King Charles surprised tourists in Notting Hill with an impromptu walkabout that left onlookers thrilled and declaring: "It’s just like a movie!"
The King was visiting St Peter’s Church to thank volunteers and supporters of the Disasters Emergency Committee but kept the visit under wraps for security reasons.
Passers-by noticed his State Bentley parked outside and began to gather, hoping for a glimpse of the monarch.
When he emerged, cheers erupted, and Charles took the time to stop and chat with tourists who had been waiting. "Are you having a good time in London?" he asked a group that included visitors from Texas, Japan, and the Netherlands.
Dutch tourist Beau Kers replied: "Now we are!", prompting laughter from the King.
Angel and Ariana Salinas, Texans on a birthday trip, were overjoyed. "This would never happen in the US," Angel said.
"The King just casually stops to talk. It’s like something out of a film." Charles, ever gracious, apologised for any inconvenience. "I hope you’re not getting too wet," he said with a smile, wishing everyone a Happy Christmas before heading back to his car.
The group was left buzzing from the encounter. "What a lovely, kind man," said Beau’s mother, Diana, who praised Charles’s warmth and approachability. "This has been wonderful."
For those lucky enough to meet the King, it was a moment they would never forget.
During the visit, the King talked to paediatric nurse Becky Platt, who works at the Royal London Hospital and spent just over a month working in Gaza earlier this year.
She said afterwards: "One of the particular challenges for us was that we were managing children with significant injuries - blast injuries, traumatically amputated limbs."
The nurse who was working for Save the Children, a DEC member organisation, added: "The pain relief we had at that stage was paracetamol and Ibuprofen, you might take that for a headache but if you've had your leg blown off you want something a bit stronger than that, so that was a real challenge."
Saleh Saeed, the DEC's chief executive said the King, who has supported its work for many years, thanked the DEC, its many supporters and member charities.
The DEC, an umbrella group of leading humanitarian organisations, has raised £35 million in aid of people across the Middle East since launching an appeal in October, while its Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has amassed more than £440 million.
In a lighter moment the King was taken with Barney Guiton, 38, who raised £460 for the DEC's appeal by growing a moustache.
He said: "The King asked me if I was going to grow it so I can wax it at the ends and he asked what my wife thought about it.
"She's not a fan, I think she would sponsor me to shave it off."
