After hosting President Trump and the First Lady at a grand banquet, King Charles bid farewell to the couple as they left Windsor Castle for their next State Visit destination. The King appeared cheerful as he exchanged handshakes with Trump, engaging in a friendly conversation outside. However, attention was drawn to an unusual aspect of Charles’ appearance – his swollen fingers.
Royal enthusiasts have previously expressed concern over photos showing the King’s fingers looking red and enlarged. Charles himself has humorously referred to his ‘sausage fingers’ in the past. Medical expert GP Chun Tang from Pall Mall Medical in Manchester explained that swollen fingers could indicate water retention, which may be linked to various health conditions, inflammation, high salt intake, allergies, or medication side effects.
The medical term for the King’s condition is dactylitis, 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, excessive salt consumption, certain medications, temperature changes, infections, or conditions like psoriatic arthritis.
In a documentary called Charles III: The Coronation Year, viewers witnessed a light-hearted moment between the King and his son Prince William, where Charles joked about his swollen fingers while discussing a robe clasp. Discussions about the King’s hands date back to his birth, as revealed in a letter from the Queen to her music teacher, commenting on the uniqueness of Charles’ hands compared to hers and his father’s.
Charles himself acknowledged his fingers in a letter to a friend after Prince William’s birth, expressing excitement and pride at the baby’s arrival and humorously noting the similarity in their finger appearance.