A seagull defecated on King Charles in the middle of a royal engagement in Northern Ireland on Wednesday as the monarch prepared to meet a crowd.

When one member of the public politely asked him whether he knew he had a bird dropping on his jacket, the King laughed and said: "No, it’s fine. At least it didn't land on my head!"

”The King also refused to put on an overcoat to hide the bird droppings. The incident happened as the 77-year-old was leaving a food bank project in Newcastle, County Down, when the mess landed on the back of his suit, leaving a noticeable white smear.

People standing nearby also got splattered.

King Charles arrived in Northern Ireland with Queen Camilla on an annual visit on Tuesday.