After hosting President Trump and the First Lady in a grand banquet the previous evening, King Charles bid farewell to the couple as they left Windsor Castle for the next leg of their State Visit. The King appeared jovial as he exchanged handshakes with Trump, displaying a wide smile as they conversed on the palace steps. However, onlookers were intrigued by an unusual aspect of Charles’ appearance—his fingers.
Fans of the Royal Family have previously voiced concerns over photos showing the King’s fingers looking excessively red and swollen. Charles himself has humorously referred to his ‘sausage fingers’ in the past. Medical Director GP Chun Tang from Pall Mall Medical in Manchester shed light on the issue, explaining that swollen fingers could be a sign of water retention stemming from various health conditions, inflammation, high salt intake, allergic reactions, or medication side effects.
The medical term for the King’s swollen fingers is dactylitis, a condition characterized by severe swelling in the fingers and toes. According to the NHS, swelling in the arms and hands, known as oedema, can result from fluid buildup due to prolonged immobility, high salt consumption, certain medications, temperature changes, infections, or conditions like psoriatic arthritis.
In a documentary titled Charles III: The Coronation Year, viewers witnessed the monarch making light of his swollen fingers during a conversation with his son, Prince William. While assisting his father with a robe clasp, William jokingly remarked that the issue wouldn’t be a concern on the actual day, to which Charles humorously replied about their differing finger sizes.
Even from his birth, the King’s hands have been a point of interest, as Queen Elizabeth II noted in a letter to her former music teacher, describing the baby’s hands as large with long, elegant fingers unlike hers or his father’s. King Charles himself referenced his hands in a letter to a friend after Prince William’s birth, highlighting their similarity in appearance.
The King’s hands have evidently been a recurring topic of discussion throughout his life, drawing attention from both royal watchers and family members alike.