King laughs and jokes with traders during south London market visit

King Charles was surrounded by well-wishers as he visited Croydon this week as part of his birthday celebrations.

The monarch, who will turn 78 on Saturday, visited Surrey Street Market as it celebrated its own important milestone of 750 years of trading.

The King traded jokers with market stall-holders and members of the public eager to catch sight of him and shake his hand as he walked through the busy market.

His birthday was marked with a performance from a local Bollywood band and dancers as well as a cake.

The King was in high spirits as he met Croydon locals

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The visit saw King Charles stop by the famous BRIT School, also in Croydon, which trains young performers. The Mirror reported how police struggled to stop the King from being crushed as excited teenagers gathered around him.

One student shouted “yes, boss!” at the King, which he laughed at.

Wandering past the stalls, Charles met Kevin Allagapen, 40, a juice seller and nutritionist on a mission to “make Croydon healthier”.

He gave the King a bottle of watermelon, pomegranate and beetroot juice.

Allagapen, who has been running his Amati stall since August, told reporters he was “really stressed” about meeting the King but added: “It was good to meet him and he’s a nice guy.”

Charles stopped at a stall where he was presented with a large white cake featuring four Union jacks and a message reading: “Happy Birthday Your Majesty. 750 Years of Surrey Street Market, Croydon”.

The King was met by enthusiastic well-wishers on his visit to Croydon

Mark Cuthbert/Getty Images

The King said the cake was “brilliant” as he cut a generous slice while listening to children and students from Howard Primary School and Shirley High School Performing Arts College chant “happy birthday Your Majesty”.

Charles visited Asian convenience store Oreemart, co-founded by Amber-Rose Badrudin, a former candidate on the BBC’s The Apprentice.

Charles met with co-founder Michael Nguyen, who told him about their products including sweet boba tea to spicy ramen and dumplings.

Charles also stopped by Amanda Zhu’s market stand, which offers Chinese speciality Roujiamo, and Georges Whatle’s curry, meat and fish stall.

Croydon-based South Asian dance company Beeja Dance performed and the arts organisation Global Grooves animated two giant carnival puppets called Padmini and Sivaji in the street.

While visiting the BRIT School earlier in the day, he watched a student fashion show, a rehearsal for a production of the musical Chess and a flash mob performance to a medley of songs released by the school’s alumni.

He also spoke with students attending the south London performing arts and technology state school, renowned for former pupils including Adele, Amy Winehouse and Raye.