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His Majesty was at the event in his capacity as Patron of the Victoria League
An uninvited guest briefly stole the show at today's garden party celebrating the Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship's 125th anniversary in Bayswater, London.
As King Charles mingled at the organisation's headquarters, a wasp landed on the back of his head, prompting a swift intervention from his royal protection officer, who batted the insect away.
The King was seen rubbing the back of his head afterwards, clearly having noticed the unwelcome visitor.
His Majesty was at the event in his capacity as Patron of the Victoria League, which provides affordable student accommodation at its Bayswater base for young people from across the Commonwealth.
Founded in 1901 as a tribute to the late Queen Victoria, the League has deep roots in Commonwealth service stretching back more than a century.
In its early years, the organisation dedicated itself to maintaining war graves and channelling funds towards educational initiatives, including essay prizes and the establishment of libraries.
It also worked to distribute English-language books and periodicals to communities throughout the Commonwealth.
Since 1927, the League has focused on supporting the welfare and accommodation needs of students, a mission that continues to define its work at the Bayswater site today.
During the First World War, the League turned its attention to providing hospitality for Commonwealth servicemen, with clubs and hostels across London and Edinburgh offering a total of 282,000 beds for those on leave.
That effort expanded dramatically during the Second World War, when the organisation supplied 1.25 million beds to servicemen.
The League's current Bayswater hostel was officially opened on October 22, 1954 by Princess Alice, who served as the organisation's President at the time.
The residence remains a popular choice for Commonwealth students seeking reasonably priced accommodation in central London, more than seven decades after it first opened its doors.
At the anniversary celebration, the King met with staff, supporters and students before joining the garden party itself.
Looking ahead, Their Majesties are set to travel to Antigua and Barbuda later this year in advance of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The King will additionally visit two further Commonwealth nations, Guyana and The Bahamas, as part of the programme of engagements.
The visits show the monarch's continued commitment to strengthening ties across the Commonwealth, a role reflected in his longstanding patronage of the Victoria League, which has championed cross-Commonwealth connections since the dawn of the twentieth century.
