King Charles Lauds British Wit, Reflects on 'Leaky Pen' Episode at City of London Event

King Charles, on Thursday, hailed the "world-renowned" wit of the British people while ruminating on his viral leaky pen disaster in September 2022. The British monarch and Queen Camilla attended a banquet at the Mansion House to honor the civic institutions and Livery Companies of the City of London and the city's ancient and present trade guilds.

King Charles Jokes About His Fountain Pen Mishap in Northern Ireland

During a speech, King Charles applauded British residents for using comedy to combat concerns such as the rise of artificial intelligence and climate change.

"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," the king stated, per NY Post.

"It is not what we do. It is who we are. 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," King Charles added.

King Charles recounted the 2022 incident in which a leaking pen got ink all over his hands during a signing ceremony in Northern Ireland. First, he signed the document with the incorrect date.

"Is it September the 12th?" the monarch asked an aide at the time, despite a calendar with the date sitting right in front of him. "Oh God, I've put the wrong date down," King Charles said after he declared it was the 13th.

Camilla Parker-Bowles then pointed out to him, "You signed the 12th earlier." King Charles became agitated as a result of the leaking pen. "Oh God, I hate this," he exclaimed as he handed the defective pen to his wife.

"I can't take this bloody thing anymore!" "Every stinking time," King Charles complained to an attendant as he and his wife worked to clean up the mess.

King Charles, Queen Camilla's Life Isn't All a 'Fairytale' Despite Picture-Perfect Front

Meanwhile, Sara Parker-Bowles, Queen Camilla's former daughter-in-law who is still close to the queen consort and King Charles, divulged how the royal couple's life is not just a fairytale. She claimed that the royal couple is happiest together when they are off-duty and away from the public glare, which isn't often for the King and Queen.

"It's a nice insight seeing [Charles and Camilla] off-duty because those are the happy times you know they deserve," Sara stated to The Daily Mail. She went on to say that, while many people believe that being a member of the Royal Family is glamorous and a "fairytale," she couldn't imagine anything worse, especially after seeing the toll it takes in real life.

"Being royal is not fun. There's still that fairy-tale thing of little girls wanting to grow up to be a Princess. People don't realise what really goes on; there's no privacy, and so many constraints and criticism. I just can't think of anything worse," Sara shared. "People talk about the royals being privileged. Fair enough, but they work unbelievably hard. With them I've really seen what duty means - someone's life taking second place to what they're obliged to do," she furthered.

Sara then alluded to the time following Queen Elizabeth II's death when King Charles and Queen Camilla had to tour the country as the monarchy's new leaders. "His mother had died but there was no grieving, no sitting at home crying, they were off straight away. It was quite something, especially at the age they are. Whatever your views on the Royal Family, you've got to be moved by that," she opined.

Photo: The Royal Family Channel/YouTube Screenshot