King Charles left a former Grenadier Guard “overwhelmingly emotional” with his sweet remark after they met at a recent MBE ceremony at Windsor Castle.
Steve Watts who has raised £3million fundraising for good causes since 1985 couldn’t quite believe their conversation together and was left wondering “if it really happened”.
King Charles asked the 70-year-old about looking after Queen Elizabeth II during his time in service.
Steve replied: “We were able to have a laugh, and he was asking me about my time as a guard, protecting his ‘Mama’ as he calls her.”
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The former Grenadier Guard referred to a time when King Charles notably referenced late Queen Elizabeth II as “Your Majesty, Mummy,” during a speech for her 92nd birthday at the Royal Albert Hall.
The Queen reacted by pulling an extraordinary face as she was taken aback by the comment.
Outside of looking after the Queen, Steve Watts has contributed to other important causes. In lockdown he compiled his own photos in a book titled ‘A Year Like No Other’, and sold it to raise money for a child abuse survivor, Tony Hudgell, and his foundation, as well as the Evelina Children’s Hospital.
He also completed a charity run from Lands End to John O’Groats to raise £1million for the first CT scanner for children in the North West.
The former Grenadier Guard who won acclaim for his daily photographs of the Lake District during lockdown is also a mountain guide and avid runner.
He told the BBC: “I run on these mountains every single day, and I just felt so sad about the current situation that people were finding themselves in.”
Upon hearing his achievements, King Charles joked that Steve might be running home to the Lakes.
After the pandemic, Mr Watts continued to regularly post photos of the scenic beauty in the Lake District on Instagram, Facebook and social media platform, X.
He added: “This is my daily tonic; this is what I get up for.”
