This was actually the second "pen-related" issue of his first week as monarch. Days earlier, during his on September 10, he had gestured somewhat impatiently for an aide to move a pen tray that was cluttering the table where he was to sign the Proclamation. Together, these moments provided an early, unvarnished look at the new King's temperament during a period of high stress.
The incident where expressed visible frustration over a leaking pen occurred on September 13, 2022 , during his visit to Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland. Shortly after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, while signing a visitor's book, the King reacted with the exclamation, "I can’t bear this bloody thing!" after ink got on his hands. Incident Overview
: The King was at the end of a grueling tour of the four nations of the United Kingdom, participating in ceremonies and greeting the public following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
