King Charles Gets Hit by a Seagull Dropping in Northern Ireland — and His Response Was Priceless
The seagulls in Northern Ireland left a mark on King Charles, but not the kind he would have wanted.
After successful trips to the US and Bermuda, King Charles and Queen Camilla landed in Northern Ireland on Tuesday on an unannounced three-day tour. From playing the traditional Irish drums, bodhran, to picking out a gift for his granddaughter, Princess Charlotte, from W5 LIFE, Charles undertook several engagements in their first two days in the beautiful country. They received a warm welcome at every stop, and it seems that the Northern Irish seagulls didn’t want to be left behind in greeting the King of England. However, their way to welcome the sovereign might not have passed the royal protocol test.
Charles was greeting the onlookers outside the Newcastle Community Cinema in the quaint town of Newcastle when a seagull pooped on him. The dropping fell on the back of the sovereign’s jacket, leaving a stain. The King, who is known for having a great sense of humour, laughed off the awkward encounter with the avian residents of Newcastle. He refused to immediately change the jacket as he continued shaking hands with the human residents of the town. “At least it didn't land on my head!” he quipped.
Unfortunately, as per reports, the people and media personnel were also victims of the seagulls’ warm welcome of the King. One onlooker told the Independent, “Somebody was trying to get him to put a coat on, but he didn’t, being hit by a seagull, it’s supposed to be good luck. We’re so thrilled he’s come to Northern Ireland to see us, and it’s really nice to see him in Newcastle.”
Charles joined actor and Newcastle native, Ian McElhinney, for his visit to the Newcastle Community Cinema. The centre is run by local film enthusiasts and has been hosting screenings since 2009. When Charles visited the community cinema, he was given a VIP ticket from the box office, printed as ‘VIP Guest.’ The King has always been artistically inclined and would have certainly felt at home being surrounded by fellow art lovers.
Apart from film screenings, the community cinema space is also used for a multitude of events, including stand-up comedy, martial arts activities and performances by community groups. They even conduct events for a hobby close to Charles’ heart, that is, knitting and crocheting. The organisers hold KnitFlix nights, which combine knitting and Netflix, wherein guests are encouraged to knit, crochet or get crafting while watching a film.
From artistic endeavours, Charles moved to another cause that is deeply close to him, which is food sustainability. He visited the Pantry Foodbank, which was held at the Donard Methodist Church. The monarch helped volunteers pack a parcel for less mobile members of the community.
