Charles has the only brolly in the world made from a single piece of bamboo

Its handle is made from a single piece of bamboo – with similar handcrafted models selling for up to £20,000.

No wonder, then, it is an umbrella fit for a king.

The new monarch is understood to have been given it as a gift earlier this year by the flamboyant Belizean ambassador to Italy, Nunzio Alfredo D’Angieri, who is a friend and former polo playing acquaintance of the King.

It was made by Mario Talarico, a fifth-generation umbrella maker in Naples, whose designs are some of the most expensive in the world.

It was made by Mario Talarico, a fifth-generation umbrella maker in Naples, whose designs are some of the most expensive in the world

King Charles was seen with it for the first time last month as he attended church at Sandringham following the death of his mother.

Mr Talarico posted excitedly Facebook: ‘An immense satisfaction!!! King Charles III visits the Sandringham estate for the first time, and he brought with him the umbrella that I made for him!!!’

A letter sent to the ambassador on behalf of the King, when he was Prince of Wales, by his deputy private secretary Chris Fitzgerald said he was ‘delighted to receive the exquisitely crafted umbrella’ and had asked him to write and ‘thank you warmly’.

It added: ‘His Royal Highness greatly appreciated such a generous gesture – particularly in recollection of your cherished polo days together – and hoped that he might prevail upon you to relay his thanks to Mr Talarico too please, for such beautiful artistry on the bamboo handle.

‘It was ever so kind of you to commission such a thoughtfully designed umbrella for His Royal Highness, and please do be assured of his warmest good wishes and thanks.’

King Charles was seen with it for the first time last month as he attended church at Sandringham following the death of his mother

While both Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother always sheltered under birdcage umbrellas, made by London company Fulton’s, King Charles often has an eye for something out of the ordinary.

His unique umbrella is the only one in the world to be made from a single piece of whole bamboo and took Mr Talarico five months to track down the wood from Asia.

He said: ‘I believe that for an umbrella master, seeing one of his works in the hands of the English Royal is the height of gratification.

‘It took me two weeks to build the umbrella, but it took me five months to get the wood requested especially for him from Asia.

‘I know that King Charles has many umbrellas and he has a love for Italy, so I wanted to create an umbrella for him that had never been invented before in the world.

‘That is an umbrella made of a single piece of whole bamboo.’

His unique umbrella is the only one in the world to be made from a single piece of whole bamboo and took Mr Talarico (pictured) five months to track down the wood from Asia

The canopy of the umbrella is also made from a special waterproof blend of silk and polyester.

Mr Talarico is believed to be the only umbrella maker in the world who creates solid stick umbrellas from a single piece of wood, using steam to shape the 180-degree curve.

He uses the same methods as his great-great grandfather, who started the business in 1860, and works from a small shop using wood from local trees, including chestnut, lemonwood and juniper.

It can take up to five months for him to create his most unique umbrellas and an extra six to seven hours to piece the umbrellas together, with just a few hundred sold each year.