Prince Charles joked with a royal fan yesterday who invited him out for a beer as he visited Birmingham for the Commonwealth games.
The cheeky bystander hollered to the Prince of Wales, 73, during a walkabout, saying: ‘Charles, can we go for a beer.’
Pausing to hear the question again, the heir to the throne laughed and replied: ‘Where? Recommend somehwere.’
Charles was representing his mother, 96, at the sporting tournament as she continues to take a step back from royal duties.
Her Majesty is currently on her annual summer holiday in Balmoral, Aberdeenshire, and Charles too has made his way to Scotland today to begin his annual stay at the Castle of Mey near John O’Groats.
On his first engagement, the Duke of Rothesay – as he is known in Scotland – heard about and witnessed the controversial benefits of oxygen therapy, especially for long covid sufferers.
The heir to the throne laughed and replied: ‘Where? Recommend somehwere’ when a royal fan invited him out for a drink in Birmingham
![Britain's Prince Charles visits the Healing Hub Oxygen Therapy Centre in Wick, Scotland, to learn about the benefits of the alternative therapy for Long Covid patients](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/07/29/15/60843793-0-image-a-4_1659105821760.jpg)
Britain’s Prince Charles visits the Healing Hub Oxygen Therapy Centre in Wick, Scotland, to learn about the benefits of the alternative therapy for Long Covid patients
![The Prince of Wales shared a joke with a man driving past on a mobility scooter as he enjoyed a sunny afternoon in WIck](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/07/29/15/60843791-0-image-a-5_1659105848976.jpg)
The Prince of Wales shared a joke with a man driving past on a mobility scooter as he enjoyed a sunny afternoon in WIck
He was even offered a taste of the treatment at The Healing Hub Oxygen Therapy Centre in Wick.
Charles has had Covid twice, most recently in February 2022.
Long covid sufferers have been making regular use of the barochamber at the Wick centre.
The treatment involves patients entering a chamber that becomes pressurized beyond normal atmospheric conditions and breathing close to pure oxygen, allowing more to permeate the lungs and tissues.
![Prince Charles officially opened the Healing Hub Oxygen Therapy Centre in Wick](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/07/29/15/60843797-0-image-a-6_1659106307927.jpg)
Prince Charles officially opened the Healing Hub Oxygen Therapy Centre in Wick
![The Duke of Rothesay was shown a barochamber that becomes pressurized beyond normal atmospheric conditions, allowing more pure oxygen to permeate the lungs and tissues](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/07/29/15/60843801-11062303-image-a-7_1659106347854.jpg)
The Duke of Rothesay was shown a barochamber that becomes pressurized beyond normal atmospheric conditions, allowing more pure oxygen to permeate the lungs and tissues
Run by MS Therapy Centre Wick, the chamber can also help people with a wide range of health issues, from multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis to sports injuries.
The volunteer-run centre’s secretary Janet Farrington said the prince’s visit would hopefully help break down any stigma over the therapy.
‘We hope his visit highlights its benefits and breaks down the barriers. We have had no help from the NHS who don’t seem to want to know. There has been very little interest from the NHS which we can’t understand, because it is helping reduce the strain on them. Doctors also seem to be unaware of the benefits,’ she said.
![Charles donned a traditional kilt for the first day of his visit to Scotland, where he is staying at the Castle of Mey](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/07/29/15/60843795-11062303-image-a-8_1659106394281.jpg)
Charles donned a traditional kilt for the first day of his visit to Scotland, where he is staying at the Castle of Mey
![Run by MS Therapy Centre Wick, the chamber can also help people with a wide range of health issues, from multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis to sports injuries](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/07/29/16/60843803-11062303-image-a-9_1659106835932.jpg)
Run by MS Therapy Centre Wick, the chamber can also help people with a wide range of health issues, from multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis to sports injuries
‘The prince is welcome to try on a mask – and give it a go if he has time. When he is here there will be a patient coming to the end of their treatment so he can talk to her and hear of the benefits.
‘Over the 40 years we have had this centre we have seen some incredible results. People with long covid are now back at work and doing fine.’
The five volunteers currently look after 50 users – of which ten are long covid sufferers. The treatment, including reaching the required deep level and emerging from it, lasts for around two hours.
People are charged £15 to cover the cost of the oxygen and heating etc.
Prince Charles wants somebody to help bring in more cash to run his ‘Royal NHS’ at Dumfries House in Ayrshire.
![Charles prepares to cut the ribbon to officially open Healing Hub, which offers oxygen therapy treatments](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/07/29/16/60843799-11062303-image-a-10_1659106849377.jpg)
Charles prepares to cut the ribbon to officially open Healing Hub, which offers oxygen therapy treatments
The Prince has a long interest in non-mainstream health treatments.
The Prince’s Foundation, which is based at the stately home saved for the nation by Charles, has an ‘Integrated Health and Wellbeing’ programme, offering mindfulness, chronic pain management and healthy eating advice.
There is even a ‘holistic’ fertility course along with reproductive acupuncture and reflexology, yoga, Thai massage and dance classes.
Opened in 2019, the Health and Wellbeing Centre at Dumfries House in Ayrshire provides a range of holistic services to the local community. Services are GP and patient-led, with referrals from primary and secondary care providers.
Complementary therapies also include reflexology, acupuncture and hypnotherapy to help participants attain outcomes such as fertility wellbeing, menopausal health, living with cancer, chronic pain management, and a weight management programme to help support individuals with diabetes and obesity.
Charles is beginning his annual stay at the Castle of Mey near John O’Groats.
The Castle of Mey was the only home ever owned by the Queen Mum.
The Queen Mother first saw what was then known as Barrogill Castle in 1952, while mourning the death of her husband, King George VI.
Falling for its isolated charm and hearing that it was to be abandoned, she decided to save it.
Having acquired the most northerly-inhabited castle on the British mainland, The Queen Mother renovated and restored it and also created beautiful gardens.
The Duke of Rothesay will also meet volunteers and supporters of Caithness food bank on Friday to hear more about the vital support they provide to those in need in Caithness and Sutherland.
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