King Charles III visited a brewery in Dorset and pulled a pint of ale, remarking that it was "a good day to drown a few sorrows" following England's defeat in the World Cup semi-finals. The King and Queen Camilla toured Hall & Woodhouse Badger Brewery, a family-owned business founded in 1777.
Charles poured a pint of the brewery's Fursty Ferret ale, a 3.4 percent ABV beverage, before taking a sip. The visit occurred the day after England captain Harry Kane and the national team lost their semi-final match 2-1 to Argentina.
Camilla assisted the King in pulling the pint. The brewery produces over nine million pints of beer annually and operates around 140 pubs across southern England. The company is set to celebrate its 250th anniversary next year.
During the tour, Charles spoke with Paul Barnett, the brewery's finance director, about the World Cup's impact on the business. Barnett noted that the brewery's food-focused pubs do not typically show football matches and that he was "quite relieved we're out of the football because we don't make so much money."
The royal family, including Prince William, expressed their support for the England team after their exit. Prince William shared a message on Instagram, telling the squad to "hold their heads high" and praising their "fight and belief that inspired us all."
England's World Cup journey ended after a match where they were leading until late in the second half. Argentina equalized in the 84th minute, and a late header secured their place in the final. This marked England's fourth appearance in the World Cup semi-finals, with their last appearance in a final being in 1966.
King Charles III also shared a message on social media, stating, "Commiserations to Harry and the team. While you Three Lions may be licking your wounds today, you remain the pride of a nation – and will rise again."
The Football Association CEO, Mark Bullingham, acknowledged the team's effort, saying, "It is heartbreaking to be so close. The players and Thomas gave it everything today and the squad, coaches and staff could not have worked harder during the tournament." He also thanked the fans for their support.