An ardent monarchist amused the Queen when he showed her a tattoo on his leg of her royal cypher and told her that it had “bloody hurt”.
Phil Smith, 61, from Northampton, has four royal-related tattoos along the outer side of his left leg: Queen Elizabeth’s royal cypher, Charles and Camilla’s individual designs and the joint cypher of the King and Queen.
Smith said: “She asked how long it [the latest one] took and I told her about one and a half hours. But I told her this one bloody hurt. She just finds it hilarious.
“She pulled her police officer’s sleeve and said ‘Look, it’s catching on!’”
Phil Smith has four tattoos dedicated to the royal family
CHRIS RADBURN/REUTERS
He added that he often “exchanged letters” with Camilla, having first written to her before she married Charles, and was pleased because she “frequently responds”.
He said: “I just think she’s fabulous and have got to know her a bit. We just hit it off. I love the royal family and she in particular has got a good sense of humour. She frequently responds. I waited to see her to show her my latest tattoo and she laughed. She said one of her security men has also had it done too.”
Smith has been writing letters to Camilla for years
CHRIS RADBURN/REUTERS
The encounter took place when the King and Queen visited the Sandringham Flower Show.
Attracting about 20,000 visitors, the one-day agricultural show has become a hardy perennial of the royal calendar.
Charles and Camilla arrived in the “Victoria”, a doorless, horse-drawn carriage made popular during Queen Victoria’s reign, and looked at displays of food and flowers.
Charles and Camilla’s arrival at the show
TOLGA AKMEN/EPA
Looking at some dog-themed cakes, the Queen said that her rescue puppy Moley was “very naughty”. She added: “I think I only have one shoe left.”
Asked whether she liked growing her own vegetables at Ray Mill House, her Wiltshire home, Camilla said: “Yes, I do enjoy it. I’m very proud of my veg. It’s the best therapy in the world.”
The event will be the last major royal engagement for the King and Queen before they decamp to the Balmoral estate in Scotland for a summer holiday.
Charles and Camilla will return to London from Balmoral for the 80th anniversary of VJ Day
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Charles is not expected to find time to meet the US president when he travels to Scotland to visit his golf course later this month.
The King had initially suggested an informal meeting with President Trump before the president’s “unprecedented” second state visit. However, Charles is not scheduled to meet Trump until he returns to the UK in September for a state visit at Windsor.
During the summer, the royal couple will return to London for the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of VJ Day on August 15.
On Sunday, the Prince of Wales is due to attend the Euro 2025 finals in Basel, Switzerland, where he will cheer on England’s Lionesses.
After England defeated Italy in the their semi-final on Tuesday, Prince William, the patron of the FA, wrote on X: “Brilliant performance @Lionesses! One game from glory! #WEURO2025.”