King Charles Pokes Fun at Himself for That Viral Fountain Pen Moment

In September 2022, King Charles and Queen Camilla visited Hillsborough Castle shortly following the death of Queen Elizabeth. It was Charles's first visit to Northern Ireland since ascending to the throne, and just five days after his mother's passing.

While there, he and Camilla signed the visitor's book, but Charles quickly got frustrated by a leaking fountain pen as ink appeared to get all over his hands. He hands the pen off to Camilla, saying "Oh god, I hate this," before getting up and exclaiming, "I can't bear this bloody thing! Every stinking time."

The moment, captured by journalists, soon went viral:

In another moment during the Accession Council a few days earlier, Charles had similarly gotten frustrated with having a pen box and an inkpot crowding his desk.

Now, months later, Charles is making fun of himself for his frustration with "frustratingly failing fountain pens." In a speech Wednesday evening after an ancient ceremony involving a pearl sword in London, the king said spoke about what makes "this nation of ours so special."

One of his points was British humor. "The cherished well from which the sound of laughter can be heard — the healing well filled with a sense of humor laced with an invigorating dash of self-irony. This well flows liberally into all the others. The British sense of humor is world-renowned."

He continued, "Our ability to laugh at ourselves is one of our great national characteristics. Just as well, you may say, given some of the vicissitudes I have faced with frustratingly failing fountain pens this past year!"

Charles has quickly learned from his mistakes with faulty pens, however; while on a state visit to Germany, the pen he used to sign the guest book at Schloss Bellevue was "repeatedly checked," according to reports.

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