King Charles III's 'sausage fingers' explained as he breaks tradition with BBC Christmas speech
His Majesty has previously joked about his hands
King Charles III is set to address the British public today in his annual Christmas speech to the nation. This will be the monarch's third Christmas Day speech since he took over from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The 2024 speech will see a break from tradition as this year's address has been recorded at Fitzrovia Chapel, rather than at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle. The site is a former sacred space of the demolished Middlesex Hospital where Diana, Princess of Wales opened London’s first dedicated Aids ward.
It is understood the speech will reflect on international, national and personal challenges and how they can be overcome by communities supporting one another. The King's Christmas Day speech will air at 3pm on on BBC One, BBC Two and ITV and will last approximately ten minutes.
The King was officially crowned in a ceremony last year. A documentary taking a look at behind the scenes of the coronation showed a hilarious exchange between the King and his son, Prince William.
His Majesty joked the Prince of Wales does not have his "sausage fingers" so has no need to worry when he struggles to fasten his historic robes. King Charles' fingers have become a major talking point as people have commented on their swollen appearance on Royal visits.
His Majesty has previously referred to his "sausage fingers" during a trip to Australia in 2012. The new King was born in November 1948 and The Queen swooned with pride as she referenced his large hands after his birth.
She spent the days after his birth in the Palace's Buhl room which had been converted into a nursery and penned a letter to her former music teacher as she gushed over her first born child. She said: "The baby is very sweet and we are enormously proud of him. He has an interesting pair of hands for a baby.
"They are rather large, but with fine long fingers quite unlike mine and certainly unlike his father's. It will be interesting to see what they become. I still find it hard to believe I have a baby of my own."
A doctor has issued an explanation of the possible health conditions the King may be suffering from as images of the 76-year-old's hands continue to be shared on social media. Dr Gareth Nye said: "Oedema is a condition where the body starts to retain fluids in the limbs, normally the legs and ankles but also in the fingers, which causes them to swell.
"To see if this is the cause, pressing the swollen area for about 15 seconds would cause a depression in the area." Dr Nye also suggested arthritis as a possible contributing factor for the King's swollen fingers.
He said: "Another common condition in the over 60s. It often affects three main areas in the hand - the thumb joint or either joints in the fingers.
"Fingers usually become stiff, painful and swollen and although medication can help with the pain, the swelling can remain." Other causes could be a high salt diet or specific medications like those made for high blood pressure.
Symptoms of Oedema
Oedema is a build up of fluid in the body, which can cause the affected tissue to become swollen. Swelling can occur in one particular part of the body, or it may be more general - depending on the cause. Doctors note that oedema is often temporary, but if it does not clear by itself, you should see a GP.
As well as swelling or puffiness of the skin, if you have oedema, you may also experience other symptoms including:
- skin discolouration
- areas of skin that temporarily hold the imprint of your finger when pressed (pitting oedema)
- aching, tender limbs
- stiff joints