King Charles took his shoes off as he visited Europe's first Eco-Mosque in Cambridge on Monday.
The monarch, 77, is rarely seen without his smart leather footwear but only had his socks on as he walked through a prayer hall at the city's Central Mosque.
The King wore smart knitted grey socks on his feet, marking a very rare occasion of going without his shoes in public.
During his visit, Charles joked with some schoolchildren that he hoped he had not "ruined the holidays too much by dragging you in here".
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesBack in the first room, having put his shoes back on, Charles unveiled a plaque marking the 75th anniversary of Cambridge being granted city status by King George VI. Charles was then presented with a book about the mosque.
The King's shoes appeared to have been freshly polished and were bright and sparkling ahead of a very important day in the royal calendar.
Before visiting Cambridge, the King had travelled to Buckingham Palace to accept Sir Keir Starmer's resignation, before inviting new Prime Minister Andy Burnham to form a government during their meeting in the Chinese Dining Room.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesRules around royals taking their shoes off
Royals rarely take their shoes off in public, but will often do so as a sign of respect when visiting religious buildings.
For example, the Princess of Wales slipped off her heels as she visited the Shreeji Dham Haveli Hindu Temple in March. Kate, 44, went barefoot and appeared to be wearing a pair of nude tights.
© Photo: Getty ImagesLuckily, on Monday, the King managed to avoid a repeat of an unfortunate fashion faux pas during a visit to Brick Lane Mosque in 2023.
When Charles removed his shoes as a sign of respect, there appeared to be a small hole in his black socks.
Social media users dubbed the King's misstep as "relatable," with one commenting: "King Charles is truly one of us! Most of us have at least one pair of socks with a hole."
Another said: "I love it… proves he's human and frugal too!!"
King Charles's visit to Cambridge
Charles unveiled a plaque at the mosque, before addressing those in the room: "If I may say so, I’m so impressed by the quality of the design, of all the care and attention which has been lavished on it, and the fact you have a purpose-built mosque here with the community centre attached.
"It makes a huge contribution, I’m sure, not only to the Muslim community but to Cambridge itself.
© Getty Images"So I congratulate you, and I pray with all my heart that you continue with every possible success and that you continue your work together with other faiths in this area to set a remarkable example of integrated faith activity."
In a separate visit later in the day, he officially opened the city’s new Whittle Laboratory, a centre for disruptive innovation in net zero aviation and energy.
He wasn't accompanied by his wife, Queen Camilla, on this occasion, as she was visiting the Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney charity, which offers a home, work opportunities and support to people experiencing homelessness.
