29 March 2023 , 16:01
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King Charles was memorably plagued by a series of unfortunate pen blunders in the early days of his reign.
So it seems his German hosts on his first state visit abroad as monarch were taking no chances.
It has been reported that the pen the monarch used while signing the guest book during a visit to presidential palace Schloss Bellevue today was "repeatedly checked" ahead of Charles' arrival.
The news emerged as Charles and Queen Camilla began a three-day trip to Germany this afternoon and were given a huge ceremonial welcome with military honours at the city's iconic Brandenburg Gate.
King Charles and Queen Camilla sign a guest book at Schloss Bellevue today (Bernd von Jutrczenka/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)Kai Baldow, head of protocol in the German president’s office, told the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper of the lengths they had gone to in checking the pen and added: "Our pen has never failed."
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And it seems their preparation paid off as the guest book signing went off without a hitch.
His Majesty went viral due to several clips in the days after he came to the throne that showed him losing his cool when it has come to signing several documents.
The first came at the meeting of the Accession Council - where he was proclaimed King - when he grimaced after a pen tray got in the way of him signing a document and he beckoned an aide to move it.
Charles had trouble with a pen during a meeting of the Accession Council last year (Getty)And the second came on a trip to Northern Ireland when a leaky pen left him agitated and he said: " "I can't bear this b****y thing ... every stinking time!"
Charles and Camilla's welcome reception at Schloss Bellevue today came after they visited the Brandenburg Gate - the first time the landmark has been used to welcome any visiting head of state.
The King inspected a guard of honour, accompanied by the president Frank-Walter Steinmeier, before Charles, Camilla, the German statesman and his wife Elke went on a brief walkabout meeting people waiting behind nearby crash barriers.
The King encountered a leaky pen just days laterEarlier as the King and Queen descended on Germany, the RAF Voyager plane they were travelling in was escorted by German Eurofighter jets as a mark of respect.
The royal couple also released a personal message on social media that read: "Ahead of our first State Visit to Germany, we are very much looking forward to meeting all of those who make this country so special.
"It is a great joy to be able to continue the deepening of the longstanding friendship between our two nations." It was signed Charles R and Camilla R.
The royal couple at Schloss Bellevue this afternoon (The Daily Mirror)The trip to Germany has unexpectedly become Charles' first state visit as King after his and Camilla's visit to France was postponed due to civil unrest in the country.
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They were due to begin the first state visit of the King's reign on Sunday but the trip was shelved after a night of violent demonstrations across France that led to hundreds of arrests and police being injured.