Royal fans have expressed concerns for King Charles’ health after photos showing his swollen hands and fingers reemerged.

King Charles III has officially become the King of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, last Thursday.

The Queen’s passing comes after weeks of deteriorating condition and increased fatigue she had faced in recent months.

Now, King Charles sparked fresh concerns for his own wellbeing after old photos of his swollen hands and fingers reemerged on social media with people suggesting the new monarch might be suffering from serious health problems.

A high-ranking British doctor has since spoken out and weighed in on the king’s health saying several conditions could be responsible for what Charles himself previously referred to as “sausage fingers” during his 2012 trip to Australia.

Problems with water retention, also known as Oedema, remain one very possible cause. The condition typically affects one’s hands or feet and causes a build-up of fluid that resembles swelling.

While the condition more commonly affects women, it can also appear in men as they age.

“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,” Dr. Gareth Nye said, the Daily Star reported.

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

Another condition that could haunt the new king is arthritis, the doctor explained.

“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,” Dr. Nye said.

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

Among other common causes of swollen hands and fingers are also various medications used to regulate blood pressure and a diet rich in sodium.

While much about King Charles’ condition remains unclear, he appears to have been living with it for more than a decade without major complications.

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