King Charles has drowned “a few sorrows” the day after England’s dramatic exit from the World Cup.
Charles and Queen Camilla visited the Hall & Woodhouse Badger Brewery in Blandford, Dorset, on Thursday following the national team’s 2-1 semi-final defeat by Argentina.
Charles poured a pint of Fursty Ferret, a 3.4 per cent amber ale which is one of the brewery’s best-sellers.
Before taking a sip, he remarked with a smile: “Maybe it’s a good day to drown a few sorrows.”
England fans were left devastated by the loss in Atlanta, Georgia, which saw the team denied a place in the final for what would have been the first time in 60 years.
More than 24 million people tuned in to watch the match on BBC One and iPlayer, making the game the most-watched UK broadcast of the year.
It was the biggest live TV event in the UK since the final of Euro 2020 at Wembley, when Italy defeated England on penalties.
During the brewery visit on Thursday, the royal couple met brewing and chef apprentices, observing trainee cooks compete in a Master Chef-style competition.
Hall & Woodhouse Badger Brewery, which was founded in 1777 by Charles Hall, is set to celebrate its 250th anniversary next year.
It now produces over nine million pints annually, employs more than 1,500 people, and operates around 140 pubs across the south of England.
The King also spoke with Paul Barnett, the brewery’s finance director, about the World Cup's impact on their business, which primarily consists of food-led pubs without screens for football matches.
Mr Barnett candidly told the King: “I’m quite relieved we’re out of the football because we don’t make so much money.”
The Princess Royal also reflected on England’s defeat during her tour of Thailand on Thursday.
Anne met former Three Lions striker Emile Heskey at a Play for Change sporting event run for youngsters hosted by Save the Children and Liverpool Football Club Foundation in Bangkok.
The King’s sister said in a speech: “I know the value of football, and I know the value of sport in so many different ways. It’s not just about competition.
“These values really lie in building confidence and teamwork and talent, and the confidence to have that talent and to deal with success and failure.
“And for those who are here from the Liverpool Football Club Foundation, we’re having to deal with failure this morning and some of you didn’t get much sleep, so I apologise.”
England are not done with their World Cup campaign yet. They must now face France in the third-place play-off game on Saturday in Miami, kicking off at 10pm BST.
“None of our players and none of the French players want to play this match,” under-fire England manager Thomas Tuchel said.
“They want to play the final. We gave everything to achieve that.
“Everyone plays to win the World Cup, but that’s how it is. We have one less day of recovery than France, but we will do it with professionalism.”
