(Please note the publishing date on this story. LOL. We love April Fool's Day!)
Buckingham Palace -- Describing his lifelong desire to visit all the Commonwealth War Graves sites as sovereign, King Charles III will start his journey on the tiny island of Ocracoke off the coast of former colony North Carolina.
The royal entourage will arrive by private plane and stay, appropriately, at the Castle B & B for one night so His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty the Queen Consort can attend the annual British Cemetery ceremony on May 12, 2023.
It will be the first time a reigning monarch has attended the annual commemoration of the sinking of the HMT Bedfordshire by a German U-Boat on May 11, 1942.
"A visit to that small bit of America that is 'for ever England' is long overdue,' said the King in a statement to the British press. "I'm afraid my mother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, was never able in her more than seventy years on the throne to make the Ocracoke ceremony a priority. I would very much like to right that wrong. My wife and I will show the good citizens of Ocracoke Island how much we, the Royal Family, the United Kingdom, and our great Commonwealth of Nations appreciate the dedication of Ocracoke Islanders to the memory of those we lost in that terrible conflict."
Their Majesties hope to have time to linger for the reception following the ceremony. King Charles is said to be very fond of sampling "the local cuisine" while Camilla prefers doing a little gift shopping for the grandchildren (His and Hers.)
The monarchs will be crowned on May 6, 2023 and celebrate with three days of Coronation Events in London. The post-Coronation Commonwealth Tour will offer Their Majesties a chance to settle into their new roles while honoring their many subjects who gave their lives so the Windsors could keep calm and carry on.
After their brief stay on Ocracoke, the Royal Couple will jetset to the other coast to pop in on their American granchildren in their native habitat.
"One does look forward to the California sunshine," the King has been heard to say.