King Charles III once revealed his true character with a light-hearted nine-word comment to Sir Mo Farah that almost made the Olympic legend laugh out loud. As Britain's greatest-ever endurance runner, Farah has become synonymous with events like the London Marathon, which takes place this Sunday, April 26, 2026.
Although Farah retired from competitive running in September 2023, he will still play a key role in the 2026 edition. The four-time Olympic gold medallist has been given an honorary role as a starter, setting 59,000 participants on their way from Blackheath to The Mall. The 43-year-old never won the London Marathon but finished third in 2018.
Memorable Encounter at Buckingham Palace
Farah excelled over shorter distances, winning gold in the 10,000 metres and 5,000m at London 2012 and Rio 2016. After securing his first Olympic double on home turf over a decade ago, he was awarded a CBE. King Charles, then Prince of Wales, seized the moment to joke about Farah's remarkable medal haul.
Recalling the exchange, Farah said: "I never in my life imagined coming to Buckingham Palace. I remember running past it in the mini-marathon as a kid when I was 13 and thinking it was so beautiful. Coming inside and receiving this award is great." He added: "Prince Charles said, 'You must be getting sick of so many medals.' To hear someone like the Prince of Wales knows who you are is just brilliant. I'm not tired of it at all; I just want to make my country proud and collect as many medals as I can."
King Charles' Marathon Connection
Born in Somaliland, Farah was trafficked to London aged nine before becoming a British sporting icon. King Charles has his own link to the London Marathon, having been the starter for the inaugural race in 1981, granting it royal patronage from the start. The finish line has long been at Buckingham Palace. Since inheriting the throne in 2022, Charles has understandably stepped back from active participation.
Farah now leads a quieter life with his family in Doha, Qatar, to escape public scrutiny. He focuses on his Run with Mo YouTube series, featuring guests like Arsene Wenger, KSI, and Jimmy Carr. In early 2026, he participated in 'In Conversation' events reflecting on his career and his children's book series, Go Mo Go. His business, One Mo Mile Limited, remains active with investments in property.
