The Repair Shop star Jay Blades has addressed criticism he ‘broke royal protocol’ while filming a special episode of the BBC One show with King Charles.
The 52-year-old presenter and furniture restorer joined his Repair Shop team alongside the then-Prince Charles to film the special programme, which was recorded in 2021 before the death of the Queen.
A number of viewers spotted how Jay was very friendly towards the King, touching his arm as they laughed together.
Jay appeared on Good Morning Britain after the episode aired on Wednesday evening and host Charlotte Hawkins asked about viewer reaction to the apparent breach of royal protocol.
Jay replied: “I was touching him and he was returning the touch as well, so the royal protocol is by the person who is a royal.
"If he didn’t want me to touch him he would have said or someone would have told me, and he would have done that."
Jay added: "But I think the way that we have this mutual interest in heritage craft, that’s what bonded us together."
In the one-off programme, titled A Royal Visit, Jay and the team restore two historic items for the royal.
The episode saw the experts tasked with restoring an 18th-century bracket clock from the collection at The Prince's Foundation's Dumfries House headquarters and a piece of Wemyss Ware made for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.
The King was visibly moved as he inspected The Repair Shop’s handiwork on the clock, whose chimes had been restored.
Before the big reveal, presenter Jay greeted the monarch with a cup of Earl Grey tea presented in an HRH mug, to which Charles responded: "How did you guess."
As he entered The Repair Shop barn, Charles asked horologist Steve Fletcher: "Have you got the bells working again? The suspense is killing me."
Following the uncovering, the King said: "Oh my, look at that you see. Fantastic. It just shows what love, care and attention does.
“Marvellous. Having seen what it was like I can’t thank you enough, it really is wonderful. It will look really special back in Dumfries House."
Ahead of the programme airing, Repair Shop star Jay revealed to the Mirror what it was really like working with the King.
Speaking on the red carpet of the Pride of Britain Awards on Monday evening, Jay gushed: "I'm excited for everybody to see it because it is really, really special.
"I know I might say that all the time about all the Repair Shops but, basically, to have someone like the former Prince of Wales – now King Charles III – it's a wow moment.
"Wait until you see it and then tell me, call me up and tell me what you think!"
