Video Shows King Charles Muttering "Dear, Oh Dear" as He Meets Prime Minister

In a move not calculated to strike confidence into the heart of even the most popular Prime Minister—let alone one facing intense criticism—King Charles was caught on camera saying "Dear, oh dear," to Liz Truss during a meeting at Buckingham Palace. The new monarch was hosting the Prime Minister when the back-and-forth took place, and it's unclear if Charles was aware his muttering could be heard. Here is what happened, and how Truss responded to the King's speech.

King Charles was hosting UK Prime Minister Liz Truss at Buckingham Palace, after an earlier meeting with the King and Queen of Malaysia. A video clip shows the double doors of the reception room being opened and the Prime Minister escorted inside to meet the King. "Prime Minister, Your Majesty," announced the equerry as Truss curtseyed, then stepped forward to bow and shake hands. Keep reading to learn more and see the video.

As they shook hands, Truss said, "Your Majesty, great to see you again." Charles smiled and responded with, "Back again?" to which Truss said, "Well, it's a great pleasure." And here is where the conversation veered into the awkward. The King replied with "Dear, oh dear. Anyway." Truss seemed unperturbed by his words.

Truss had just taken part in Prime Minister's Questions in Parliament, where she once again defended her budget and insisted she would not cut spending. "We are spending almost a trillion pounds on public spending. We were spending £700 billion back in 2010," she said. "What we will make sure is that over the medium term the debt is falling. But we will do that not by cutting public spending but by making sure we spend public money well."

This isn't the first time King Charles has caused eyebrows to be raised with his behavior. Just a few days after ascending the throne in September, Charles was seen to lose his temper after his pen started leaking. "Oh god I hate this (pen)!" Charles said, giving the messy pen to his wife, Queen Consort Camilla. "I can't bear this bloody thing … every stinking time," Charles said as he walked away, wiping his fingers.

King Charles has faced criticism in the past for his views on the environment and alternative medicines. "Prince Charles contributes to the ill-health of the nation by pretending we can all over-indulge, then take his tincture and be fine again," said Edzard Ernst, a former professor of complementary medicine at Exeter University, in 2009. "Under the banner of holistic and integrative healthcare he thus promotes a 'quick fix' and outright quackery."

In his first speech as King, Charles promised to step away from his former duties and take on the role of King. "My life will of course change as I take up my new responsibilities," he said. "It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply. But I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others."