A top TV chef made King Charles burst out laughing today as he made Ramadan packages in Soho.     

The monarch, 76, was in high spirits as he burst out in laughter while packing dried fruit at an Indian restaurant on Wednesday afternoon.

He was all smiles during the engagement at female-run Darjeeling Express on London’s Carnaby Street at an event to mark the start of Ramadan on Friday. It was opened by British restaurateur Asma Khan in 2017.

But after quickly packing the dates away Asma, who stars in Netflix’s top chef, joked

He then sped through the task, prompting Ms Khan to rapidly catch up and open more paper bags for the king. 

‘Sorry I didn’t realise the King would be so fast!’ She exclaimed, which was met with roaring laughter from the onlookers.

‘You are packing them faster than I can seal them! I never realised this was such a speedy couple. We have a relay going on here.’ 

This particularly tickled Charles, who giggled alongside his wife, before appearing to say: ‘Easy’. 

When a member of the media remarked they had a production line going, the king said: ‘We don’t waste time. Paid by results!’

He then asked Ms Khan: ‘Can I not do something to help put the thing on?’ She then said: ‘No, I’m going to do the stickers later on, don’t worry.’ 

A clip showed Charles and Camilla sitting down to pack dates into white paper bags that will be sent for Iftaar – the fastbreaking evening meal – to hospitals during the Muslim holy month.

Traditionally, dates are eaten as the first food to break the fast at sunset.

‘So they only get one date?’ the king asked as he packaged up the fruit and passed it back to Ms Khan.

The monarch – who came prepared for the grey, rainy weather with an umbrella – then asked about whether he should also put the labels on, but Ms Khan again offered to do it once they had left so she could ‘keep up’ with the pair.

When they first arrived at their royal visit, Charles and Camilla were first introduced to staff and leading British Muslim women including circuit judge Khatun Sapnara, crime author Saima Mir, Masterchef winner Saliha Mahmood Ahmed and businesswoman Shaheen Sayed of Accenture.

Queen Camilla then made her way to the kitchen to help staff who were packing up boxes of delicious-smelling biryani which will be sent to Doorstep, a charity which assists families by providing goods and services to make their lives more comfortable as they await a permanent housing solution.

It is part of Darjeeling Express’ commitment to cook for charitable causes every Ramadan.

The Queen was told how the huge pots of curry were made and then invited to try her hand ladling a portion into a takeaway box.

‘Shall I have a try? Just dig right into the bottom,’ she said, wielding a large spoon.

‘A bit from the bottom and a bit from the top? Is that enough or some more? They might still be a bit hungry after my portion.’

While the King wasn’t meant to be joining, as he was meeting guests instead, the Queen wasn’t having any of it.

‘I think my husband is supposed to be doing this,’ she laughed. ‘Gentleman, we are waiting!’ she added, brandishing her box.

When the King didn’t respond the Queen decided to go off herself and try to find him, box in hand, waving at him and coughing loudly to try and get his attention.

Charles eventually spotted her and good-naturedly came over.

‘Is it chicken and proper basmati rice?’ He enquired

The king was delighted when he was told that some of the curry was being sent to the palace for him to get later and happily got stuck in ladling too.

‘Fantastic, look at that!’ He said jollily.

During Ramadan, Ms Khan donates the restaurant’s entire proceeds to charity and sends food packages to hospitals as part of the Zakat al Fitr, an obligatory charitable donation of food to the poor and needy before the end of Ramadan.

The King and Queen have long shown support for other faiths in the UK and throughout the Commonwealth. 

As Prince of Wales, His Majesty met leaders of all the main faiths and denominations, and visited many sacred sites and places of worship across the world. 

His Majesty has worked for many years on fostering inter-faith dialogue and supporting a greater understanding between religions.

Later the King voiced his support for emerging democracies as he met British Syrians for a discussion about their homeland.

His Majesty had tea and talks with the group in Imad’s Syrian Kitchen after helping the Queen to pack food for Ramadan in a restaurant next door.

Founder Imad Eddin al Arnab said afterwards: ‘He said that now more than ever he wanted to support all the democracies, especially the rising [ones]. He wanted to be sure that people in Syria as a government or leaders are hearing our community here in the UK.

‘He cares about all the democracies, but he wants people to be taken care of everywhere, not only in the UK.’

‘I’ve heard a lot about you, Imad,’ the King told the restaurateur as he was introduced to his wife Batool and daughters Dana, Lana and Mariam.

Taking the monarch into the restaurant, he introduced him to members of the British Syrian community including filmmakers, doctors, electricians and legal advisors.

‘I’ve always to wanted to go, all my life,’ he said of their homeland. ‘I can’t bear the destruction.’

Imad owned three restaurants in Damascus but lost everything in the war and came to the UK as a refugee with just £12 in his pocket in 2015.

He opened his first restaurant here in 2020 and has gone on to raise more than £500,000 for charities including Choose Love, Cook for Syria and the Amos Trust.

Charles was introduced to Bafta-winning and Acadmey Award nominated filmmaker Waad Jarkas and her medic husband Hamza Al-Kateab, whose For Sama was dedicated to their daughter Sama and told the story of their lives during the Syrian Civil War. It was made using their footage once they arrived in the UK as refugees.

Hamza told the King he is currently studying for a PHD in medical evacuation in siege situations at King’s College London, based on his own experiences.

‘So learning the lessons,’ said Charles.

‘I hope you win some more Baftas,’ the King told Waad.

Teacher and activist Afraa Hashem, who also appeared in For Sama, told the monarch, ‘I’m pleased my children are finally safe.’

‘I’m pleased you came here,’ he replied.

The King then spoke to the group away from the cameras, enjoying a cup of tea with his hosts.

Before leaving, he was presented with a copy of Imad’s book, Imad’s Syrian Kitchen: A love letter from Damascus to London.

Afterwards Imad said: ‘I’m speechless. The King knows so much about Syrian cuisine and Syrian culture, Islam and Syrian history. It’s amazing that he cares.’

He said of the visit: ‘At this particular time, to be on this transition from Syria under Assad to a free Syria, it means the world to us.

‘This kind of support from His Majesty showing us how much we mean as human beings, we didn’t have such a thing from our previous president.

‘We have high hopes for our new government and for me, as a British Syrian, I hope that these two peoples come together and create a better future.

‘I’m so grateful to London. I’m so grateful to the UK. It’s really important to us to feel we belong to this beautiful place. We didn’t bring our community. We came to be part of your community.’