The Greater Manchester Police Federation's chair is among those showing sympathy and support to King Charles III after His Majesty wrote the wrong date down and got frustrated with a pen.
The incident took place in Northern Ireland during the most recent leg of the King's royal tour, after his mother The Queen passed away last week. While sitting down to sign the visitor's book at Hillsborough Castle in Co Down, the King could be heard in a video clip asking the date, before standing up.
"Oh God, I put the wrong date down," said the new monarch. The Queen Consort Camilla then appeared to suggest he'd made the same error on another occasion that day, adding: "You signed the 12th earlier."
READ MORE: "I can’t bear this bloody thing" - King Charles blasts leaking pen
As the pen the King was using appeared to leak he turned to aides and said: "I can’t bear this bloody thing." The pen was handed to Camilla who said "it's going everywhere" and the King was eventually led away.
GMP officer and federation chair PC Lee Broadbent joined other Twitter users who rallied round in support of the King after the clip was mocked by some users on the social network. The GMP constable tweeted: "Bloke's just lost his mum and vultures are picking away at his every move. When I lost my mum I had nowhere near the composure, patience and restraint he’s shown."
It came after Royal Correspondent Charlie Proctor tweeted: "We are only a few days into the new King’s reign, and he has already has another mishap with a pen after it starts leaking."
Elsewhere on Twitter, spoof account Parody Prime Minister was quick to mock the grieving monarch. It tweeted: "It's reassuring to know we have a Head of State who can remain calm in a crisis."
However, more compassionate Twitter users were equally quick to tweet their support, reports WalesOnline. Angela King wrote: "If you’ve ever lost a parent or indeed anybody you were particularly close to, then you will absolutely understand how Charles will be feeling right now. It’s not about the date or the pen but how he’s feeling both physically and mentally right now."
Daren Curtis replied: "He’s 73, just lost his mother and is now being pulled from pillar to post and all being played out in front of the world's media, I’m no royalist but give the guy a break."
The incident follows another pen-related mishap on Saturday when the King was seen gesturing for an ornate holder to be taken away by an aide while signing a document during his first Privy Council. Later it was back in place but the King once again took offence over the item, when called upon to give his signature, and pulled a face before it was removed again.
Pay tribute to The Queen - without having to use a pen - in our book of condolences here.
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