THE KING met with graduates, tutor, local producers and choir members yesterday at Highgrove in Tetbury. 

The festive event on Friday, December 8 was themed a 'Celebration of Craft' - an engagement for The King's Foundation. 

During the visit, the King chatted with members of a Tetbury choir who were singing Christmas carols and invited him to join them at one of their weekly sessions.

Charles also tried a glass of festive mulled cider as he chatted with local producers.

Taking a sip from a glass, the King said: “Marvellous – that’s a new discovery.”

During the engagement, The King also jokingly refused to shake hands with a blacksmith Ian Thackray whose hands were dirty.

Mr Thackray, who trained a decade ago with the then Prince’s Foundation, helps mentor blacksmiths coming into the industry.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: King Charles III laughs with Ian Thackray, a blacksmith who realises his hands are too dirty to shake handsKing Charles III laughs with Ian Thackray, a blacksmith who realises his hands are too dirty to shake hands (Image: Adrian Dennis/PA Wire)

Speaking afterwards, Mr Thackray, from Dorset, said: “I said to the King it was nice to see each other again as I had trained through the Prince’s Foundation and we have bumped into each other a few times over the last 10 or 11 years.

“The King has only seen me in a suit and tie. He politely declined to shake my hand as it was black from charcoal dust.

“We are friendly enough to have a joke about it.”

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: King Charles III meets students from the Snowdon School of Furniture during the Celebration of Craft reception King Charles III meets students from the Snowdon School of Furniture during the Celebration of Craft reception (Image: Adrian Dennis/PA Wire)

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: King Charles III meets carol singers during the Celebration of Craft receptionKing Charles III meets carol singers during the Celebration of Craft reception (Image: Adrian Dennis/PA Wire)

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: King Charles III is handed a glass of mulled cider King Charles III is handed a glass of mulled cider (Image: Adrian Dennis/PA Wire)

In the brief exchange, Mr Thackray showed Charles some of the things he has been working on recently, including ancient Egyptian necklace beads which have been made from meteorites and replica lanterns produced for RHS Wisley.

Charles also met graduates and tutors from The King’s Foundation’s craft programmes, including the Metiers d’Art Fellowship, the School of Traditional Arts, and the Building Arts Programme.

Around 15,000 students take part in the foundation’s education programmes each year and many are involved in courses that teach traditional arts and crafts.

All photos by Adrian Dennis/PA Wire.