King Charles' 'sausage fingers' are hereditary royal feature he's passed on to son

King Charles' noticeable 'sausage fingers' have become a quirky trait associated with the monarch, and it seems this characteristic might be a hereditary feature within the Royal Family.

His swollen digits, which have been the subject of many a social media post, are often observed after long flights or time spent in warmer climates. Whether he was visiting a Sikh temple in New Delhi back in 2019, enjoying a pint at the Prince of Wales pub in Clapham Old Town in 2021, or during his coronation last year, his puffy fingers have not gone unnoticed.

This is not a new observation; Queen Elizabeth II herself remarked on Charles' sizeable fingers when he was an infant. In correspondence with her music teacher following Charles' arrival, the late monarch expressed: "The baby is very sweet and we are enormously proud of him. He has an interesting pair of hands for a baby.

"They are rather large, but with fine long fingers quite unlike mine and certainly unlike his father's. It will be interesting to see what they become."

However, it appears that Charles may not be the sole bearer of this trait in the royal lineage, as indications suggest he could have passed it down to his firstborn, William. Echoing his mother's words, Charles also commented on his son William's hands in a letter to a friend upon William's birth, as reported by MailOnline.

The statement read: "I can't tell you how excited and proud I am. He really does look surprisingly appetising and has sausage fingers just like mine," as encapsulated in Howard Hodgson's biography, Charles, The Man Who Will Be King.

While King Charles has never revealed the cause behind his enlarged fingers, medical opinion suggests many potential health conditions could be responsible. Oedema - fluid retention in bodily limbs, arthritis, hypertension or excessive salt intake might be underlying causes.

Arthritis, which typically affects those above 60 and results in joint swelling, is another possibility. However, unless King Charles chooses to unveil his health details publicly, the true cause will likely remain an enigma.

Dr Chun Tang, Medical Director at Manchester's Pall Mall Medical, shed light on this medical mystery earlier this year. Speaking with the Daily Mail, Dr Tang explained: "Often puffy fingers are a symptom of water retention which can be caused by numerous health conditions. This condition arises due to inflammation and can be a result of arthritis, multiple bacterial infections or even TB.

"Other possibilities include high salt levels, allergic reactions, medicinal side effects, injury and autoimmune disease."

This even has a technical term - 'dactylitis,' which refers to extensive swelling that influences your digits. Apparently, King Charles maintains a rather jovial attitude towards his hand's condition.

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