The fault was all on a leaky pen when King Charles III found himself in a mess and quite agitated during an important signing ceremony at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland earlier in the week. His Majesty was heard telling royal aides "I can't bear this bloody thing" after a pen he was using inconveniently left ink all over his hands.
It wasn't just the pen that prevented the signing ceremony from being smooth sailing - Charles also wrote the wrong date before checking that it was actually September 13, not September 12. The King may have thought the mishap was behind him, as he visited Wales for the first time since becoming monarch, but royal fans had other ideas - and made it their mission to remind him with a cheeky joke.
Charles was captured on camera as he greeted the well-wishing crowds in Cardiff, while one person humorously handed him a black biro pen.
In the footage, the King can be seen accepting the writing utensil but looks at it puzzled - though it didn't take much explanation.
In very few words, a woman can be heard saying "just in case", which thankfully made Charles hang his head in laughter.
The amused King found it just as funny and the comical moment was shared with fans before he moved on to greet other mourners.
A short clip was posted on social media, where people agreed he'd taken it in "good spirits" and was a perfect example of "British humour".
"At least he saw the funny side", one fan wrote, and another agreed: "Good to see him laugh and relax."
"Apart from its brilliant example of British wit, it shows His Majesty that the public have his back. Down to a leaky pen," someone commented.
Though it seems the King didn't even need the free pen, as he appeared to bring his own to the service of prayer and reflection at Llandaff Cathedral.
Charles appeared to take a pen out from the inside of his jacket pocket to sign the book, before passing it to Queen Consort Camilla.
Spectators seemed to pick up on the difference, with some humorously pointing it out on social media.
One user said: "King Charles has produced his own pen in Cardiff. Passed it in to Camilla. No ink stains. All is well with the world."
While another added: "I love the way King Charles has brought his own pen. No #pengate this time."
The incident with the leaky pen came just days after he was left irked by a pen tray while attempting to sign official declarations on becoming King during his meeting with the Accession Council on Saturday.
His Majesty sat down to sign the official documents but found that the tray of pens that had been left on the table was in his way, and he appeared to grimace and push the tray before somebody removed it from the table.
You can now buy Friday's historic Daily Mirror commemorating the death of the Queen here: mirror.co.uk/commemorative
