A life-size cardboard King Charles has been stolen from a pub by drunk punters.

Landlords at the The Ship Tavern in Lower Upnor, near Rochester, thought they’d have to pay a king’s ransom after their £35 cut out was nicked from the boozer in Upnor Road and is heading across Europe on a boat.

Sam and Ellis Dack, who have been at the pub for around a year, were contacted by the mystery royal thieves today who confessed to stealing the slim-line monarch on Sunday after a heavy night out.

Ellis, 33, has been in touch with the kidnappers, who now have Charles on a boat heading to Rotterdam.

He has even been pictured in a hard-hat and hi-vis, as well as a Liverpool shirt.

Sam, who has taken the theft in good jest, said: “We were closing up for the night on Sunday and my husband noticed the cardboard cut out was stolen.

“We put an appeal out on Monday and then my husband got a call today saying ‘we’re really sorry, we’ve woken up with your King’ and that he was on a boat to Rotterdam.

“They’ve been sending text messages and photos updating us on his journey, saying King Charles is right useful and getting his hands dirty.

“We have no idea who it was that took him, but they must work on the boats and have said they’ll bring him back. They’ve even paid for a new one.”

Mum-of-one Sam said the whole thing has been quite funny and they’re looking forward to Charles’s return.

It is not the first time a replica of the monarch has hit the headlines in Kent.

Last year, before the Queen’s platinum jubilee, Hartley villagers were left devastated after a life-size mannequin of the Queen Elizabeth II was destroyed.