King Charles raises toast to brewery owner and reveals his own hidden talents

Being a constitutional monarch in the modern age requires a number of skills your forebearers didn’t have to learn. Though you no longer need to lead an army into battle or impose your rule over parliament, you’re required to develop a set of soft skills that will endear you to your people and ensure they want you and the throne to stay around.

But still, who would think that King Charles III could pour a pint better than a country publican?

The 76 year old monarch displayed his pouring skills while visiting a family-owned brewery in an area that was once the epicentre of English beer production in the early 19th century.

During the official engagement, King Charles was led around Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, by historian Dr Harry White, chair of the National Brewing Centre in Burton.

Ever the history buff, King Charles told Dr White he was “learning fast” and that he was having “a fascinating history lesson.”

The monarch then visited Tower Brewery in Burton where multiple breweries shipped millions of barrels of beer across the country and the world during the industry’s heyday.

As the king pulled a pint of Gone for a Burton, a traditional mid-strength beer made by the establishment, brewery owner John Mills asked the monarch an important question.

“Are you going to have a slurp of that, Sir?” he asked.

Displaying his cheeky side, the monarch said he would be “in the wrong place” if he didn’t have a try of the pale ale and then gave a toast to Mills.

“To your very good health,” the king said.

While his skills with a beer tap may charm his fans, the King has shown he is full of surprises as continues to settle into his role.

During a recent visit to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London, the King his hand at American football and got some throwing advice from Phoebe Schecter, captain of Britain’s women’s flag football team.

Looking on was Efe Obada, a British-Nigerian defensive end who played for the Washington Commanders for the past three seasons. He praised the King for getting “stuck in” and for having good energy on the day.

“His technique wasn’t immaculate, I wanted him to get a little closer to the target so he could get it in but he was having a great time and got a good reception,” Obada said.

– with AP