The frugal king has long eschewed fashion trends, preferring to don worn favorites that have stood the test of time.
But while he is determined to be seen as a thrifty monarch, royal aides might be told that His Majesty needs a new pair of socks.
The King revealed what appeared to be a hole in his sock while visiting a historic mosque in East London’s Brick Lane on Wednesday.
The small hole in the black sock on his right foot was visible when he took off his shoes to keep up with the habit.
The King and Queen were greeted by a huge crowd as they walked down Brick Lane, the symbolic face of London’s Bengali community.
More than a thousand well-wishers lined the route as the couple followed a troupe of dancers who threw flower petals in their path.
During an sometimes chaotic visit, the king planted a tree and was given a box of jalebi and Bengali samosas from a local restaurant, promising to try some later.
However, all hopes of quenching his thirst were dashed when the monarch, after being offered a cup of tea at the overcrowded Graam Bangla Restaurant, only got so far as to put sugar in the cup before it was taken away on the advice of his police officers. fearing it was about to spill.
The king was praised for his willingness to listen to multicultural Britain.
Ayesha Qureshi, co-founder of British Bangladeshi Power and Inspiration and one of the King’s hosts for the visit, said she asked him to visit Brick Lane when he met representatives of Britain’s South Asian community in Edinburgh .
She said they had experienced “extraordinary levels of racism and violence” in the 1970s, which had led to the murder of Altab Ali, a young Bangladeshi man who was murdered in 1978 by three teenage boys as he was commuting from work to walked home. The king honored his memory by planting a tree in the local park which was renamed Altab Ali Park in 1998.
Ms Qureshi, 44, a lawyer, said the royal visit showed “His Majesty’s commitment… to multiculturalism and the anti-racism movement”.
She added: “There is racism in British society. But what this shows is the fact that the king is very attuned to the communities of this country and wants to rule in a way that is inclusive and supports those communities. The fact that he has come here today proves very well that he listens to people’s concerns and that he supports and understands.”
After planting the trees, the royal couple were driven to Brick Lane, where Camilla was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Ayah Hussain, three.
The only dissenting note came from a white man waving a black flag and holding a map with the legend “No [heart] for a nation.” He said it meant “no love for a nation”. Asked who he represented, he said, “I represent people who didn’t vote for him.”
Also in the crowd was Leo Epstein, 90, who runs a fabric store, and said: “I’ve been here for 66 years. We are the last Jewish traders in this Bengali area.”
The king noticed his wrist splints, the result of an accident in which Mr. Epstein broke both his wrists, and asked how he was doing.
“Not so good,” Epstein replied. He said the king replied, “I know the feeling!”
Later, Charles paid a visit to the University of East London on the occasion of her 125th birthday.
After greeting the staff, the king shook hands with the students queuing at the entrance.
A man kindly shouted “Please bring Harry back”. When the king, not hearing the remark, asked him to repeat it, the man smiled and clarified, “Harry, your son.”
Charles seemed to say “Oh” and smiled before moving on to greet other students.
The king talked to three mothers and their babies who had agreed to wear head caps with electrodes to measure brain function, stress levels and heart rate. He also visited a virtual hospital building where medics in training practice their skills on lifelike mannequins that can blink, talk and even answer questions.
Finally, the king was shown several sustainability projects and was presented with a waistcoat made from a fabric found in plants that grow in regenerated water marshes.
He also got a silk scarf for the Queen, which he said he was sure she would like.