Charles and that “bloody” pen

[nonono1]

The clip of Charles with the leaking pen is an interesting insight into how the royals behave and how they are treated by their seemingly very obsequious staff. Is Charles’ behaviour reasonable or do you think he’s kicking up an unnecessary fuss? Interested to hear other people’s perspectives really because I’ve never seen a clip like this before.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11206531/King-Charles-III-awkward-moment-pen.html

OK. You weren't joking in your post, I really was not sure.

You call my post 'hurling spite'. I call it being realistic. But I can see how much this has angered you so I'll leave you to it and anyone reading can take my previous post as what I think. Which is not 'hurling spite', it's being incredulous at 'practising signatures' and 'favourite fountain pens'.

I am sorry about your parents AntelopeValley 💐

Poor man is grieving and exhausted, and obviously stressed. I think he's real with very human reactions, wears his heart on his sleeve, very different from the Queen, but suited as a more modern monarch.
I like him, and the pen thing made he smile.

Rosette it's extremely common to have a favourite pen! The nib contour's to how you write it!
That takes time and then it's. Bespoke pen made to you. It's very smooth.

I know

My adult DD has a very very special fountain pen given to her by her DP, instead of an engagement ring but then he gave her an engagement ring too! She loves using it, and is just about to exchange on a house, and will use it for the wet signatures.

LOL. The problem is that a post which is part serious and part humour is too complex for you to work out which bits were which @Roussette

For avoidance of doubt I was joking about practicing signatures although I suspect he may have perfected an additional R at some point of time. I was joking about The Queen Consort being appointed Keeper of the Pens although if I was her I would be keeping a spare pen in my bag after this. I was joking about where his favourite fountain pen might be - I'm sure he has a few in every house he stays in. There probably are one or two that were special gifts which he likes to use but who knows whether they are meant to follow him around wherever he is staying. Personally if I had half a dozen houses I'd have a nice pen in each and assume that at important ceremonies of State someone would have thought of making sure there was a working pen available for not just The King but all the other dignitaries who are also expected to sign the document. Did I make sure someone had put the Waterman my husband gave me before I married in the Church ready for me and DH and the family to sign the register? Of course not. They supply a pen in Churches and Register offices up and down the country for every wedding and no doubt other ceremonies too. Why would the new King think he has to remember to bring a pen??

Thanks for the clarification. I was right then... it was all a bit tongue in cheek!

Far too complex for me, yes.

When Charles took out that hanky I actually thought he was going to give it to Camilla 😅

This and the other incident of a pen stand, isn't he long used to these things by now. I've never seen HMQ lose her cool.

@antelopevalley 💐

Only my personal opinion, I found the inkwell, pen set thing far worse... who can't pick up an inkwell and move it 4 inches... flapping your hands to get a flunkey to do it is far worse.

Apparently that inkwell was a gift from
William and Harry. It was in an awkward position, but easily shifted.

I'll cut him a massive amount of slack given the circumstances though.

I suspect that if I was doing an important signing and the organisers gave me a leaky pen I wouldn't be best pleased. His reaction seemed fairly mild. Try asking your favourite celebrity for an autograph and giving them a pen that leaks over them.

Whoever left the inkwell there really should have had a thought about its placement. It was just awkward, they needed a bigger table.

Did everyone need to sign with the leaky pen?

You've never seen HMQ sign historic documents, days after being bereaved either.

I think next time round they'll be a bit more discretionary where they allow cameras. Or at least allow time for a rehearsal first.

He maybe didn't want to put it on top of those documents incase it leaked or dripped.

It obviously wasn't rehearsed or they'd have figure out what to do with it. Or maybe someone was meant to remove it and forgot their job.

And while I agree that Charles is under immense stress currently and grieving, and his work load is huge, and the strain of being under public scrutiny is immense, I think we should also remember that it is not quite as stressful when you have servants cooking, cleaning, laundering, driving, and organising you. And you have few financial constraints. Yes you need to be prepared and present, but it is not quite the same as if one of us were doing this alone without help. Sorry if that sounds disrespectful but it just isn't!
I absolutely agree with @Shortandfurry301 it’s not like he was upset that he would be washing this suit all evening or where he would find money to buy another. And he was clearly irritated on Saturday on ink pen tray whereas Camilla just moved it and managed.
I understand that it’s a difficult period for him but you can’t have it both ways. If it’s s job he should be up to a job. If we are saying that oh he’s retirement age, well , he needs to retire then.

The issue isn't so much getting the suit and shirt cleaned for another day it's going out to shake hands with the people who'd gathered with a ink all over him like a toddler covered in paint.

Seriously, would you not been frustrated if you were going to have photos taken and you've got yourself into a mess with ink.

Cut the guy some slack!

The thing is that life has changed and we are not expecting our monarch being particularly brave or strong or attractive but calm, respectful, tolerant and polite. Charles could still stay calm or express his annoyance in a more polite way. I’m not following all coverage at all but I’ve put on TV on Saturday for half an hour and Charles was annoyed at ink pen tray. I’ve switched it on again when he was in Northern Ireland and Charles was annoyed at ink pen. The thirds time was yesterday during the procession to Westminster, nothing happened while I was watching for 30 minutes, but 2 out of 3 a bit too much imo.

I know

My adult DD has a very very special fountain pen given to her by her DP, instead of an engagement ring but then he gave her an engagement ring too! She loves using it, and is just about to exchange on a house, and will use it for the wet signatures.

So special pen for @Roussette 's daughter to sign her mortgage ✅ good.

Special pen for The King and assorted Dignitaries to sign State documents in front of TV cameras and the entire world ❌ Bad.

Nah! I thought we'd cleared it up by me not realising you were being tongue in cheek!

Not so much loosing his cool with the leaky pen -which in the clip he is holding before he sits down -but his manner .

In this clip his expression when he turns to address someone is awful .

The table had been arranged for the assembled ranks to sign from the opposite position to that taken by Charles ,Camilla ,William etc .An odd lapse in the arrangements .

His mother has just died and he hasn’t stopped since. Give him a break.

Totally agree. You are either up to the job and need to do it. Or too old and need to pass it on.

Most of us have grieved. Being impatient, stroppy and annoyed with others at work, in front of many officials, while on video is a red flag.

What is he like in private?

He’s well beyond retirement age for most people.

Really??!!

Here's some realism to dealing with a death of a loved one only days afterwards.

My dad died last year, probably a week later my mum was trying to change a lightbulb and I was helping, well not helping as she wouldn't let me. For the first time in my 50 years of knowing my mother I saw her get completely stressed and she said "for fucks sake!!"

My mother never says fuck, not ever!

I said "mum! You said fuck!"

"I know!!"

In the privacy and peace of her own home. Not cameras in front of the world and trying to be the new head of state. Ffs give the man a break.