King Charles jokes 'I'd better not have too much' as he samples craft beer named after him during visit to Guernsey with Queen Camilla

King Charles joked he’d ‘better not have too much’ as he sampled a beer named in his honour during a visit to Guernsey with Queen Camilla on Tuesday. 

The monarch, 75, has joined his wife, 76, for a two-day visit to the Channel Islands and was touring the Crown Pier in Saint Peter Port. 

As Camilla enjoyed sampling some local cheese, Charles was presented with the ‘Charles Beer’, a craft golden ale named in his honour by the Little Big Brew Company for his Coronation last May. 

‘If you’re tempted, Sir?’ said the Bailiff, gesturing to the full glass of freshly poured beer on the table.

The King asked when it was brewed and whether much had been sold before taking a sip, showing his typical good-natured sense of humour.

King Charles samples the ‘Charles Beer’ brewed by the Little Big Brew Company during a visit to Guernsey on Tuesday

The monarch, 75, joked ‘I’d better not have too much’ before taking a swig of the craft ale

‘I’d better not have too much,’ he joked, taking a sniff to enjoy its aromas.

He then gestured to the watching media, saying: ‘I’m sure they’re all dying for some.’

The Queen joked: ‘They’re queuing up.’

Head brewer Daniel O’Brien said afterwards ‘It’s been a huge hit.’

Simon de la Rue said: ‘It’s gone gang busters.

‘The King seemed to really like it. He said it had a good aroma but that he shouldn’t drink too much at this time of day.’

The couple spent time chatting to those who’d turned out to see them before heading to the showcase of Guernsey culture, including heritage, produce and environmental initiatives.

Charles, who appeared to be wearing a friendship bracelet potentially made by Princess Charlotte, also spoke of his love of seaweed and practised his French as he was introduced to various local business owners on the pier.

He had a long chat to Ben Tustin, owner of the Guernsey Seaweed Food Co, telling him that his trade was ‘so interesting’.

King Charles III is shown a beer called Charles as he tours a showcase of Guernsey culture, heritage, produce and environmental initiatives on Crown Pier in Saint Peter Port

Cheers! The monarch then picked up the pint glass of local ale before enjoying a sip

The King took a sniff of the Charles beer before drinking it to enjoy its aromas

The King asked when it was brewed and whether much had been sold before taking a sip

The walkabout at Crown Pier saw the royals sample the finest Guernsey fare

Mr Tustin said afterwards: ‘He said he had grown potatoes on seaweed in Scotland and they were the best potatoes he’d ever tasted.

‘He also said he liked eating seaweed.’

The Queen said: ‘It’s very good for you isn’t it?’

Charles was shown some traditional Guernsey willow fishing baskets by three generations of the Gaudion family.

The King asked whether they were repairable and suggested it must be ‘quite tiring on the fingers’ to make them.

‘I bet they work very well,’ he said.

At the Guernsey Language Commission, the King asked how different the local language was to French.

‘Are you trying to get more people to speak it?’ he asked. ‘Is the idea to teach it in schools?’

Ouch: The Queen, who turns 77 tomorrow, appears to lean on her umbrella for support as she arrives sporting a bandaged ankle alongside King Charles in St Peter Port on Guernsey

King Charles and Queen Camilla, co-ordinating with touches of royal blue, arrived on the Channel Island for day two of their royal tour

King Charles offers a cheery wave to well-wishers as he arrives at Guernsey Parliament at Saint Peter Port on Tuesday

Only blue skies above today: the King and Queen bask in the sunshine on a visit to Guernsey’s Crown Pier

The King spoke to many of the local residents crowded all the way down the pier hoping for a chance to shake his hand.

He chatted in French to several of them, commenting that the island was not far from France and asking others which part of France they were from.

He also said he was enjoying the sunny weather after yesterday’s downpours.

Meanwhile Queen Camilla toured local stalls sampling apple juice, ice cream and local cheese.

The couple first unveiled a plaque to mark Charles’ visit on the spot where the proclamation of his accession was delivered two years ago.

And they greeted flag-waving well-wishers before watching 16 traditional Guernsey dancers, dressed in Victorian-style outfits.

Camilla was shown a stall which produces the Guernsey jumper and said: ‘They really do keep the cold out. They are originally a fisherman’s jumper.’

She also sampled rhubarb and ginger ice cream from Le Hetcher Farm and said: ‘How delicious.’

A right royal welcome: in the sunshine crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of their King and Queen this morning on the seafront at St Peter Port

Bianvnus! Many islanders offered a traditional Guernsey welcome to the royal couple

The Royal Standard is raised as the King and Queen roll into town

This afternoon, the King and Queen met a four-legged VIP in the shape of Somerville Tamsin, a Guernsey goat 

The king looked delighted to be introduced to the animal, affectionately known as Tamtam, and hear about how she was washed with shampoo and conditioner yesterday ahead of her royal encounter

Stepping out of his royal car, the King raised a hand to wave at those gathered on Tuesday

She then sipped locally made apple juice from a glass from Rocquettes Cider.

Dave Domaille, of Guernsey Dairy, handed the Queen some ‘vintage cheddar cheese’ and said: It’s an early birthday present.’

Inside a marquee at the end of the pier, the royal couple joined 77 locals and veterans for a tea party.

At the first table they met the family of Capt Peter Voute who taught Charles how to fly at RAF Yeovilton, Somerset, in the 1970s. Peter, from Guernsey, died in February, aged 85-year-old.

His Niece Nicky Gaudion wrote to King’s office to say that Peter, who was also an usher at the wedding to Diana, was terminally ill.

Sitting at the table, Charles reminisced about the old days.

He said: ‘It was an incredible time for me, we had great fun. I loved it and it was too short a time.’

Peter’s daughter Tricia Howitt said afterwards: ‘We thought we’d get a generalised note from King’s office passing on his condolence but we received a letter which moved us really deeply.

With the sun gods smiling on them today, the King and Queen spent time greeting those who’d turned out to welcome them to the Channel Island

Saying hello! The King was greeted by an array of smiles as he walked along the seafront on Tuesday

A little hand to shake: Queen Camilla, 77 tomorrow, has a chat with a young islander

An historic welcome: The King shakes hands with islanders in local dress as the couple head for Crown Pier in St Peter Port

Carina Howitt, Peter’s daughter, added: ‘We were very surprised and we felt very touched that he remembered our father.’

And said: ‘Our father told us he (Charles) was one of the best and most natural pilots he ever trained and rated him extremely highly.

Charles was joined by Camilla, who sported a bandage on her right ankle today. Aides said she has suffered an ‘slight ankle sprain’ while on neighbouring Jersey – where the heavens opened for the royal visit – yesterday.

The white dressing was clearly visible as she and King Charles arrived in St Peter Port to be greeted by huge crowds and blue skies.

Camilla, 76, sported low heels with a royal blue silk crepe dress and coat by Fiona Clare but appeared to be leaning on an umbrella as she walked.

Despite the apparent minor injury, she looked delighted to be on Guernsey soil this morning, not least because the sun was shining.

The royal couple faced a deluge yesterday in Jersey as their two-day tour of the Channel Islands kicked off in soggy style. It is the first official visit by a monarch to the Channel Islands since 2005, when the late Queen Elizabeth visited Jersey.

While the Queen, who will celebrate her birthday during the royal visit when she turns 77 tomorrow, wore the striking royal blue dress jacket, the King donned a light grey suit, with a blue cornflower on his lapel.

And the Queen was tempted by a lunchtime refresher too, taking time out to sample an apple juice produced on Guernsey

Camilla, seen wearing an array of bracelets on her right wrist, raises a toast during the tour

A cornet for Camilla: The Queen chats to local ice-cream makers, who use the Channel Island’s famous milk to make their flavours

The Queen is spotted deep in conversation with local artisans about the knitwear they make and sell 

The royal couple were greeted by hundreds of smiling well-wishers as they made their way along St Peter Port seafront to Guernsey Parliament.

In some places, the crowds were five-people deep as they patiently waited to catch a glimpse of their King and Queen.

When they did arrive, the Royal Standard was raised on the Weighbridge Mast and a 21 gun salute fired. They then took part in a special sitting of the States of Deliberation.

It is traditional that a special sitting of the States of Deliberation is held when the Monarch visits Guernsey for the first time and occurred in 1957 for the first visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The Seigneurs and Dames also paid homage to His Majesty. As he and the Queen took their seats in carved thrones.

Guernsey’s links to the Crown stretch back centuries. The Channel Islands formally became part of the Duchy of Normandy in 933, then Normandy and England came under common rule from 1066 after the victory of William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings.

After 1204, Guernsey pledged to remain loyal to King John of England when he lost his continental Normandy territory to the French King.

And now, 820 years on, the Channel Islands are the only part of the former Duchy of Normandy which remains loyal to the British Crown.

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