Royal Protocol was broken, but King Charles didn’t seem to mind.
King Charles, 77, arrived in Grimsby to meet local organizations that support the community on June 11, 2026. While meeting with the Grimsby Town Football Club, he was called something unexpected.
Francine Orr, a club staff member, shook the King’s hand and said, “All right, darling — oh no, I’m so sorry, Your Majesty.”
Per People, Charles laughed in response, taking no offense at the accidental slip-up. “That’s OK,” he said. “I like being called Darling.”
Orr recalls the brief instruction she received before meeting the royal, saying, “We were briefed on what we should say and what we shouldn’t say, how we should bow and how we should curtsy.”
Royal protocol states that King Charles–along with his wife, Queen Camilla–should be addressed as “Your Majesty” in verbal conversations and in writing.
After King Charles’ lighthearted reaction to being called “darling,” Orr had nothing but positive things to say about the King.
Orr said the King was “so down to earth” and a “lovely man.” She also expressed that it was “so good” for him to visit Grimsby, per People.
The King made several other stops that day, including the Horizon Youth Zone facility. He spent the day talking to school children, cadets, and scouts.
He was shown the center’s climbing wall, sports hall, and training kitchen. He watched as teenagers made pizza muffins, enjoying their day free from school.
One girl told King Charles that they were missing their math lesson, to which he jokingly replied, “I have my uses.”
“I’m sorry we can’t stop and play some badminton,” the King said as he toured the sports hall.
The royal also stopped at The Care Hub, which is a community care and housing organization providing a safe and nurturing environment to those in need, per Hello!.
The King spent the day making connections and supporting the mission of these organizations.