ensemble and given a ukulele to play. He held the instrument to his ear and strummed along with the band for some time.
After the impromptu performance, Charles praised the group, saying: “There’s a marvellous organisation called the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, it’s fantastic.” One band member joked about getting a booking at the London Palladium, prompting the King to laugh and add: “It’s such a great instrument. Do you remember the words? Wait ‘til you get to my age.”
The allotments were created in 2006 by Maurice Patton, who was inspired by a visit from the then Prince of Wales to a similar site 22 years ago. Patton told the King that he “got a buzz” from gardening, particularly the satisfaction of pulling up a carrot grown from seed, wiping it on his trousers and eating it. Charles agreed, saying: “Oh yes, and they taste better.”
The King also discussed the health benefits of gardening with a group from the NHS South Eastern Trust, and chatted with plot owners about potatoes, expressing a preference for “a good waxy one”. He joked with a 77-year-old plot owner about their shared birth year, saying: “Join the club.”
As he left, a band member called for three cheers for the King, prompting a royal thumbs up. Mrs Patton complimented the King on his aftershave, to which he laughed and replied: “Success at last! Citrus tones.” The visit was part of a tour of Northern Ireland with Queen Camilla, which also included a garden party at Hillsborough Castle and a pub visit where Camilla pulled a pint of Guinness.
