On form! King Charles jokes about being 'let out of my cage' and getting children time off school at Army training base - as William gets stuck in playing volleyball and rocking the shades on Cornish

The King joked today that he was glad to be 'out of my cage' as he embarked on his first military engagement since announcing a comeback to public-facing duties. King Charles III during a visit to Gibraltar Barracks in Minley, Hampshire, this afternoon King Charles III jokes with a group of families during a visit to Gibraltar Barracks in Minley, Hampshire, today to meet the staff and families of the 3 Royal School of Military Engineering King Charles III during a visit to Gibraltar Barracks in Minley, Hampshire, this afternoon As he was led into the officers' mess by Lieutenant Colonel Robert Grant, commanding officer of 3RSME, King Charles said to him today: 'I do apologise for taking you by surprise, when this opportunity appeared and I had been allowed out of my cage, I wanted to come to have a look' King Charles III is shown a drawing of himself by Louie Bacon, six, during a visit to Gibraltar Barracks in Minley, Hampshire, this afternoon King Charles III during a visit to Gibraltar Barracks in Minley, Hampshire, this afternoon King Charles III with Lt Col Robert Grant at Gibraltar Barracks in Minley, Hampshire, today King Charles III during a visit to Gibraltar Barracks in Minley, Hampshire, this afternoon King Charles III meets the staff and families of the 3 Royal School of Military Engineering today King Charles III signs the visitor's book during a visit to Gibraltar Barracks in Minley today In Surrey, the King apologised to the Army for making a visit at the last moment but said he had wanted to come as soon as he had been 'allowed out of my cage'. King Charles III during a visit to Gibraltar Barracks in Minley, Hampshire, this afternoon King Charles III speaking to Sophie Mairs during a visit to Gibraltar Barracks in Minley today King Charles III during a visit to Gibraltar Barracks in Minley, Hampshire, this afternoon King Charles III speaking to Sophie Mairs during a visit to Gibraltar Barracks in Minley today King Charles III during a visit to Gibraltar Barracks in Minley, Hampshire, this afternoon King Charles III meets the staff and families of the 3 Royal School of Military Engineering today King Charles III speaking to Sophie Mairs during a visit to Gibraltar Barracks in Minley today King Charles III during a visit to Gibraltar Barracks in Minley, Hampshire, this afternoon King Charles III receives gifts of flowers and Royal Engineer china mugs from the children of some of the barracks' serving soldiers during a visit to Gibraltar Barracks in Minley today King Charles III during a visit to Gibraltar Barracks in Minley, Hampshire, this afternoon Louie Bacon, six, and mother Kim Lewis, with his drawing of King Charles III that he presented to him during his visit to Gibraltar Barracks in Minley, Hampshire, today Louie Bacon, six, with his drawing of King Charles III that he presented to him in Surrey today King Charles III leaves Clarence House in London this morning as he travels to Surrey The King smiles and waves as he is driven away from Clarence House in London this morning The King then met with groups of engineers and their families where he learnt about their experiences training at the school and the support they receive from their loved ones. The Prince of Wales plays volleyball during a visit to Fistral Beach in Newquay this afternoon Prince William wears sunglasses during a visit to Fistrall Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, today The Prince of Wales holds a volleyball during a visit to Fistrall Beach in Newquay today The Prince of Wales plays volleyball during a visit to Fistral Beach in Newquay this afternoon William poses for a photo with a member of the Holywell Bay Surf Life Saving Club today William speaks with Holywell Bay Surf Life Saving Club members at Fistral Beach today The Prince of Wales, known as the Duke of Cornwall when in Cornwall, speaks with Holywell Bay Surf Life Saving Club members during a visit to Fistral Beach in Newquay this afternoon The Prince of Wales plays volleyball during a visit to Fistral Beach in Newquay this afternoon Prince William wears sunglasses during a visit to Fistrall Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, today William watches members of Holywell Bay Surf Life Saving Club carry out Cardiopulmonary resuscitation during a visit to Fistrall Beach in Newquay this afternoon Prince William waves during a visit to Fistral Beach in Newquay this afternoon The Prince of Wales holds a volleyball during a visit to Fistral Beach in Newquay this afternoon The Prince of Wales, known as the Duke of Cornwall when in Cornwall, speaks with Holywell Bay Surf Life Saving Club members during a visit to Fistral Beach in Newquay this afternoon Prince William poses for a selfie with a well-wisher at Fistral Beach in Newquay today The Prince of Wales during a visit to Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, this afternoon The Prince of Wales during a visit to Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, this afternoon Prince William poses for a selfie with a well-wisher at Fistral Beach in Newquay today The Prince of Wales holds a volleyball during a visit to Fistral Beach in Newquay this afternoon Prince William poses for a selfie with a well-wisher at Fistral Beach in Newquay today The Prince of Wales during a visit to Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, this afternoon The Prince of Wales during a visit to Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, this afternoon Prince William poses for a selfie with a well-wisher at Fistral Beach in Newquay today A nine-year-old boy named Phoenix Kanes asked William to sign his plaster cast on his arm in Newquay today - and the Prince obliged Prince William walks with Alastair Martin, Secretary of Duchy of Cornwall, during a visit to Nansledan in Newquay, to see the site of the Duchy of Cornwall's housing project today The Prince of Wales, known as the Duke of Cornwall when in Cornwall, at Nansledan today The Prince of Wales is shown plans during a visit to Nansledan in Newquay this afternoon The Prince of Wales, known as the Duke of Cornwall when in Cornwall, at Nansledan today Prince William has arrived in Newquay today where his Duchy of Cornwall is in the process of building its first ever housing project to help address homelessness in Nansledan The King also met officers from the 8 Engineer Brigade HQ, which provides engineering support to military operations and, before he left, Charles signed the regiment's visitors' book and was presented with gifts of flowers and Royal Engineer china mugs from the children of some of the barracks' serving soldiers. Queen Camilla speaks to Angela Rippon at the Brooke event at Buckingham Palace today Queen Camilla hosts a reception at Buckingham Palace today to mark the 90th anniversary of Brooke, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of working horses, donkeys, and mules Queen Camilla speaks to Rory Bremner at the Brooke event at Buckingham Palace today Queen Camilla marks the 90th anniversary of Brooke at Buckingham Palace this afternoon Queen Camilla speaks to Alastair Stewart at the Brooke event at Buckingham Palace today Queen Camilla speaks to Rory Bremner as she hosts a reception at Buckingham Palace today Queen Camilla cuts a cake as she hosts a reception for Brooke at Buckingham Palace today Queen Camilla speaks to Rory Bremner as she hosts a reception at Buckingham Palace today Queen Camilla with guests and mini ponies at Buckingham Palace this afternoon Camilla speaks to Esme Higgs and ventaniarian Dr Scott Miller at Buckingham Palace today Queen Camilla speaks to Alastair Stewart as she hosts a reception at Buckingham Palace today Queen Camilla speaks to Angela Rippon as she hosts a reception at Buckingham Palace today Camilla speaks to guests as she hosts a reception for Brooke at Buckingham Palace today Camilla with guests and mini ponies as she hosts a reception at Buckingham Palace today Queen Camilla speaks to Julian Norton as she hosts a reception at Buckingham Palace today Queen Camilla marks the 90th anniversary of Brooke at Buckingham Palace this afternoon Queen Camilla speaks to Angela Rippon as she hosts a reception at Buckingham Palace today Queen Camilla hosts a reception at Buckingham Palace in London this afternoon Queen Camilla hosts a reception at Buckingham Palace in London for Brooke today Queen Camilla speaks to guests as she hosts a reception at Buckingham Palace today Camilla poses for a a group photo with guests and mini ponies at Buckingham Palace today Queen Camilla marks the 90th anniversary of Brooke at Buckingham Palace this afternoon Queen Camilla speaks to actress Annette Badland at Buckingham Palace this afternoon Queen Camilla she hosts a reception at Buckingham Palace in London for Brooke today Queen Camilla speaks to Angela Rippon as she hosts a reception at Buckingham Palace today Queen Camilla speaks to Alastair Stewart as she hosts a reception at Buckingham Palace today The school is responsible for providing command courses at the junior and senior level, as well as combat engineer courses, teaching skills such as bridging, demolitions and water supply.