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© Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Leaky pen and staff job cuts: King Charles under scrutiny
By SYLVIA HUI LONDON©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
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rcch
“ Charles was seen losing his temper at a leaking pen while he was signing a visitors' book in front of cameras in Northern Ireland, where he was on the latest leg of his royal tour of the UK’s four nations.
Charles was heard exclaiming “Oh god I hate this!” and muttering “I can’t bear this bloody thing … every stinking time.”
The video came after another pen-related incident on Saturday, when the new monarch was seen gesturing in irritation at his staff when a pen holder got in his way as he signed a document during his accession ceremony. “
The man is under a lot of pressure. Some people will say that he spent his whole life getting ready for this moment but he’s just a man. He’s the King, yes, but he’s also a man, a human being; he can lose his composure in front of the cameras if he wants to. I heard people calling this ridiculous, embarrassing, and that it was just a f ing pen; who cares if it’s just a pen(?) Let the man breathe.
wallace
Should have used a Sharpie like Donald. Never leaks.
Charles's pen was as leaky as his prostate with ink on his hands.
Major staff changes have the camps changed. Some retire and some are given other jobs and some will lose them.
buchailldana
I think it was an "Irish"pen craftily made to leak on the monarch
starpunk
Giving pink slips at a time like this is a bit on the major uncool.
He has a new job and he's 75 years old. He's got a huge weight on his shoulders and the last thing he needs is those sensationalistic cretins in the Sun and Fleet Street slagging him in the media like this. Give him some slack, and let the ashes fall. Then later on, if and when he does or says something idiotic again then write about it. But this isn't the time for any editorial 'jokey-jokey'. For the time being while Chucky is in mourning and transition, HANDS OFF.
Luddite
Give him a break, his mum just died.
Rodney
if he is a charitable person, he could keep his staff on, as they are paid with taxpayers money. Clarence House. It has 775 rooms, so it can accommodate a large proportion of homeless.
wallace
In the US when a new president takes office, many thousands of various staff and workers are changed.
mtuffizi
if not ready to take pressure as king, how about consider to give the clown to his older son william? i have no pity for that man.
ebisen
I mean - that guy's only job was to arrange a pen that's not leaking... I'd be just as pissed as any if being handed a pen that leaves black marks on my hands, for the press to discuss about...
Ah_so
True, but not strictly relevant. He isn't a president and has only a ceremonial role politically.
The closer comparison would be a change of prime minister after an election. Here the UK does differ quite a bit because there are very few unelected positions that would change and even new appointments tend not to be overtly political.
Alan Harrison
The only redundancies will be voluntary with generous terms, and all others redeployed. As for the leaky pen, is this even news?
Martimurano
Doesn't matter how much pressure or scrutiny you're under, you would never have seen the Queen react like Charles did..... Decorum is everything when it comes to the Royal Family.
He's been very badly advised over the redundancies, not just the extremely insensitive timing, but the fact that The Firm could and should have taken time to redeploy these people in other parts of their hugely wealthy organisation.
Like it or not, every single aspect of The Royal Family is watched and commented on constantly.
u_s__reamer
"A pen! A pen! My kingdom for a pen!"
buchailldana
If he reacts like that over a pen what will he do when Scotland and Northern Ireland vote for freedom
Peter14
The Queen was always under control and made a point of not carrying on in public or in front of camera's as Charles has just done. A contrast between mother and son, control and lack of control. The queen understood the value of decorum and poise while Charles missed those lessons from his dear mother.
More of this type of instance will come from the new King, it is his nature. The British monarchy indeed lost a valuable asset and leader and she has been replaced by a less perfect and more child like leader with less personal control and less dignified royal bearing than the previous Sovereign.
I miss the Queen.
Simona Stanzani
Scorpios are stroppy, but they're also highly efficient when needed.
[I was born the same day as Charles so I would know XD]
I think he can be a great king.