A ROMSEY man has spoken of the time he met King Charles during a charity polo match in 1998.

Russell Theron, of Campion Drive, was a prefect at Romsey School at the time and got to shake the King's hand.

Mr Theron said: “I was a prefect at Romsey School and myself and four others were asked by the headmaster, Dr Skinner, to attend a charity polo match where the then Prince of Wales was playing. 

“In-between chukka we went around the crowds with buckets to raise money for Lady Romsey’s charity the Leonora Knatchbull Children’s cancer fund which she set up following the death of her child Leonora who had recently passed away with leukemia.

READ MORE: Coronation flower festival at St Peter’s Church in Ropley

“At the end of the match we got to shake hands with the future King and Lady Romsey, I recall that we raised several hundred pounds. The day was a real insight into the game of polo (which most of us had not seen before). We were all laughing at everyone walking on the pitch at half time ‘divot stomping’ with some ladies doing it in high heels! 

“The King was really thankful for our help and chatted to each of us afterwards when this photo was taken. I remember that I was not nervous about meeting the future king. However, the journey to and from the polo in the headmaster's car was petrifying!”