King Charles is allowed to travel without 1 key thing and fans are gobsmacked

While the rest of us are queuing at border control or filling in paperwork to travel overseas, King Charles is gliding through immigration and he isn't even in need of a passport or major documentation. Some royal fans are only just realising the monarch has this major advantage when it comes to travelling.

The revelation was recently posted on Reddit's 'Today I Learned (TIL)' forum, with the surprised social media user writing: "TIL that as the reigning monarch of 14 countries, King Charles III is allowed to travel without a passport and drive without a license."

While Charles is head of the Commonwealth, he is able to travel to countries outside of the Commonwealth without a passport, and has never had to endure passport control or immigration officers when jetting abroad as King.

The Royal Family website also states: "As a British passport is issued in the name of His Majesty, it is unnecessary for The King to possess one. All other Members of the Royal Family, including The Queen and The Prince of Wales, have passports."

The first page of British passports contains a representation of the Royal Arms, together with the following wording: "His Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State requests and requires in the name of His Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary.

"In Realms (Commonwealth countries where The King is Sovereign), a similar formula is used, except that the request to all whom it may concern is made in the name of the Realm's Governor-General, as The King's representative in that Realm. In Canada, the request is made in the name of His Majesty by the Minister of Foreign Affairs."

To simplify things, a Reddit commentator elaborated: "As explained to me, the passport is the state saying 'This is who this person is'. In the UK, that state is formulated to express the will of the Royal, so it's the King saying 'This is who this person is'. In the case of King Charles, it'd be like writing down 'I am me' on a sheet of paper."

Another joked, referring to a chess board movement: "It's true he can move in any direction he pleases but only one space at a time."

Within the Reddit comments on the post, many commented on whatever random perks would appeal to the King. One person cheekily said: "The monarch is also permitted to send letter mail within the UK without needing to affix a stamp. But that is more a matter of how awkward it is to lick the back of one's own head."