This visit marked Charles’s first official appearance at Lancaster Castle as monarch. As Duke of Lancaster, he took part in the Ceremony of the Keys — a historic tradition that dates back to 1851 during Queen Victoria’s reign. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, last took part in the event in 2015.

While at the castle, the King met with a range of local artisans and business owners. Among them was Gillian Hale of Butlers’ Farmhouse Cheeses, who showcased her products to the King. Though he didn’t sample the cheeses, he did enjoy their aroma and told Hale he especially loves sheep’s cheese, particularly when paired with a digestive biscuit.

“We’re going to send some to him later in a goody bag,” Hale said. “He was so gracious.”

Later, at a reception following the ceremony, the King greeted representatives from organizations such as St. John’s Hospice, the Lancaster Literature Festival, and Escape 2 Make — a group that offers creative workshops for young people.

Charles’s fondness for whiskey is well known. In fact, he launched a special edition of his Highgrove Royal Gardens whiskey in November 2023 to mark his 75th birthday.

More recently, during a March visit to Northern Ireland with Queen Camilla, the royal couple took part in a whiskey tasting at a local bar. In a video shared on X by royal reporter Rebecca English, the King and Queen were seen clinking glasses and taking a shot — both pausing afterward in silence, much to the amusement of the crowd around them.