Villagers in an Oxfordshire community were surprised when King Charles III made an unannounced appearance in their midst.

The monarch inspected Oxford Photovoltaics at Pioneer Park in Yarnton, located between Oxford and Kidlington, on Friday afternoon (March 27).

His Majesty was guided through the innovative solar energy firm, founded in 2010, which focuses on Perovskite-based photovoltaic technology.

Local inhabitants had received no prior information about the royal visit and expressed joy at the surprise appearance.

Deanna Sharman, a longtime resident of the village, was delighted that the monarch had chosen to visit Yarnton.

She told this newspaper she had only just learned the King was actually in Yarnton and believed it was wonderful.

She mentioned having resided there for many years and stated that, apart from visits to Blenheim Palace and Oxford itself, no members of the royal family had previously visited Yarnton.

She laughed and added that someone could have visited secretly before now, like that day, and she would not have known.

Friday morning brought drizzle and grey clouds, leaving Ms Sharman hoping conditions would improve for the monarch’s later arrival.

She said she wished the weather was better since he always seems to end up wherever it is wet, always there with an umbrella.

She expressed pleasure that he was getting out and about, particularly following his cancer and everything else.

Several Thames Valley Police vehicles were stationed outside Pioneer Park as officers provided security during the occasion while a helicopter circled overhead.

Another longtime Yarnton resident, who wished to remain anonymous, praised the King’s strong dedication to environmental matters.

She said she thought it was wonderful the King was there as he is very environmentally aware and has been involved with numerous initiatives for many, many years that people are not really aware he has been part of.

She said it would have been pleasant to know he was coming, but she understood the security challenges surrounding the King, particularly given current global circumstances.

Although she has lived in Yarnton since the late 1980s, this was the first royal visit she had seen in the village.

She said she knew there had been royal visits to Oxford previously.

She remembered her father telling her that when Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother opened the Weston Library by the Bodleian Library, the sky broke in the lock.

Her mother had worked at Christchurch, and the late Queen had been present there as well.

She said it was very exciting to have the King there now and she was just really pleased he was paying attention to all the environmental work people were doing to try to save the planet.