Why does King Charles III have swollen fingers? | The Sun
KING Charles III ascended the throne following Queen Elizabeth's death on September 8, 2022 and now he is in the spotlight more than ever before.
Since taking on his new royal title, his swollen fingers have caught the attention of thousands of royal fans, with many concerned for his health.
Why does King Charles III have swollen fingers?
Speculation about the King's fingers first began back in 2021, when a photograph of him pulling a pint of beer during an engagement in South London gave fans a glimpse at his swollen hands.
And his fingers and hands have since become some of the most Googled terms for the royal in the UK.
Despite such speculation, the King has not confirmed exactly why he suffers from swelling around his hands.
However, this could be a result of many things, from temporary fluid retention to arthritis.
Other eagle-eyed royal fans have also noticed his hands appear particularly red and swollen when he spends long durations travelling abroad to warmer climates.
What did the Queen say about King Charles' fingers?
Royal fans may be surprised to find out that swollen fingers are something King Charles has had for many years – and the Queen first noticed this when he was a baby.
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After the birth of Charles in November 1948, the Queen wrote a letter to her former music teacher, outlining the fact her newborn had an "interesting pair of hands for a baby".
The letter read: "The baby is very sweet and we are enormously proud of him. He has an interesting pair of hands for a baby.
"They are rather large, but with fine long fingers quite unlike mine and certainly unlike his father's. It will be interesting to see what they become. I still find it hard to believe I have a baby of my own.''
And the Queen wasn't the only royal to comment on the the King's hands – Charles himself has even jokingly referred to his hands in the past.
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In 2012, while on tour in Australia the monarch called them his "sausage fingers".
What have doctors said about King Charles' fingers?
British doctor and senior lecturer at the University of Chester, Dr Gareth Nye has explained what potential health conditions could be responsible for this issue.
He said: "Oedema is a condition where the body starts to retain fluids in the limbs, normally the legs and ankles but also in the fingers, which causes them to swell.
"To see if this is the cause, pressing the swollen area for about 15 seconds would cause a depression in the area."
He also noted that older people can develop the disorder if they sit for long periods of time.
He also believes another potential health issue the King could be suffering from is arthritis.
Speaking on this condition, Dr Nye said: "Arthritis – another common condition in the over 60s. It often affects three main areas in the hand – the thumb joint or either joints in the fingers.
''Fingers usually become stiff, painful and swollen and although medication can help with the pain, the swelling can remain."
According to the NHS, there are a number of different types of arthritis, with symptoms including joint pain, tenderness, stiffness, inflammation in and around the joints, restricted movement of the joints, warm red skin over the affected joint and weakness and muscle wasting.
Arthritis is often associated with older people, but it can also affect children – which could explain why the King has always had 'rather large' fingers.
Dr Nye also added that other causes could include a high salt diet or specific medications like those made for high blood pressure.
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But in his medical opinion, Dr Nye believes his swollen fingers were far from a sign of a major health issue for the new king.
He added: "There certainly aren't any immediate health concerns to be concluded from swollen fingers and is most likely a sign of his age."
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