King Charles couldn’t resist complaining about the fickle nature of his pen as he signed a visitor book at Forsinard Flows visitor centre in Scotland on Wednesday.
The monarch, 75, was visiting the nature reserve’s giant bog, recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage status.
As he sat down to sign the visitor book, Charles joked: ‘Could I walk past it, really?’ before taking a fountain pen out of the pocket of his jacket.
As he prepared to sign the book, the King quipped a couple of comments that reflect his fractious history with pens.
He moaned to those around him: ‘I’m hoping my pen’s going to work because it doesn’t usually.
King Charles seemed to have another signature strop as he signed the visitor book at Forsinard Flows visitor centre on Wednesday
‘The trouble is making sure I have ink that doesn’t fade because I used to be sent them back to sign again.’
Luckily, this time all seemed to be well, and he was able to write his famous Charles R signature without too much trouble.
King Charles seems to have had a frustrating history with pens since becoming monarch – infamously declaring that he ‘can’t bear this bloody thing’ after he was given a leaky pen at Hillsborough Castle in September 2022.
Days earlier, he’d been furious when an ink pot got in his way, angrily motioning for an aide to remove it, as he signed the historic Royal Proclamation.
Earlier on Wednesday King Charles had appeared in great spirits during a visit to the Forsinard Flows in Scotland on Wednesday.
The special visit comes as the King prepares to enjoy an extended summer break in Scotland, keeping in with royal tradition, and has been staying at the Castle of Mey.
It will come as a well-deserved break for Charles, who has packed in many engagements in his return to public life amid receiving treatment for cancer.
Charles, a renowned nature lover who is patron of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), met with representatives of the charity, as well as from NatureScot – which led the bid for Unesco recognition – and Highland Council.
The monarch, 75, seems to have a frustrating history when it comes to writing his signature and says his pen ‘doesn’t usually work’
Luckily everything seemed to go smoothly and Charles was able to sign his name without too much bother
The King previously declared he ‘can’t bear this bloody thing’ after he was given a leaky pen at Hillsborough Castle in September 2022
The King seemed to be in a fantastic mood as he spoke to members of the community and members of a children’s choir.
The area is estimated to store about 400 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, more than is stored by all UK woodlands combined.
The Flow Country is widely considered to be the largest area of blanket bog in the world and covers about 1,500 square miles in the Highlands.
Wearing a smart kilt, Charles unveiled the Flow Country World Heritage Site plaque after the site was recently awarded the new status.
Heritage chiefs at UNESCO recognised the importance of the area on July 26 – making it the UK’s 35th world heritage site, and the seventh in Scotland.
The King was shown how the peatlands function as a ‘centre of excellence’ for research, and are home to a vast range of plants and wildlife.
He was then given a tour of the Forsinard Flows visitor centre, meeting staff from the Flow Country Partnership, which was formed in 2006 to restore the peatland of the Flow Country after damage from forestry and drainage.
He also spoke with neighbours of the ‘national treasure’ at a community event, attended by families and local businesses.
Earlier King Charles was beaming as he visited the Forsinard Flows in Scotland on Wednesday
The monarch, 75, visited a giant bog recently given UNESCO World Heritage status and appeared in good spirits
The King seemed to be in a fantastic mood as he spoke to members of the community and members of a children’s choir
Charles unveiled the Flow Country World Heritage Site plaque after the site was recently awarded the new status
King Charles III meets local dignitaries including Maree Todd MSP (third right) during his visit
The King met with Flow Country Partnership staff, local residents, families and young people
Before departing, His Majesty watched a performance by and met members of the Feis air an Oir community music group
The children seemed delighted by the royal visit as King Charles posed for a photo in the centre
The area is estimated to store about 400 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, more than is stored by all UK woodlands combined (file image)
The peatlands is a habitat for some of the world’s most diverse bog ecosystems, and acts as a crucial defence against climate change, locking away carbon so it is not released as carbon dioxide.
Charles heard how the area provides economic opportunities and a space for young people to experience nature.
Before departing, His Majesty watched a performance by and met members of the Feis air an Oir community music group.
He took on the patronage of the RSPB following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
The area was hailed for its ‘international importance as a habitat and for the diverse range of rare and unusual breeding birds it supports’ by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray when the Unesco status was granted.
It comes after Charles made a rather frustrated appearance after attending a church service at Sandringham in Norfolk on Sunday.
The monarch has been seen in a series of ‘cranky’ displays as of late – including snapping at an aide on a trip to Jersey with Queen Camilla, and growing cross at a page boy at the State opening of Parliament.
As he left St Mary Magdalene Church, Charles was spotted speaking to his companions – thought to be aides – and seemed slightly disgruntled as he did so.
The King listened attentively as he was shown local produce from the area
Charles heard how the area provides economic opportunities and a space for young people to experience nature
The visit comes ahead of Charles’s summer break in Scotland, which will be much needed after a busy schedule
King Charles III signs the visitors book during his visit to the Forsinard Flows Visitor Centre
His Majesty led the way over a crossing during the visit to Forsinard Flows Visitor Centre
The King appeared very animated during his visit – which comes after a rather more frustrated appearance on Sunday
The King took on the patronage of the RSPB following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II
The King showed off his friendly nature as he spoke to local businesses
He was taken on a tour of the visitor centre, recently given World Heritage Site status
The plaque unveiled by Charles during his visit, which was given today’s date
The King seemed to be tense and made several short-tempered hand gestures as he paused before making his way to the awaiting crowds, although the cause of the conversation is unclear.
After looking around, he appeared to be venting his frustrations to those he was with before walking on.
But just moments later Charles was back to his usual self, greeting well-wishers with his typical good cheer and humour.
The King – who is continuing to receive treatment following a cancer diagnosis – wore a grey suit, purple tie and brown shoes.
Charles set tongues wagging earlier this month among royal fans during his visit to the Channel Islands this week after he appeared to lose his temper – but it’s not the first time one of the monarch’s snappier moments has been caught on camera.
It’s just one of many of the royal’s ‘spicy’ moments over the years – including his notorious comments about BBC Royal Correspondent Nicholas Witchell in 2005 when he called the journalist an ‘awful man’ under his breath during a press conference and photo opportunity on the ski slopes at Klosters.
In 2022, Charles vented his frustration at a leaky pen while signing the visitors book at Hillsborough Castle – telling courtiers he ‘can’t bear this bloody thing’.
Just a few days earlier, the King furiously motioned for an aide to move an ink pot as he signed documents when he was proclaimed the new King.
Meanwhile, last year a frustrated King Charles moaned ‘we can never be on time’ as he waited in coach outside Westminster Abbey ahead of his Coronation, lip readers claimed.
