King Charles gets Santa’s seal of approval as he meets Father Christmas at festive market: One’s at the ‘very top of the good list’

The King looked delighted to be told by Father Christmas that he was at ‘the very top of his good list’ today.

His Majesty, 75, met Santa as he toured Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre in west London where he was mobbed by hundreds of well-wishers.

While his visit hadn’t been announced in advance, word soon got round and huge crowds gathered to shake his hand and take selfies, some squealing in excitement.

The King hadn’t planned to meet the ‘other big guy’ but spotted his grotto while watching a dance performance by the IMPACT Theatre Group, who won The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2018, and supports adults with learning difficulties.

Charles smiled, waved and pointed at the red-suited figure and his elves, who greeted him back. Once the performance was over His Majesty made a beeline for them.

King Charles looked in great spirits as he visited a Christmas market at Ealing Broadway shopping centre today

Santa – who also goes by the name of Keith Flaherty – said afterwards: ‘I asked The King if he was at a Sandringham this year and he said he was. 

‘I asked him if he had enough room for the sleigh to park and he said yes. I remarked that he looked very well and and the king said he had “never felt better”.

‘I told him that the was at the top of Santa’s very good list and he said: ‘Really?’ and sounded delighted. What a lovely man he is. We really had no idea he was coming and it was such a shock that he came over to see us.’

Mr Flaherty, from Worthing, added: ‘ Honestly what a good sport he is. What a delightful man. He wanted to know how long we were here and I said until 3pm on December 24 and then we had to get back to the North Pole pretty sharpish.

‘I love my job, not having to speak to grownups and spending my time chatting to sensible children!’

The King responded to the suggestion about him being at the top of the good list by saying: ‘Well you never know, you can try.’

He also made a point of introducing himself to Santa’s elves Alice Streater, Siena Robinson and Rosie O’ Shea.

The King was at Ealing Broadway Market to tour its pop up Christmas Market, meet local business owners and speak to recipients of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service – as well as generally spread some festive cheer.

The monarch, 75, couldn’t help but smile as he noticed a man dressed as Father Christmas at the festive event, with the pair sharing an enthusiastic greeting upon meeting one another

Charles was told by the amusing Santa that he is at the ‘very top of his good list’ when visiting the grotto at the London market

The royal, dressed in a smart coat teamed with a shirt and a violet tie, met local business owners and chatted to recipients of the King’s Award for Voluntary Service during his outing

He was greeted by thirty school children from Christ The Saviour COE Primary School singing Jingle Bells and stopped to chat to the excited youngsters.

He then toured stalls from a number of local winners of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and previously known as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the Award has been shining a light on the fantastic work of voluntary groups from across the UK for many years.

Equivalent to an MBE, The King’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest Award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and they are awarded for life.

They included Descendants, a history and arts-based organisation aimed at developing children and young people mainly of African or Caribbean descent, LAGER Can, a litter action group for Ealing Residents and PACE, a voluntary organisation promoting the inclusion of young disabled people in sports and leisure activities and the most recent recipient, Ealing Wildlife Group.

All the while he was mobbed my members of the public shouting his name and shook as many hands as possible.

He then moved to the special Christmas Market, where his eye was caught by The Store Collective, which sells a range of crafts and food from local artisans.

Owner Kate McKenzie said the king’s eye had been caught by a collection of handmade felt animal decorations and he was keen to know more about a range of jewellery made from empty bullet and bomb casings collected in Cambodia.

King Charles III visits Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre to tour the Christmas Market, meet local business owners and speak to recipients of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service

King Charles during a visit to the Christmas market to meet local business owners

Members of the public rush to take photographs of the King as he visits the festive market

‘He loved the idea of supporting small local artisans. It’s something he had done himself for many years. He really is a man ahead of his time,’ she enthused.

It is the eighth year running, the Christmas Market has returned to the town square, offering a host of handmade gifts, crafts, and decorations..

His Majesty also watched a short performance by a local Polish choir. Ealing has the largest Polish community in London. Ealing Broadway Centre was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1985.

The King’s appearance comes after a week of drama for the Royal Family following the explosive accusations by author Omid Scobie.

In a Dutch translation of his new book Endgame, the Princess of Wales and King Charles were named as the alleged ‘royal racists’ who questioned what skin colour Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son, Archie, would have before he was born.

Neither Buckingham Palace or the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have commented on any of the allegations by Mr Scobie – revealed in the Dutch version of his 400-page tome, with the Firm instead appearing to stick by the age-old royal dictate of ‘never complain, never explain’. 

The King led his family in a show of unity earlier this week as he accompanied by Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales in welcoming more than 500 dignitaries to Buckingham Palace for the glittering annual Diplomatic Reception.

The four most senior British Royal Family members posed together for a photograph before the ‘white tie and tiaras’ event. 

Her Majesty looked regal in a cream embroidered evening gown by Fiona Clare and the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara. Kate appeared equally elegant in a shimmering Jenny Packham gown and her favourite Lover’s Knot Tiara. 

The Reception celebrates the presence in London of one of the largest Diplomatic Corps in the world and saw Their Majesties meet representatives of countries accredited to the Court of St. James. 

The royal show of unity will be seen as a sign of solitary following the furore of Mr Scobie‘s new book after it emerged that a Dutch version contained the names of two family members accused by the Duchess of Sussex of ‘unconscious bias’.

Mr Scobie, who has been seen as the unofficial spokesman for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, set a media storm in motion last week after the royals’ names appeared in the Dutch translation of his new book Endgame.

An initial draft of the book, given to Dutch translators, named the two senior members of the royal family who Meghan said told of their ‘concerns’ about the colour of her son Archie’s skin, while she was pregnant.

Beaming King Charles visits the Christmas Market at Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre in west London

Meghan first made her allegations about the conversation in her televised interview with Oprah Winfrey, in March 2021.

Harry and Meghan issued a statement saying it was not the late Queen or her husband Prince Philip, but have refused to name the members of the royal family who made the comments.

The Sussexes have declined to publicly defend their relatives, and the publisher of Mr Scobie’s book has not provided any explanation for how the names ended up in print.

However, Meghan has appeared to offer an olive branch to the royals, as she was pictured wearing a bracelet her father-in-law King Charles gave her.  

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, stepped out in Montecito on Monday wearing an array of casual luxury including Princess Diana’s Cartier bracelet and watch,  and a Bentley & Skinner diamond tennis bracelet – a gift from the King and worth at least £4,900.

The piece, which was first worn on the eve of her royal wedding, was first created by royal warrant holders Bentley & Skinner, features ninety-two round brilliant-cut diamonds. It may be a sign of peace between the warring Windsors.

Harry and Meghan are said to be ‘desperate to get back into the royal fold’ and recently reached out to Charles for his 75th birthday. 

It comes as Mr Scobie claims he ‘never submitted a book that had those names in it’, but the Dutch translator insists the manuscript she received included them.

A source told The Times that United Talent Agency had earlier sent a draft version of the book to publisher Xander Uitgevers, which contained the names.

However, a final proof of the 400-page tome was later sent, but it’s understood the translator had been working from an earlier draft. 

The Sussexes have not commented publicly on the race row but a source close to Meghan said ‘it was not leaked to Scobie by anyone in her camp’.