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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Charlotte Tutton

The Repair Shop's Jay Blades clears up King Charles' National Anthem blunder

The Repair Shop star Jay Blades has revealed all on King Charles III's "blunder" that he admitted on the show this week.

Jay, a furniture restorer and television presenter, defended King Charles not being able to recognise the National Anthem that is played by one particular clock he owns.

Speaking on the show this week, the monarch was discussing his love of clocks, as he had one item restored by Jay and co-star Steve Fletcher.

The King tasked the show experts to repair an 18th-century bracket clock and a 19th century ceramic piece made for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

King Charles confessed in the special episode that it took him a long time to realise that one clock, in Clarence House, played the tune of the National Anthem.

The Repair Shop star Jay Blades has revealed all on King Charles III's "blunder" that he admitted on the show (ITV)

In the one-off edition, filmed in 2021 when the royal was still Prince of Wales, he admitted he hadn't recognised the tune despite how many times he would have heard that very song in his lifetime.

The moment left viewers stunned, unsure how he would not have known the tune of the National Anthem well enough to recognise it when played by the clock.

But speaking on Good Morning Britain on Thursday, Jay explained the comments and what likely caused the "blunder".

Jay and co-star Steve revealed all on filming with the King, and suggested the old clock could very well be playing the wrong notes at the wrong time, hence the confusion.

The King tasked the show experts to repair an 18th-century bracket clock and a 19th century ceramic piece (ITV)

He told hosts Adil Ray and Charlotte Hawkins: "The National Anthem was in one of the clocks that he's got, he just realised that's what it was playing. Steve probably needs to have a look at that clock because it might not be in tune."

Host Adil then asked: "Wasn't the story, Jay, that he didn't recognise the song as the National Anthem? Is that what it was?"

Jay replied: "That is possible because if a song or a clock is out of tune, correct me if I am wrong Steve, it won't play the right notes at the right time, so it might not sound correct."

Steve added: "The right notes in the wrong order," with Jay replying: "There you go."

Charlotte quipped: "Cos I think he has probably heard the National Anthem a few times now..." as Adil said back: "I should think he probably has."

Jay and co-star Steve revealed all on filming with the King (ITV)

Speaking about his love of clocks in the episode, the royal said: “To me I just love the sound, the tick tock but also if they chime, that’s why I love grandfather clocks.

“I find it rather reassuring in a funny way and they become really special parts of the house… the beating heart of it. So that’s why they matter to me.

“I’m afraid it is something I learnt from my grandmother, she had great fun putting a few together and trying to get them to chime at the same time in the dining room, which made it very enjoyable because everybody had to stop talking.”

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV and ITV Hub.

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