The King "drowned a few sorrows" after England’s dramatic World Cup exit with a pint he pulled with the Queen as they toured a brewery on Thursday.
Charles sipped an amber ale made by Hall and Woodhouse Badger Brewery in Dorset the day after England captain Harry Kane and his teammates lost their semi-final match 2-1 to Argentina.
Aided by Queen Camilla, the King poured a pint of Fursty Ferret, a bestseller with the family-owned brewery based in the town of Blandford near Poole.
Before tasting the 3.4% popular ale, the King said with a wry smile: "Maybe it’s a good day to drown a few sorrows", which prompted much laughter and a round of applause from onlookers.
© Getty ImagesHis timely comment came one day after England were knocked out of the World Cup by Argentina in the semi-final match in Atlanta, despite leading by one goal after half-time.
It's also just under a week since the monarch reunited with his son, Prince Harry, his wife, Meghan Markle, and children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, at Highgrove House.
King pulls pints and tours brewery
Charles and Camilla were taken on their tour of the brewery, which celebrates its 250th anniversary next year, meeting brewing and chef apprentices, and watched as the trainee cooks competed in a MasterChef-style competition.
Founded in 1777 by Charles Hall, a Dorset farmer who began brewing beer from his excess grain, today the company produces more than nine million pints of beer every year, employs more than 1,500 people, and runs around 140 pubs across the south of England.
At one point, the King chatted to Paul Barnett, the brewery’s finance director, about the impact of the World Cup on the business.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesThe predominantly food-led pub does not have screens or show the football.
Mr Barnett told the King: "I'm quite relieved we’re out of the football because we don’t make so much money."
Charles was shown how to pull a pint by Toby Heasman, the company's head brewer, who told him to do it a "bit quicker". As he attempted it again, Camilla admonished him: "No, you're going to spill it!"
Later, the King and Queen visited the historic Corn Exchange, a Georgian riverside market town on the River Stour, which has recently undergone significant renovations.
England's World Cup loss and royal reactions
On Wednesday night, the Prince of Wales said he was "gutted" for England after they lost to Argentina in their World Cup semi-final, but said the Three Lions' "fight and belief" in the tournament was inspiring.
© Getty ImagesWilliam, who is Patron of the FA and a huge football fan, thanked the team for “an incredible tournament".
He said: "England, you gave it everything and we are all so proud of you. Thank you to everyone on and off the pitch, for an incredible tournament.
"The fight and belief you have shown has inspired us all. The most complete England team in a tournament. Hold your heads high."
During a recent appearance on Travis Kelce's New Heights podcast, William admitted that his father "hates" football – however, the King's clearly just as upset as the rest of us about the result!
