King Charles Accused of Hiding Hands to Avoid Mockery in New Portraits Ahead of Coronation

King Charles has been accused of hiding his hands in photos to avoid being mocked for his ‘sausage fingers’ in new portraits released just days ahead of his coronation this week. Since taking the throne last September, images of his puffy hands – which he jokingly described as his ‘sausage fingers’ during a 2012 Australian tour – went viral online as many zoomed in on the King’s fingers. It was the seventh most searched term on Google at one point this year.

In the new pictures, the monarch wore a simple pinstripe suit while his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, posed in a cobalt blue dress. But members of the public realized that one detail appeared to be hidden from the photographer – the King’s hands. In one shot, he has them hidden behind his back as he stands alongside Camilla, 75. A second shot shows the 74-year-old with one hand in his pocket.

Social media users have jokingly remarked that the monarch has been ‘bullied’ into keeping his fingers off show. “Show us his hands cowards,” one Twitter user commented under the portraits. A second joked, “We’re never seeing them again brother.” “I want to abolish the monarchy but I do still feel bad that we have gang bullied a grown man into never showing his hands again,” another quipped.

While royal fans have expressed concern over the appearance of the King’s hands, he has not confirmed the reason for the swelling. According to a doctor, swollen fingers could be due to a number of health concerns, or could be the result of water retention, or simply old age. Several conditions including oedema or arthritis could be responsible. Other causes could be high blood pressure, or a high salt diet.

Oedema is a condition where the body starts to retain fluids in the limbs, causing them to swell – and it can also occur in the fingers. Men are less likely than women to suffer from oedema. This is because the female hormone progesterone tends to cause the condition, leaving some women with puffy ankles just before their period. Older people develop the disorder if they sit for long periods of time. However, it could be a result of arthritis, which is a common condition in the over-60s and affects the thumb joint and the joints in the fingers. Fingers usually become stiff, painful, and swollen, and although medication can help with the pain, the swelling can remain.