Having fun in spades in cambridge the king comes to the rescue on his first engagement after coronation

His first words at his coronation ceremony were a sacred pledge to the nation and Commonwealth: “I come not to be served but to serve.”

And in his first royal engagement since he was crowned, the King showed he is true to his word.

Preparing to perform a breaking-of-the-ground ceremony for the new Whittle Laboratory at Cambridge University, His Majesty leapt into action to help Dame Polly Courtice, emeritus director of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, when she lost a shoe after its heel became stuck in the soft turf.

Gallantly offering Dame Polly his arm to lean on, he smiled as she freed the shoe and put it back on.

The King was in high spirits as he lifted a spade to break the ground, joking: “I don’t suppose it’s already been done?” when he saw a lump of fresh mud on the grass and adding with a laugh: “It’s very unfair. I was rather looking forward to doing a bit of gardening.” Onlookers applauded as he jubilantly lifted his spade aloft after sinking it into the earth with his foot and lifting a clump of grass.

‘JOY’ TO BE BACK

The King, a former Cambridge student himself, also unveiled a plaque to mark his visit and met research staff, academics and leaders from aviation and government.

The new £58m laboratory aims to halve the amount of tim