King Charles didn't realise what cling film was and 'shrieked' first time he saw it

Apparently King Charles III isn't a big fan of cling film and 'shrieked' the first time he saw it. The monarch is known to follow strict rules when it comes to his diet - but recently made a switch

We've all had kitchen nightmares before - from overboiling a pot of risotto to burning something to a crisp in the oven.

It turns out that it's not just us mere mortals who have that problem - the King Charles apparently had no idea what cling film was and 'shrieked' the first time he saw it.

Author Tom Bower previously wrote a book about Prince Philip, called Rebel Prince, and in it, claimed the then prince "shrieked" and "trembled" when first coming into contact with cling film.

It comes as the monarch recently started eating lunch for the first time, after decades of skipping the meal.

According to the Mail on Sunday, the 75-year-old has now got a taste for a millennial favourite, which Meghan Markle was also keen on - avocado.

A source told the Mail: "With some reluctance, he now has something to eat at lunchtime – a snack, really. He now eats half an avocado to sustain him through the day. It's important, particularly if you have got an illness."

In Bower's book, the author claimed one of Prince Philip's gripes about Charles was his disconnect from the regular world, which was never clearer than when he struggled with the cling film.

Thankfully, wife Camilla Parker Bowles was there to settle his nerves.

The book reads: "He walked into the dining room and shrieked. Fearing the worst, Camilla dashed in after him. ‘What’s this?’ asked her husband, pointing at the food.

"'It's cling film, darling,' she replied."

The segment was first published in the Guardian, but Clarence House declined to comment on the book's release.

Without official comment, we don't know whether Charles really did squeal at discovering cling film – or indeed other stories from Rebel Prince are fact or fiction. Either way, it's a compelling read.

Recently Queen Camilla's son revealed how the King is a recycling champion who "appalls waste".

Food critic and author Tom Parker Bowles said his stepfather Charles bans anything to be thrown away after mealtimes, insisting leftovers can be used for other dishes with all packaging recycled. Tom, 49, said: "There is no waste, everything is recycled, everything is used from the table. If anything is leftover from the dinner, that will be made into something else or appear the next day. Nothing's allowed to be thrown out."

After Buckingham Palace announced in February that Charles was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer, Parker Bowles confirmed his "doctor says the treatment is going well."

Other highlights from Bower include Charles' penchant for changing clothes – allegedly up to four times a day – and his 120-strong staff.

The former Prince of Wales has a strict ritual as to how he likes to spend his day - with his former press secretary revealing he takes a pause at 5pm for sandwiches, before working up until midnight.