King Charles III and Queen Camilla were put to work during a visit to a London restaurant on Wednesday, February 26.
Charles, 76, and Camilla, 77, helped package donation food boxes at Darjeeling Express, an Indian restaurant in the U.K.’s capital, in celebration of Ramadan, the Muslim Holy month.
Speaking to Luxury Handbag Shopping after the visit, the restaurant owner, Asma Khan, praised the couple’s “speed, focus and efficiency” as they packaged dates and chicken biryani.
“I was so taken aback by the king’s speed, focus and efficiency. I couldn’t keep up — the irony of it all is how much packing I’ve done in my life. I need the king on my team!” Khan said.
“It feels so reassuring to have monarchs who seemed so happy to go along with anything — go into a kitchen and pack,” she added. “Not sure they have done anything like this before.”
The boxes will be sent to local hospitals for Iftaar (the fastbreaking evening meal) ahead of Ramadan, which takes place from Friday, February 28 until Sunday, March 30, as detailed in a press release issued to Luxury Handbag Shopping.
In a video from the visit, taken by the Daily Mail’s Rebecca English, Khan can be heard praising the “speedy couple” as they pack up dates.
“Sorry, I didn’t realize the king would be so fast!” she joked.
Khan also shared a video of the visit on her Instagram account.
“When he proved to be quick at packing up dates, Charles was told he could have a job there every year, to which he replied: ‘I may be past my sell-by date,’” she wrote in the caption.
“Traditionally, dates are eaten as the first food to break the fast at sunset during Ramadan. Their Majesties helped pack dates that will be sent to local hospitals for Iftaar during the holy month,” the royal family’s Instagram account wrote in a post after the visit.
Darjeeling Express first opened in Soho, London, in 2017 before relocating to Kingly Court.
During Ramadan, the restaurant donates its proceeds to charity and sends food packages to hospitals as part of the Zakat al Fitr, an obligatory charitable donation of food before the end of Ramadan.
“I had met the king and queen before and when I had invited the king to my restaurant a year ago, I never imagined he would actually turn up,” Khan told Us.
“The moment they walked in, they were warm and open hearted. I was nervous while I waited for them, but the smile and warm handshake of the king put me at ease,” she continued.
“It was surreal to share such an important part of my cultural Identity in this way. But within seconds it felt as if the king and queen had come to my home. The nerves disappeared.”
