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30
May
Did the king really inspect a blocked drain? - the visit that launched a wave of memes
The king’s visit to Knaresborough this week not only caused a temporary outbreak of royal fever around the castle grounds, but also spawned a rash of internet memes.
For the uninitiated, a meme is usually a funny picture, video or phrase passed around online, and these days images are very often generated using artificial intelligence, making them appear particularly convincing.
Knaresborough hairdresser Kelly Teggin let the picture do the talking in her captionless meme (see main image) showing Charles getting a trim in her Castlegate salon.
In this parallel universe of memes, the king appeared to have also been treated to a sports massage from Emily Yeates in Harrogate.
Some of the AI-generated images are very convincing.
The security cameras in Wetherby Watches also appeared to show him choosing a new watch. Well, why not, if you have the time?
A post explained:
Having looked at a few options, HRH decided on an Omega Moonswatch as he was working on a tight budget.
Caught on camera? The AI-generated image of the King trying on a watch.
Another joker suggested the king might have been interested in a rather bigger purchase. Oscar Sanders, co-founder of local firm Sweep Easy, posted an AI-generated image showing His Majesty perusing a mini maintenance vehicle, with the caption:
Before the king left he wanted to take a look at our road sweepers. Highlight of his day.
Dunkeswick-based Sweep Easy took the opportunity for some cheeky marketing.
In a similarly grimy vein, Knaresborough osteopathy practice Castle Clinic posted an image of the king pointing at a grate in the tarmac (see main image), with the caption:
And before he heads back home, as our landlord, King Charles inspected the blocked drain behind our clinic. It has been confirmed that as stipulated in the lease, it is North Yorkshire County Council's [sic] responsibility to unblock it, so hopefully there won't be a pond at the back of us next time there's a downpour!!!!
Delving arguably even deeper into the realms of the wildly unlikely, Harrogate Women's Rugby joined in the fun with a picture of the king walking across the training ground with a pair of rugby boots and sporting a Harrogate rugby cockerel emblem (see main image). The caption claimed:
During his recent visit to Yorkshire, King Charles joined us for our summer fun sessions (Tuesdays 7-8.30pm!) and clearly was a huge fan! Why not follow in his footsteps and join us next week?
In light of all these, the Stray Ferret felt obliged to use the same AI technology to produce something we feel is far more believable:
Even the Stray Ferret got in on the act.
Have you seen any other funny memes based on the king's visit? If you've spotted any we haven't, please do let us know and we'll add them to the roll of honour.
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