The King picks up litter during visit to beach in Kent

The King joined dozens of volunteers for a beach clean in Kent on Thursday afternoon, showing support for keeping English coastline free of littler.

Wearing a cream suit and holding a litter picker, King Charles took to Deal’s pebble beach alongside local volunteers, cadets, and community groups in an event organised by Deal With It, a local environmental group that has been running beach cleans since 2007.

The clean-up, which stretched along Deal’s iconic three-mile seafront, was supported by cadets from the Kent Wing Royal Air Force, Deal Army Cadets, Sea and Royal Marines Cadets, and local Scouts, all of whom regularly take part in conservation work in the area.

The King’s hands-on involvement was met with delight from onlookers and volunteers, many of whom were eager to share their experiences and talk about the importance of keeping the coast free from plastic waste and pollution. 

His Majesty, who is Patron of Surfers Against Sewage, has long championed environmental causes and praised the dedication of local people in preserving their natural surroundings.

Deal With It’s beach cleans total around 1,000 hours of volunteer time each year, often in partnership with the Marine Conservation Society and local councils. The group’s work has been central to maintaining the health of the local marine environment and encouraging community responsibility.

After meeting volunteers, The King spent time speaking to members of the public who had gathered on the promenade to watch the clean-up effort.

The beach litter pick was part of a wider day of engagements in Deal, which also saw His Majesty visit Walmer Castle – a favourite residence of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.

At the castle, His Majesty toured the Queen Mother’s Garden – named after his grandmother – who held the title of Lord Warden from 1978 to 2002.

Later in the day, The King visited the Walmer RNLI Lifeboat Station, and the Captain’s Garden at Deal Castle, where he met local charities and community groups supporting residents in need.