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King Charles today

(46 Posts)
ferry23 Wed 13-May-26 19:22:33

I know this has been brought up on the thread about the King's speech today but I didn't want to hijack the thread.

I was quite shocked by the King's appearance and demeanour today. I hope he's just having a bit of an off day (or not much liking what he had to read to the nation!).

He has kept up a very brave and stoic public persona, but he definitely didn't look or sound himself.

Right from the time he addressed the nation shortly after his Mother passed away, I always think of Shakespeare's Henry 1V -

"Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown"

MartavTaurus Wed 13-May-26 19:25:01

We just said the same watching the news.
He sounded very fed up and looked unwell.

Cossy Wed 13-May-26 19:33:48

Remember he’s just got back from an onerous tour, having to smile and chat, he will have had jet lag, he’s also probably still suffering the after affects of cancer treatment, he’s hardly a spring chicken.

Silvergirl Wed 13-May-26 19:36:53

I thought he didn't look comfortable. Possibly was overheating under all that clothes and the place looked quite crammed with people. Hope that is all it was.

AGAA4 Wed 13-May-26 19:54:46

It's not an easy life. He has to carry on even if he is feeling run down. He did sound very tired and was probably glad to get that speech over and done with. He's a king for life. He's a bit younger than me but I retired twelve years ago.

1960srelic Wed 13-May-26 19:59:29

I thought he sounded hoarse and he had to clear his throat a couple of times. Perhaps he has the bug that's been circulating at the moment - a sort of flu-type thing.

Smileless2012 Wed 13-May-26 20:02:06

My thoughts too 1960srelic.

J52 Wed 13-May-26 20:06:03

I also thought his breathing was a bit laboured. ( Certainly not a pun)
His face seemed pallid and his hands holding the speech seemed more bloated than usual.

AGAA4 Wed 13-May-26 20:07:58

Long flight to the US and having to spend time with Trump, who has ridiculed the Royal Navy amongst other insults, must have taken its toll.

HelterSkelter1 Wed 13-May-26 20:10:27

He looked like he should have been at home in bed and William should have delivered the speech.

Cossy Wed 13-May-26 20:11:58

HelterSkelter1

He looked like he should have been at home in bed and William should have delivered the speech.

There’s no way in the world that the King would have allowed that, anymore than our lovely previous Queen would have either.

HelterSkelter1 Wed 13-May-26 20:18:51

Let's hope it's not pneumonia Cossy and if so a day in Parliament won't have done him much good.
He is human and in his late 70s.

cornergran Wed 13-May-26 20:18:54

We also thought he wasn’t ‘himself’. Our sense was he got through it as quickly as he could and then escaped. It left us anxious for him.

Whitewavemark2 Wed 13-May-26 20:23:37

I reckon he’s just been over doing it, like we all do.

He looked and probably felt knackered. A few days in Sandringham or Birkhall should sort him out.

Sarnia Thu 14-May-26 09:03:16

King Charles and Queen Camilla both looked as if they would rather be elsewhere and who could blame them?

Oreo Thu 14-May-26 09:25:00

I didn’t notice that he looked any different tbh.They both looked very old walking in, but were weighed down with hot clothing, furs and crowns.

HelterSkelter1 Thu 14-May-26 09:29:31

Yes they both looked weighed down. Perhaps the heavy regalia should be relegated to the archives and normal clothes worn except for coronations when the next king will be younger and fitter.

Grammaretto Thu 14-May-26 09:38:16

I agree he looked old and tired. He's younger than me by a couple of months but luckily I can have a nap if I'm tired in the afternoon and don't need to travel in a golden coach and read someone else's speech.

He does have cancer too and the treatment may make him grumpy.

JenniferEccles Thu 14-May-26 10:11:34

It seems like we all had the same impression. I thought his voice sounded a bit weak, hoarse almost, and he seemed generally worn down by it all.

His duties, including foreign travel are bound to take their toll, aren’t they, given his age and most especially by the fact that he is still undergoing treatment for an unspecified cancer.

How long has it been now since we heard cancer had been found?
Catherine, who was diagnosed at roughly the same time, is now in remission.

Obviously of course she is much younger.

Calendargirl Thu 14-May-26 10:58:37

Cossy

HelterSkelter1

He looked like he should have been at home in bed and William should have delivered the speech.

There’s no way in the world that the King would have allowed that, anymore than our lovely previous Queen would have either.

Charles read the speech in place of his mother in 2022.

With hindsight, we now realise she was not well enough to do so.

Lovetopaint037 Thu 14-May-26 11:49:06

I think the King has been doing a great job and I admire him for the way he has carried on. However, for the regalia which he had to wear at the Coronation and the State Opening of Parliament has looked so out of step with the modern world and so uncomfortable. Only saying to dh the other day that I expect William will change a lot of that.

henetha Thu 14-May-26 12:31:05

I hope so, Lovetopaint. I'm a fervent monarchist but would like to see it modernised.

Anniebach Thu 14-May-26 12:38:33

This thread is about King Charles not The Prince of Wales

henetha Thu 14-May-26 12:43:00

I think to mention the Prince of Wales is relevant to the thread.

HelterSkelter1 Thu 14-May-26 12:54:14

Of course it is relevant to mention the Prince of Wales as it is to mention Camilla who must have been anxious about her husband who looked unwell in such a public occasion.