King Charles has revealed his relief that Morrisons still has butchery counters in its stores across the UK.
The Monarch, 76, told supermarket staff he is ‘so glad’ the company has kept its meat counter, while others have been forced to close.
Tesco announced it was axing its fresh food counters back in 2023, while Sainsbury’s was forced to cut 3,500 jobs after shutting all of its deli, fish and meat counters in 2020.
But Morrisons has retained many of its butcher’s in store, where shoppers can get their hands on a selection of freshly prepared cuts of beef, lamb, pork, turkey and chicken.
The King revealed his delight at the supermarket’s commitment to keeping the counters open while meeting aid volunteers and supporters of the Disasters Emergency Committee at St Peter’s Church in Notting Hill on Wednesday.
He told a group of Morrisons workers at the church: ‘I’m so glad that Morrisons still have a butchery counter, no-one else does.’
The supermarket workers, who appeared to be pleasantly surprised by the King’s kind remarks, delightedly replied: ‘’We’ll take that back!’
While Charles has long been a champion of British meat, he is now considering cutting back on red meat following his cancer treatment.
King Charles (pictured) has revealed his relief that Morrisons still has butchery counters in its stores across the UK
King Charles during a visit to St Peter’s Church in Notting Hill, London, where he told Morrisons staff he is ‘so glad’ the company has kept its meat counter
Morrisons has retained many of its butcher’s in store, where shoppers can get their hands on a selection of freshly prepared cuts of beef, lamb, pork, turkey and chicken. Pictured: A Morrisons butchers counter
The King’s stepson, Tom Parker Bowles, said his mother, Queen Camilla, had already cut down the amount of beef, lamb and pork that she eats.
‘Yes, I eat meat, but I go easy on the red meat – as does my mother,’ says Parker Bowles, a food writer and Mail on Sunday columnist.
‘And the King, after what he’s been through recently, is looking again at what, and when, he eats.’
Parker Bowles, 49, in an interview with Saga magazine, adds: ‘I’m no nutritionist, but I know that food is part of a body’s ‘medicine’. It knows when it’s having the right stuff.’
His Majesty was visiting St Peter’s Church in the upmarket area of London made internationally famous by the eponymous Richard Curtis movie to thank aid volunteers and supporters of the Disasters Emergency Committee.
The engagement wasn’t announced in advance for security reasons but when passers-by saw his State Bentley waiting outside they began to gather to catch a glimpse of the monarch when he left.
Later in the day, Charles stunned tourists in the upmarket area of London as he embarked on an impromptu walkabout.
His Majesty was visiting St Peter’s Church in the upmarket area of London made internationally famous by the eponymous Richard Curtis movie to thank aid volunteers and supporters of the Disasters Emergency Committee.
He shook hands with guests in the church as he learned about their work. St Peter’s Church has supported Middle East humanitarian efforts via Christian charity Tearfund
When Charles left St Peter’s Church he made the day of a handful of those waiting by stopping to chat to them and wish them Happy Christmas.
‘Oh my God, you’re kidding me,’ Angle Salinas from Texas could be heard saying. ‘I’m so sorry you’ve been stopped coming along the street,’ King Charles said jovially.
‘Are you all trying to go somewhere else, are you? I hope you are not getting too wet.’
‘No, thank you so much. No, we’re not,’ said Angel and Ariana Salinas, from Texas, who are holidaying in the UK.
Asking where they had come from the King was told Seattle, Texas, Barcelona and Japan.
‘Are you having an enjoyable time in London?’ he asked.
‘Now we are!’ said Beau Kers from Rotterdam, Netherlands, making the King laugh.
‘Oh I don’t know about (that)!’ he chuckled. ‘Anyway I do hope you make the most of it and have a very Happy Christmas.’
King Charles waves to well-wishers as he steps out of Notting Hill’s St Peter’s Church on Wednesday
King Charles stunned tourists with an impromptu walkabout in Notting Hill, and could be heard apologising for leaving them standing in the rain
As the King walked off back to his car members of the group could be heard saying ‘Thank you, oh, wow. Amazing. That was incredible.’
Mr Salinas said: ‘That would never happen in the US! What a man, what a guy!’
He said afterwards: ‘We are here for Ariana’s 30th birthday and saw his car so we followed it. We’ve been waiting for an hour but it was absolutely worth it.
‘I can’t believe he came over and stooped to talk to us. It’s just like in a movie!
‘This is the most British thing that could ever happen in the UK. In the US you wouldn’t get near anyone because of the security, but here the King just casually wanders down to say hello. It’s amazing!’
Dutch tourist Beau Kers added: ‘I told him we were having a good holiday now and he laughed. What a lovely, kind and polite man.’
Her mother, Diana, added: ‘I arranged an event with our King Willem last year but I much prefer your King Charles. Such a kind man. This has been wonderful!’