It must have been reassuring for King Charles to learn that he’s at the top of Father Christmas’s nice list.

The King heard the news during a visit to the Ealing Broadway Christmas Market, and told Father Christmas, in his typical dry humour, “Well you never know, you can try.”

The performer underneath the red suit spoke with the Daily Mail after the King left, and said that he seemed delighted to know that he was on the nice list. “What a lovely man he is,” said Keith Flaherty. “We really had no idea he was coming… Honestly, what a good sport he is. What a delightful man.”

King Charles popped in for a visit to the Ealing Broadway Christmas Market to meet local vendors and talk with the winner of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The King listened to a performance of ‘Jingle Bells’ by the Christ The Saviour CofE Primary School Choir, then visited a Polish Choir as they performed traditional Polish carols.

Later, The King toured the Christmas stalls set up by charities and past recipients of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

“He loved the idea of supporting small local artisans,” said one vendor, Kate McKenzie. She runs a stall called the Store Collective, which features the works of various artisans. “It’s something he had done himself for many years. He really is a man ahead of his time.”

The Ealing Broadway Market was first opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1985 and welcomes around 13 million people annually.