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Seagull leaves its mark on Britain's king as he visits seaside resort

king charles shakes hands with a young boy
King Charles received the 'good luck' splatter during his visit to Newcastle

Britain's King Charles received an unwanted memento from a visit to a seaside resort in Northern Ireland - where he celebrated the work of local charities - a splattering from a seagull.

He joked about his encounter with the bird that left its mark on the bottom of his suit jacket as he toured the Northern Ireland town of Newcastle.

King Charles was about to start a meet and greet with the public that lined crash barriers along the main street when the bird's droppings struck, hitting him and those around him including the press.

Irene Marting, from the village of Dromara near Lisburn, was waiting in the crowds with her sister Paula Leitch to see him and witnessed the incident unfold from across the street.

After sharing a joke with Charles about the moment she said: "We were talking to the king about the seagull and he said 'it’s well it didn’t land on my head’.

"Somebody was trying to get him to put a coat on but he didn't, being hit by a seagull it's supposed to be good luck.

"We’re so thrilled he’s come to Northern Ireland to see us and it’s really nice to see him in Newcastle."

King Charles with John O'Neill at The Pantry Foodbank in Donard Methodist Church, Newcastle,
King Charles and Pantry Foodbank chairman John O'Neill pack a box at the charity

Earlier, King Charles hailed "amazing" foodbank volunteers when he packed boxes of groceries for those in need during his second day in Northern Ireland.

Charles was given the task of filling two boxes with bread, vegetables, tinned goods and toiletries when he met helpers from the Pantry Foodbank based in a church in Newcastle.

He was told by the Pantry’s chairman, John O’Neill, the items were for one individual and later while looking at boxes destined for a family he made the volunteers laugh when he touched a toilet roll and said "very important".

Meanwhile, Queen Camilla carried out a solo royal visit and joked she was "not quite the expert, but my husband is" while pouring a pint of Guinness in Royal Hillsborough.

At the Parson's Nose pub and restaurant she was invited to help in pouring a pint of the black stuff after meeting staff and received a round of applause for her efforts.