King Charles in good spirits as he briefly leaves UK for official visit after Harry's departure

King Charles on Tuesday had a lively conversation with a war hero during his visit to the Isle of Man, according to a statement issued by the royal family.

A video released by the royal family showed the monarch eagerly listening to James Fenton and laughing out loud.

The statement added “James is one of the last surviving veterans of the Burma Campaign. His Majesty previously met him at commemorations for the 80th anniversary of VJ Day in 2025. “

The Isle of Man is a self-governing British Crown dependency in the Irish Sea between England and Ireland.

The Burma campaign was a series of battles fought in the British colony of Burma as part of the South-East Asian theatre of World War II.

The king appeared to be in good spirits during the visit, which came just days after he met his younger son, Prince Harry, and his grandchildren during their visit to the UK.

It was the monarch's first meeting with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, the son and daughter of Harry and Meghan Markle, in four years.

The Duke of Sussex has been trying to make peace with his father and the rest of the royal family since the monarch was diagnosed with cancer in early 2024. 

While the king has shown his willingness to resolve their differences, Prince William, the heir to the throne, has shown no signs of making reconciliation with the Duke of Sussex, who left the UK with his American wife in 2020.