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All hail His Egg-ellency!

King Charles III visited an urban farm in Harlem and happily fed a flock of chickens, toured a veggie garden and discussed mushrooms during a rare trip to the Big Apple Wednesday.

The British monarch, 77, flashed a grin as he tossed lettuce to hungry hens alongside children at Harlem Grown, a community group that turns city lots into sustainable farms.


  King Charles helps feed the chickens at Harlem Grown Getty Images King Charles helps feed the chickens at Harlem Grown Getty Images

“I gave him the little leaves for the chickens and he fed them. I’m pretty sure he had fun doing it,”  Alana Schira, 12, who helped the king feed the fowl on West 134th Street near Malcom X Boulevard.

“He’s so nice, very respectful, not what you’d expect from a king – but in a good way,” said Eliana Hutson, 13.

“We were just talking about the garden and everything, all the important things that are going on with homegrown stuff. It was shocking but also thrilling at the same time.”

Others said His Majesty seemed truly excited to learn about harvesting his own food.

“It was a surreal experience,” Harlem Grown CEO Tony Hillery said of the king’s visit. “He asked the right questions, he was engaging, he was part of the process. My brain is still spinning.”


  King Charles III tosses chickens leafy greens. Getty Images King Charles III tosses chickens leafy greens. Getty Images

  King Charles talks to children during the Harlem Grown event. via REUTERS King Charles talks to children during the Harlem Grown event. via REUTERS

Charles hasn’t hopped across the pond to New York since he toured the Big Apple with his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 2007. 

“He was really kind, generous, excited to talk to the children and learn about the produce,” said Jocelynn Ricard, of Genesis Companies, an affordable housing developer that partners with the Harlem group.

“Harlem Grown has mushroom chambers that they grow in the basement of one of our buildings, and we spoke a little bit about that. He was really interested to know what kind of mushrooms, and I believe it was portobello mushrooms. He was very knowledgeable,” said Ricard.

He is the King of comedy!

King Charles III visited New York City on Wednesday. AP

King Charles III showed off his humorous side during his first state visit to the US as the monarch, delighting American audiences with his wry British wit, including:

  • “Now, I know you have big plans for the Moon, Mr President, but I’ve actually checked the papers and I rather suspect it is already part of the Commonwealth, I’m afraid.”
  • “Indeed, you recently commented, Mr. President, that if it were not for the United States, European countries would be speaking German. Dare I say that, if it wasn’t for us, you’d be speaking French!”
  • “On this occasion, I cannot help noticing the readjustments to the East Wing, Mr. President, following your visit to Windsor Castle last year. And I’m sorry to say that we British, of course, made our own small attempt at real estate redevelopment of the White House in 1814,” referring to the British burning down the building.
  • “We call this game ‘Football, Mr. President. And I can only say as the Head of State of five competing countries, I will be watching the matches closely and with great enthusiasm. After all, we always like favourable odds.”

“He wanted to know if we use sawdust and coffee grinds. He wanted to know the method,” she added.

Meanwhile, his wife, Queen Camilla, toured the New York Public Library with actress Sarah Jessica Parker and Anna Wintour of Vogue magazine.

Camilla, 78, was chummy with actress Parker as they toured a specially curated selection from a collection marking America’s 250th anniversary.


  King Charles was “excited to talk to the children.” via REUTERS King Charles was “excited to talk to the children.” via REUTERS

She and Parker were shown books and documents with ties to both the UK and the US, including a copy of the Declaration of Independence and a letter from English author Jane Austen.

Camilla swooned over a copy of “Now We are Six” by A.A. Milne, who penned the original “Winnie the Pooh” books.

“Oh! Favorite, favorite, favorite!” the queen gushed, as she was told the book contained some of the first drawings of Roo the kangaroo, by illustrator E.H. Shepard.

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