The King who carried on: Charles III was soaked to the skin but kept going with his duties at a crucial moment

The King has been seen around the world asking where his umbrella had gone to as he was soaked in an unexpected downpour while on tour in the Caribbean. But while some have attacked him for his rather obvious call for shelter, the only overarching sentiment after seeing him battle the conditions has to be sympathy.

King Charles and Queen Camilla were watching a military parade as part of celebrations for Independence Day in Antigua and Barbuda when the weather took over. The rain came on quickly. One moment, the royals were enjoying the parade, eyes forward, and the next they began to look around for support as they were battered by the heavy shower.

An umbrella was produced rapidly for Queen Camilla who decided almost as quickly that she was better off leaving the dais. Her husband was left alone and turned around. Then, three now famous words were caught on camera – where’s the umbrella? The King walked away from the dais, too, before turning back and taking up his position in a torrent.

With rain sheeting in front of him, King Charles stood straight and watched the parade, even as the droplets slid down his head, forcing him to push his hair back.

A brolly was eventually produced for The King who later made light of the whole situation, saying the trousers of his hitherto immaculate beige suit were now so soaked they were growing watercress. He might have been cheered at the sight of his wife’s hair – despite scarpering while he was left sans umbrella, Queen Camilla ended up with what can only be described as a gentle fluffy effect to her hair which became wider by the moment once the rain had stopped.

And therein lies the rub. For the two of them were remarkably good natured about the whole thing and yet a few seconds of distress are now being pulled apart around the world.

First, the circumstances. King Charles and Queen Camilla are making an official visit to Antigua and Barbuda at one of the most important moments in its year, Independence Day. They are also there for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which The King will address against a backdrop of controversy as debate continues about the issue of an apology for the transatlantic slave trade, an issue that the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, raised again just before Charles and Camilla touched down in Antigua and Barbuda.

So not exactly an easy tour to be undertaking and one in which both would have been aware, more than ever before, that their every move is under scrutiny.

However, at one of the crucial points of the whole trip they found themselves pummelled by rain and winds without any obvious shelter. That they kept as calm as they did shows the years of preparation that have gone into the public personas. Recall the last time you were caught in heavy rain. Did you stand there, looking over your shoulder for an umbrella? Or did you run for the nearest shelter, hands over head and hoping for the best? Probably the latter which is understandable as the shock to the system from a sudden deluge is formidable.

Add in the pressure of making sure you look totally dignified and representative at all moments, knowing the eyes of the world are on you already and you can see the dilemma that King Charles and Queen Camilla were in. Neither could hot foot it from the dais, arms flailing, shrieking at the sudden nature of it all.

Secondly, let’s get to the laugh out loud part. Queen Camilla walking off with her umbrella is one of the funnier moments of the whole event. However, she had little other choice. The Queen was wearing white, notoriously troublesome in wet weather. No one wants to see her coatdress stuck to her with patches turning translucent while her mascara goes full Alice Cooper. Leaving while still looking smart was a smart choice.

That brings us to point three – her husband is a gentleman because even though he’s the Head of State and the official representative, he let her take the umbrella.

And then the fourth and final point – Charles stayed. There was no question of him missing the parade or leaving the event early. He was always hanging around. He just asked for cover while he was doing it and when none appeared he went back to the spot, stood calm and still and carried on as if he wasn’t in the middle of a torrential downpour. All those wet Tuesdays opening factories in the Midlands have come in handy after all.

Seriously, though, he did stay when many others would have walked away. Understanding that his hosts had invited him to take part in a very important moment for their country and showing the respect that this offer deserves, he simply stayed put while it rained and rained. Charles III lives a comfortable life and yet we do need to remember that he is about to turn 78 and is now in his third year of treatment for cancer. It’s worth asking what our response would be to another pensioner with cancer asking for some shelter in heavy rain before we lay into him for requesting an umbrella. And while The King had fresh clothes and a warm room waiting for him after his experience, it’s not a situation that any of us would relish. Asking for a brolly is pretty normal, really.

Which just underlines how far from normal royal life really is. Some have shown very little sympathy for The King, merely because he looked agitated in very heavy rain and asked for an umbrella. While politicians back home argue, it’s The King we’re putting front and centre of a crucial diplomatic situation. He knew that staying, despite the discomfort, was the very least he could do. After a moment of looking for help, he did it. And then he laughed off the inconveniences. When we remember his now famous line ”where’s the umbrella”, it’s worth recalling that when no answer came, he still went on with his duties.