Fringey Mini: There's no way the royals are human

King Charles III once shrieked after encountering cling film for the first time—at least according to a story shared in Tom Bower’s Rebel Prince. In this mini‑episode, we break down the anecdote, why it went viral, and what it reveals (or doesn’t) about royal quirks. In this mini‑episode, we dive into a bizarre royal anecdote pulled from Tom Bower’s Rebel Prince: the claim that King Charles III once walked into a dining room, saw cling film covering food, and shrieked in confusion. Camilla reportedly rushed in, thinking something was wrong, only to find Charles pointing at the wrapped dish and asking what it was. We unpack how this story fits into Bower’s broader portrayal of Charles as disconnected from everyday life, explore whether the anecdote holds any weight—especially since Clarence House declined to comment—and look at how tales like this shape public perception of the monarchy. Along the way, we touch on other quirks mentioned in the book, from Charles’ four‑outfit days to his famously particular daily routines. It’s a fun, strange, and very human moment in the middle of royal mythology.