A video clip of King Charles stumbling while climbing the steps to board Air Force One has quickly spread across social media, capturing the attention of viewers around the world. The moment occurred during an official engagement involving the British monarch and U.S. officials. As King Charles made his way up the aircraft’s staircase, he appeared to miss a step, briefly losing his balance before regaining his footing and continuing the ascent.
Though the incident was minor and did not result in any injury, it sparked an immediate response online. Within minutes, the video had been shared across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram, with thousands of users reposting it with humorous captions, emojis, and commentary. The moment has already inspired a range of memes, many comparing it to past slips and stumbles by other public figures, including President Joe Biden — who himself has had several high-profile stair mishaps.
This is not the first time King Charles has shown signs of unsteadiness in public, prompting renewed speculation about his health. At 76, the King has maintained a busy schedule despite his recent cancer diagnosis earlier this year. Buckingham Palace has offered limited updates on his condition, noting only that he is continuing with «light duties» as his treatment progresses. While the palace has not issued a statement regarding the latest incident, royal watchers and commentators are already weighing in
Some users on social media expressed concern, urging more transparency about the King’s health. Others took a more humorous approach, joking that even royalty is not immune to the occasional clumsy moment. “First Biden, now Charles — can we please get elevators installed already?” one popular post read.
Despite the chatter, the King carried on with his official agenda for the day, appearing in good spirits as he greeted officials and continued his visit. The stumble may have lasted only a second, but in the age of viral media, that’s all it takes to become the internet’s main character — at least for the day
