That’s a right royal ramble.
On March 19, England’s nature-loving monarch stepped up to officially open the King Charles III England Coast Path — the longest managed coastal walking path in the world, according to the British government.
Dressed in a casual brown jacket over a suit, sturdy brown shoes, and armed with a wooden walking staff, the 77-year-old ruler hoofed a 1.2 mile stretch of the 2,689-mile path that boasts spectacular views of the seaside cliffs and the Atlantic Ocean.
“The King Charles III England Coast Path is a testament to how access, conservation, and community can come together to make people’s lives better and is a fitting tribute to His Majesty and his lifelong passion for nature,” said Tony Juniper, chair of Natural England, a government department responsible for advising the king on environmental improvements.
The walk began at the iconic Seven Sisters — the chalk white cliffs so photogenic they’ve starred in films like “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” in 2005 and “Wicked” in 2024.
“I avoided hitting [these] when I was in the Royal Navy,” the king joked.
His surprise appearance along the walkway shocked passers-by, including 76-year-old rambler Sharon Willmore, who suddenly found herself in an unexpected royal encounter, reported Yahoo news.
She said: “Not what we were expecting at all, just out for a nice walk and someone said the king was along there.”
The king also exchanged banter with a group of e-bike cyclists, laughingly calling them “cheaters.”
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds, part of the king’s group, said, “We have one of the most stunning coastlines in the world and the King Charles III England Coast Path gives people a new way to explore it.”
The path features a clever “rollback” system that shifts it inland as the coastline changes and erodes.
The grand opening comes after more than 18 years of work involving Natural England and more than 50 coastal local authorities, landowners and others across the country.
Much of the route already existed, but more than 1,000 miles of new paths have been created and many other sections upgraded, reported the BBC.
Accessibility for those with reduced mobility has been improved so that more people can enjoy sections of the trail.
There have been a few snags along the way.
About 20% of the path is not yet open to the public due to objections from landowners, including farmers concerned that “marauding” cows would kill walkers, and complaints from hotels that don’t want the public walking on their lawns.
Juniper said his office is busy addressing concerns and will have more of the path open as they are resolved.
All told, it’s been a long hike to the finish line, but for King Charles, it was all worth it.
“For him, this is his lifelong passion,” said Juniper.
