King Charles' 'sausage fingers' steal the show as he pours his own pint at family-run brewery
BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND: King Charles III delighted pub-goers in Burton upon Trent by pulling his own pint during a visit to Tower Brewery; but while the monarch enjoyed sampling the local brews, his noticeably swollen fingers also drew attention.
The British royal during his visit to Burton upon Trent in Staffordshire, stopped by Tower Brewery, a family-run establishment that has been serving the local community for 24 years, as reported by Irish Star.
The King later visited Tower Brewery in Burton upon Trent, the home of British brewing. He could not resist sampling the local beer as well as a “supercharged” 41% spirit made with hops, which he declared “interesting”. pic.twitter.com/iY4rTxoqKi
— Victoria Ward (@victoria_ward) February 24, 2025
King Charles' swollen fingers steal the spotlight during brewery visit
The king pulled himself a pint of Gone for a Burton, a classic mid-strength brew and one of the brewery’s signature selections. As he stood behind the bar, owner John Mills playfully asked, “Are you going to have a slurp of that, Sir? " With a chuckle, the monarch quipped that if he didn’t, he’d be “in the wrong place.”
Charles raised his glass and quipped, “To your very good health,” before tasting the ale.
The king asked with curiosity, "Are you selling this all over the place?
In response, Mills presented him with The Spirit of Burton, a potent 41 percent proof liquor he had crafted alongside a colleague. He explained that while it was distilled from one of his robust IPAs, it couldn’t officially be called whiskey due to the lack of maturation.
The king took a whiff of the clear liquid before sampling it. With a chuckle, he remarked, "Mmmm... Interesting," before adding, "Yes, it's definitely supercharged," according to the Mirror.
What was intended to be a showcase of British craftsmanship swiftly became a talking point for an entirely different reason, his noticeably swollen fingers.
The medical term for King Charles' so-called "sausage fingers" is dactylitis, a condition that causes significant swelling in the fingers and toes.
The monarch also poked fun at his puffy hands in a documentary about his coronation. During a lighthearted exchange with Prince William, the King was seen laughing as his son fastened a clasp on his ceremonial robe. Amused, Charles quipped, "No, you haven’t got sausage fingers like mine."
This isn't the first time he's joked about his hands.
After Prince William was born, King Charles shared his excitement in a letter to a friend, writing, "“I can't tell you how excited and proud I am. He really does look surprisingly appetising and has sausage fingers just like mine."
Medical professionals have weighed in on the possible causes. Dr Chun Tang, medical director at Pall Mall Medical, explained that swelling in the hands can be linked to several conditions, including water retention, arthritis, bacterial infections, or even tuberculosis.
The king, visibly fascinated by the brewing process, lingered longer than planned. When an aide tried to nudge him along, he dismissed the suggestion with a smile. “I’m having a fascinating history lesson,” he said.
King Charles reportedly 'relieved' that Trump won’t deport Prince Harry
King Charles III is likely breathing a sigh of relief after President Donald Trump dismissed speculation about deporting Prince Harry, according to royal experts.
With Harry’s immigration status in the US under increasing scrutiny, some speculated that a second Trump presidency could mean legal trouble for the Duke of Sussex. However, Trump recently clarified that he has no plans to send Harry back to the UK a decision experts say the king welcomes.
Royal analyst Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital that Charles would want to avoid the “media circus” that would come with his son being forcibly returned.
"It would put the spotlight back on the Sussexes, something the royal family is keen to avoid,” Fitzwilliams explained.
"Harry would undoubtedly appeal. The publicity would be ceaseless. Apart from the fact that the royal family is the (UK) government’s trump card in dealing with the most unpredictable president of them all, Harry is in self-imposed exile and the royal family have health struggles and do not trust the Sussexes."
Royal commentator Hillary Fordwich added that Charles, who is focused on his recovery and royal duties, likely prefers his son remain in California. “Regarding his wayward son Harry, it’s far better that he remains out of sight and out of mind,” she said.
