SINCE the coronation social media has become royally obsessed with the swollen sausage fingers of our new monarch King Charles III.

While Harry and Meg did their best to steal the show, it seems the hands of 74-year-old Charlie and their health have literally grabbed the attention.

Now a doctor has weighed in with some sage advice for the ruler, revealing that this isn’t the wurst thing that could have happened to him.

Speaking in the Daily Star Dr Gareth Nye, senior lecturer at the University of Chester, revealed ‘loads of conditions’ could lead to swollen fingers like this.

One possibility was oedema, which is the retention of fluid. Dr Nye said: “Oedema is a condition where the body starts to retain fluids in the limbs, normally the legs and ankles but also in the fingers which causes them to swell.

“Oedema is a common condition and mostly affects people over the age of 65 as the ability for fluid control is restricted.

“To see if this is the cause, pressing the swollen area for about 15 seconds would cause a depression in the area.”

The doctor then highlighted another possibility of arthritis.

He said: “Arthritis – another common condition in the over 60s. It often affects three main areas in the hand – the thumb joint or either joints in the fingers.

“Fingers usually become stiff, painful and swollen and although medication can help with the pain, the swelling can remain.

“Uncommon causes may include high salt diet leading to fluid retention, certain medications can rarely lead to swelling as a side effect such as with blood pressure medications or steroid medications.”

The comment about his fingers has become so widespread that a butcher in New Zealand even launched a brand of snags named after the sovereign.

Charles himself has previous joked about his dumpy digits, reportedly referring to them as ‘sausage fingers’ on a tour of Australia in 2012.

Kings Charles also made light of  them in a letter to a friend after his son, William, the Prince of Wales, was born in 1982 – suggesting the condition may not be related to his advancing years.

In it he revealed “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 quoted in the biography Charles, The Man Who Will Be King by Howard Hodgson.