King Charles is surprised by a woman he first met 50 years ago on visit to Walthamstow - before making a wry joke about his health
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King Charles was surprised by a woman he first met more than 50 years ago in Japan as he took part in a community event in Walthamstow today. The Monarch, now 76, was in his early 20s when he first met and shook hands with Caroline Akuffo in 1970, nearly 6,000 miles from London.
![[The black and white image shows a young Caroline shaking hands with Charles, 76, who would have been around 21 years old at the time]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/20/13/93353677-14213857-image-a-25_1734701879378.jpg)
But as Charles and Queen Camilla, 77, visited Waltham Forest Town Hall in east London this afternoon, he was reunited with a delighted Caroline, who showed him a black and white photograph of their first meeting. The image shows a young Caroline shaking hands with Charles, who would have been around 21 years old at the time.
![[Camilla handed over two bags of Buckingham Palace teddy bears to community group Citizens UK who will donate the toys to local children]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/20/13/93353667-14213857-image-a-24_1734701848697.jpg)
The then-Prince of Wales met Caroline during his visit to Japan, where he toured his Japanese World Expo in Osaka. Charles has since been very fond of the country and has since visited four times during his life. He recently welcomed Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako to London in June for a three-day visit and even held a glitzy state banquet for the pair.
![[Outside, the King enjoyed a rendition by A Little Choir of Joy, a children's choir made up of 8 to 12 year-olds from across schools in the borough]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/20/13/93353673-14213857-image-a-26_1734701883104.jpg)
Caroline looked ecstatic as she spoke to King Charles and pointed to the picture of them together. The royal looked deep in thought as he touched the image, seemingly thinking back to sweet memory. The monarch, 76, spoke to Caroline Akuffo outside Waltham Forest Town Hall in east London, who presented him with the old picture.
![[King Charles attends reception at Waltham Forest Town Hall in east London]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/20/13/93353669-14213857-image-a-27_1734701885781.jpg)
