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  "path": "/royal/king-charles-football-shirt-grimsby-club-mascot",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-12T08:00:46.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
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  "textContent": "\n\n\nKing Charles III braved the rain to visit Grimsby on Thursday, where he was gifted a customised Grimsby Town football shirt by the club's beloved Mighty Mariner mascot at Blundell Park in Cleethorpes.\n\nThe monarch appeared visibly pleased upon receiving the jersey, which featured \"HM King Charles\" printed on the back along with the number three.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nDespite the wet weather, dozens of well-wishers gathered at the north-east Lincolnshire football ground to greet the King, clutching umbrellas and Union flags while displaying a banner bearing his image.\n\nResidents in nearby homes watched the royal arrival from their upstairs windows as Charles shook hands with the mascot.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\nA charming moment of protocol mishap occurred when Francine Orr, the club's ticket office manager, accidentally addressed the monarch in rather familiar terms.\n\n\"We were briefed on what we should say and what we shouldn't say, how we should bow and how we should curtsey,\" she explained.\n\n\"I've had it in my brain all morning then he comes up to me and he shakes my hand and I said 'All right darling, oh no, I'm so sorry Your Majesty'.\"\n\nThe King's response put her immediately at ease: \"He went 'That's OK', and he laughed and he stood back and he went 'I like being called darling'.\"\n\nOrr described Charles as \"so down to earth\" and \"a lovely, lovely man.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nPrior to his visit to the football club, Charles had explored the Horizon Youth Zone, a modern facility in Grimsby where he engaged with schoolchildren, armed services cadets and scouts.\n\nYoung people guided him through the centre's various amenities, including a climbing wall, sports hall and training kitchen.\n\nIn the kitchen, the King observed teenagers preparing pizza muffins and enquired whether they were pleased to be missing lessons for the occasion.\n\nWhile touring the sports hall, Charles expressed regret that time constraints prevented a game of badminton, joking: \"I'm sorry we can't stop and play some badminton.\"\n\nHe also chatted with youngsters about Grimsby Town's memorable Carabao Cup triumph against Manchester United back in August.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe King's engagement with local community initiatives extended beyond pleasantries, with Charles pledging practical support for Grimsby's environmental ambitions.\n\nSimon Beeton, chief executive of mental health provider Navigo, revealed that the monarch offered to connect local tree-planting organisers with his own head forester.\n\n\"The guys who were looking at 10,000 new trees for Grimsby, for example, he's going to put them in contact with his head gardener,\" Beeton said. \"It's like wow, he wasn't passively listening, he very actively listens.\"\n\nBeeton added that Charles had committed to sending contact details for his head forester, demonstrating genuine enthusiasm for the community's plans.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "King Charles delighted as he is receives personalised football shirt from club mascot"
}