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People are losing it after catching King Charles III's awkward exchange with Prime Minister Liz Truss at their first weekly audience.
The prime minister hasn't been able to catch a break since taking on the job, from an economic recession to the ongoing energy crisis to threats of a no confidence vote, and everything in between.
But this week, King Charles provided the icing on the cake when he met Truss at Buckingham Palace and destroyed her in seconds flat with a particularly awkward greeting:
If you didn't catch that, Truss is escorted into the room and curtseys before the monarch before greeting him: "Your Majesty."
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King Charles replied: "So you're back again?"
Liz tells him "It's a great pleasure", only for Charles to quietly mutter: "Dear oh dear. Anyway…"
It's no wonder why, almost as soon as it aired, the clip went viral online.
Oxford lecturer Dr Jennifer Cassidy shared the video, comparing it to 'a scene straight from The Office', and describing the moment as 'political awkwardness and unintentional comedy at its finest'.
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Another amused viewer who caught the video joked: "Old Charlie boy has already figured these lot out…"
Political commentator Matthew Stadlen commented: "Whatever he meant by it, King Charles spoke for the country when he greeted Liz Truss. ‘Dear, oh dear’ just about sums things up."
Broadcaster Nick Bryant also shared the clip online, joking: "A regal meme is born."
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Charles has been caught cracking jokes a few times since ascending to the throne, while fulfilling his share of royal duties.
In one instance earlier this month, he took the opportunity to make a little joke at his own expense when an attempt to sign a guest book went horribly wrong - one of many stationary mishaps he's had recently.
Just after Truss was elected prime minister, taking over from Boris Johnson, Queen Elizabeth II passed away at age 96, following a 70-year reign.
Upon the death of his mother, King Charles ascended to the throne as the new monarch.
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Buckingham Palace confirmed this week that a ceremony for King Charles' coronation will be held on Saturday 6 May next near, with the Queen Consort Camilla being crowned alongside her husband.
The ceremony will be ‘rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry’ but will also ‘reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future’.
King Charles III will be anointed with holy oil, receive the orb, coronation ring and sceptre, be crowned with the majestic St Edward’s Crown and blessed.
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Meanwhile Camilla will also be anointed with holy oil and crowned, just like the Queen Mother was during the coronation of her husband, King George VI on 12 May 1937.
Topics: News, King Charles III, Royal Family
Ali Condon