'Darling' Pauses Royal Etiquette

Royal etiquette briefly went out the window this week—and King Charles seemed fine with it. During Charles' visit Thursday to Grimsby Town Football Club to meet members of the community group Our Future, staff member Francine Orr said nerves got the best of her when she was introduced to the British monarch, People reports. Despite being coached to address him as "Your Majesty," she greeted him with, "All right, darling—oh no, I'm so sorry, Your Majesty."

Orr said the 77-year-old king laughed off the mix-up, replying, "That's OK," before adding, "I like being called darling." She later described him as "so down to earth" and said his visit was good for the town. Under royal protocol, Charles is addressed as "Your Majesty" in person and "His Majesty" in writing, titles he and Queen Camilla have used since he became king in 2022. Among Charles' stops in the English towns of Grimsby and Cleethorpes was the Horizon Youth Zone, which hosts activities for young people, per the BBC. "It's nice for him to see what we are trying to do for the younger kids," one woman there said.