King Charles Had the Perfect Response When an American Comedian Impersonated Him
An American comedian introduced himself to King Charles with an impersonation, but the monarch’s witty three-word reply quickly became the funniest moment of the visit.
King Charles’s sharp sense of humor was on full display during a state visit to the United States earlier this year when an American comedian introduced himself by impersonating the monarch. Charles’ perfectly timed response lasted only seconds but quickly became a fan-favorite online.
The exchange dates back a few months to a memorable event in April at a garden party held at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., as part of the King’s state visit to the United States. Among the guests was American comedian and impressionist Matt Friend, who decided to introduce himself to the monarch in a rather unusual way. As he greeted the King, Matt admitted that he had been working on an impression of the royal.
“I’ve been working on an impersonation of you; I’m trying to study you,” admitted Friend, while mimicking the King’s distinctive received pronunciation accent. Without missing a beat, Charles fired back with a hilarious response that instantly won over everyone standing nearby. “Keep trying,” he replied with a laugh. The crowd gathered around the pair burst into laughter, but Charles wasn’t finished. He then added another playful remark, saying, “We’ll award you marks of merit.”
Friend wrapped up the exchange by politely replying, “Thank you very much.” The clip quickly spread across social media, where viewers praised Charles for taking the joke in stride and matching the comedian’s humor with a perfectly timed comeback. Many praised the King’s natural humor and his ability to laugh along with the joke rather than take himself too seriously. Friend talked about his interaction with the King on his social media; you can watch the video here.
Speaking laterThis Morning with presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard, the comedian joked: “I’m alive after impersonating a King to his face so I’d consider that a success.” He also praised Charles’ quick thinking, adding that the monarch “didn’t miss a beat” with his response. People who have met the King have often spoken about this lighter side of his personality. English broadcaster and entrepreneur Sarah Beeny previously shared her experience after attending the premiere of the Amazon Prime documentary Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision. Reflecting on Charles, she said, “I don’t feel like we get to see him like this usually, to see his personality.”
The broadcaster continued, “He’s so funny. When I’ve met him, I’ve always found him to be just like this; he’s such a warm and funny man, and it’s not always what you see or what people expect.” Moments like these continue to show that humor has long been one of the royal family’s most endearing qualities, with Charles carrying on that tradition through his own quick wit and perfectly timed comebacks.