King pulls pint, saying ‘it’s a good day to drown a few sorrows’

Victoria Ward Thu, July 16, 2026 at 2:55 PM UTC

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The King got the giggles after several attempts to fill the glass - Isabel Infantes/Reuters

The King joked that it may be “a good day to drown a few sorrows” as he pulled a pint hours after England had crashed out of the World Cup.

While football fans came to terms with the 2-1 semi-final defeat by Argentina, the King carried on with the day job, visiting a brewery at Blandford Forum in Dorset, where he summed up the national mood.

Both the King and Queen were at the Hall & Woodhouse Badger Brewery on Thursday to mark the start of its 250th anniversary celebrations.

After being shown how to pull a pint of Badger Fursty Ferret by Toby Heasman, the company’s 50-year-old head brewer, the King was urged to do it “a bit quicker”.

As his wife tried to help, he said: “We’ll have to do it again.” Noticing that the glass still wasn’t full, he laughed and said: “And again. The Queen said: “No, you’re going to spill it!”

... then took a sip of his freshly poured drink as he commiserated England after their World Cup defeat to Argentina - Isabel Infantes/Reuters

After eventually completing the task, the King received applause and cheers from the staff.

Lifting the nearly full glass, he said with a rueful chuckle: “Maybe it’s a good day to drown a few sorrows.”

In a social media post published shortly after the final whistle in Atlanta on Wednesday night, Buckingham Palace paid tribute to captain Harry Kane and the England team.

“Commiserations to Harry and the team,” it said. “While you Three Lions may be licking your wounds today, you remain the pride of a nation – and will rise again.”

It is not known whether the monarch watched the match or was kept by aides.

In a podcast interview about the World Cup with Taylor Swift’s husband Travis Kelce earlier this month, the Prince of Wales joked that his father “hates football”.

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Kelce asked Prince William where his love of football had originated, adding: “Did your dad get you into Aston Villa or is this your own doing?” The Prince replied: “Absolutely not. My father hates football.”

While the King is not as obsessive about the sport as his elder son, he is said to be a Burnley fan and takes a personal interest at a national level.

Prince William, who, as patron of the Football Association, had planned to travel to the US if England reached the final, may well be drowning his sorrows, having told Kelce that he gets “really down” and wants to shut himself away for days when England lose.

On Thursday night, he said in a personal post: “Gutted. England, you gave it everything and we are all so proud of you.”

He added: “Thank you to everyone on and off the pitch, for an incredible tournament. The fight and belief you have shown has inspired us all. The most complete England team in a tournament. Hold your heads high.”

The King and Queen unveiled a 250th anniversary plaque at Hall & Woodhouse, saying it was “remarkable” that the brewery, whose pubs include the Duchess of Cornwall Inn – opened by Camilla in 2016 – was run by a family now in its ninth generation.

In the Maltings Room, Mr Heasman presented the King with a bottle from a fresh batch of their Coronation Ale, created for his 2023 coronation.

Meanwhile, the Queen was given a posy and chatted to some of the apprentice chefs on the brewery’s eight-month apprenticeship programme, admitting that she’d love to “tuck in” to the chicken dishes and pastries they had created.

The King unveiled a plaque to mark the brewery’s anniversary - WPA Pool

The couple also met representatives from Teddy Rocks, a music festival sponsored by the Hall & Woodhouse Badger Brewery that raises money for children’s cancer charities.

Later, the King and Queen visited the historic Corn Exchange in Blandford Forum, a Georgian market town on the banks of the River Stour.

His Majesty stopped to chat with a Blandford resident and her baby during a visit to the town’s Corn Exchange - JUSTIN TALLIS

Camilla was also the centre of attention as people waited to say hello and give her flowers - JUSTIN TALLIS

The Grade I-listed building has recently undergone a significant renovation project, including a newly restored George II royal coat of arms, which was given to Blandford Forum town council in 1893 by Frank Blanchard.

In the Main Hall, the King and Queen were shown stalls showcasing the work of charities from across Dorset, including veteran and prison services, community and domestic abuse support, volunteers and faith, arts and education groups in the area.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”