King makes surprise visit to Army barracks

King Charles has made a surprise visit to an army barracks in Hampshire and joked about being “allowed out of my cage”.

He was speaking during a visit to the 3 Royal School of Military Engineering (3RSME) at Gibraltar Barracks in Minley.

The King received a salute from a Quarter Guard – which comprised officers from the school – after he was greeted by Lord Lt Nigel Atkinson and Maj Gen Eldon Millar.

Lt Col Robert Grant said soldiers and staff only had six days to prepare for the King’s visit which also saw him meet with families of serving soldiers.

As the King was led into the officers’ mess by Lt Col Grant, Charles told him: “I do apologise for taking you by surprise, when this opportunity appeared and I had been allowed out of my cage, I wanted to come to have a look.”

The 3RSME was formed in September 1939 as the Combat Engineer Centre of Excellence.

All Royal Engineer soldiers and officers pass through 3RSME to receive combat engineer initial trade training.

The school is responsible for providing command courses at the junior and senior level, as well as combat engineer courses, teaching skills such as bridging, demolitions and water supply.

Natalie Newman, 34, of Poole, Dorset, said meeting the King was “nerve-wracking, but amazing”.

She added: “I just said how many children I had, I said I had three children, and he said ‘it was nothing a strong drink won’t help’.

“He was really funny, he appeared absolutely fine and upbeat.”

The King’s visit comes two days after Prince Harry’s spokesperson said his father was too busy to see the Duke of Sussex while he was in London attending an event to mark a decade of the Invictus Games.

Elsewhere, Prince Harry’s brother – the Prince of Wales – was out and about in Cornwall speaking to members of the RNLI and local organisations.

Prince William also took part in an impromptu game of volleyball with teenagers from a Newquay lifesaving club.