Matt Baker in 'excruciating' exchange with King Charles as major royal rule broken

King Charles appears on Countryfile's Christmas special

Matt Baker has sparked an online debate after he met King Charles during the festive special of BBC Countryfile. The host came under fire during a special one-off edition of the nature programme on Sunday evening.

During the episode, the Countryfile crew were invited to the grounds of Highgrove in Gloucestershire, where King Charles III and Queen Camilla reside.

Baker, Margherita Taylor, and Adam Henson met the monarch's staff who ran The King's Foundation. However, Matt was granted special permission to meet the King alongside three students.

Speaking to viewers at home, he said: "Well, the decorations have been finished. I've got changed because we are heading for a festive royal engagement."

Upon meeting King Charles, Matt reached out his hand for a handshake, but broke royal protocol in the process as he placed his hand on His Majesty's elbow.

It is a royal rule which dictates that a reigning monarch should only be touched by a person if there's a clear invitation to do so. However, the King didn't seem bothered by Matt's conduct.

As the special meeting drew to a close, Matt said to the King: "Your Majesty, you must be so proud of everything here and what you've created. That vision that you had a long time ago and here it is, all these students. Incredible."

Charles responded: "It's really (about) trying to maintain the timeless skills that are always needed really. But they're all rather disappearing so it's a bit of a battle to keep all the special ones going."

Yet, BBC viewers noticed the break in royal protocol and lashed out at Matt online, with one person saying on X: "Cant touch the king #countryfile."

A second person chimed in: "Matt touched His Majesty’s Elbow! Orf to the Tower with the upstart! #countryfile."

Matt Baker met The King during the festive episode (Image: Getty)

A third person also commented: "Well, Matt Baker, that was truly excruciating #countryfile."

Meanwhile, a fan accused the former Blue Peter star of "sycophancy", saying online: "If Matt Baker gets a CBE in the New Year's Honours List, we'll know it was for services to the sycophantic industry #Countryfile."

Countryfile can be streamed on BBC iPlayer.