King Charles mocks himself over fountain pen blunder just days into reign

dailyrecord.co.uk:

King Charles mocked himself during his speech at Mansion House in the City of London yesterday as he recalled his fountain pen blunder just days into his reign.Showing off his light-hearted side, the monarch cracked the joke whilst he was giving his state of the nation address in which he also praised the positive contribution immigrants have made to British humour.The 74-year-old also celebrated British science, innovation and scholarship and expressed hope that these things would help fight the ongoing battle of global warming, the Mirror reports.He said: "The British sense of humour is world-renowned.

It is not what we do. It is who we are. Our ability to laugh at ourselves is one of our great national characteristics."Referring to some troublesome pens after taking the throne, he joked: "Just as well, you may say, given some of the vicissitudes I have faced with frustratingly failing fountain pens this past year!"The King previously lost his temper during a signing ceremony in Northern Ireland in September last year after he initially penned the wrong date while signing a visitors' book before cameras at Belfast's Hillsborough Castle.

The incident came just days into his reign and when his pen started to leak ink, he said, "Oh god, I hate this [pen]", before standing up and handing it to wife Camilla.

Charles then said: "I can't bear this bloody thing - what they do - every stinking time." It came after the King expressed frustration at a pen holder as he struggled to find enough room on a desk during his proclamation ceremony at St James's Palace.