Christening your child is an exciting day for any parent, but a visit from the ruling monarch left one couple over the moon this weekend.

King Charles III is a regular churchgoer, and will often frequent a Sunday service wherever he happens to be at that time.

Whilst visiting his Cotswolds home this weekend, the King stopped in to enjoy a service at St Mary The Virgin and St Mary Magdalen.

Although he wasn’t planning to attend a baptism, Christopher and Rebecca Windell were delighted to have a royal addition to their guest list, the Daily Mail reports.

Due to her age, Alice Elizabeth Windell is unlikely to remember the encounter, but her parents say the “lovely and unexpected surprise” is something they will likely “talk about all her life.”

The 74-year-old monarch is head of the Church of England, and is regularly photographed attending church each week.

His own granddaughter, Lilbet – daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – was baptised earlier this month. Her grandparents were unable to attend due to the security risk and difficult planning involed.

Lilibet was christened by the Bishop of Los Angeles, Rev John Taylor.