King Charles delivered a weighty constitutional moment on Wednesday.
At the State Opening of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster, the 77-year-old monarch set a modern record for a sovereign speech this century, delivering a speech of 1,285 words.
As Charles and Queen Camilla departed via the sovereign entrance, the couple paused for brief conversations along their way out.
The king, apparently in no hurry to move on, became engaged in the conversation and lingered a little longer than expected.
Queen Camilla replied with a light, guiding pressure on the arm that it was time to continue according to plan.
Still mid-conversation, the king continued for a few more moments before finally closing up and falling into step next to his wife as they continued on their way.
Some described Queen Camilla as cautiously “rushing” her husband along, while others joked that the Queen managed the King’s famous conversational nature with quiet efficiency.
It’s not the first time she’s been gently left to catch up with her husband’s famously gregarious nature.
Back in March, Their Majesties visited the Eden Project in Cornwall to mark its 25th anniversary, where the King was once again in his element among the crowds.
The monarch was soon engrossed in conversation with the volunteers and seemed so engaged that for a moment he seemed to lose sight of everything else around him.
As he continued to chat, Queen Camilla could be seen trying to get his attention and move things on, but the king remained focused on the exchange.
