Pokémon has outgrown accusations of being a fad, evolving into a true phenomenon that will stay in the eye of pop culture for the foreseeable future. However, it can be awkward when older people try to reference this franchise, like when King Charles used it to greet the Emperor and Empress of Japan.
A video from Sky News shows the King trying to make a Pokémon joke about fishing, pointing out how “gotta catch ‘em all” means a lot to his grandkids. Most people laughed at it, of course, and even Prince William grinned at this reference, showing that he’s aware of the JRPG series.
It’s definitely awkward to hear the King talk about this series, especially since he clearly doesn’t know much about the franchise. Still, if his grandchildren can get a kick out of it, we really shouldn’t judge him. We’re also sure that The Pokémon Company appreciated the shoutout, though not much else.
This franchise has had an interesting relationship with older generations, as most adults at the time just saw it as an obsession for many kids. Some adults even expressed concerns over the franchise, as it was eerily similar to animal fights in real life. Every game since has since said that each of these creatures values friendship and love to battle, as it’s a part of their nature.
We don’t expect too many royal references from the franchise, especially since Sword and Shield already used referenced the UK with its setting. Plus, there are already a bunch of these creatures with crowns or king and queen in their name.
No matter how many old people make jokes about it, the Pokémon franchise will continue to emerge as a system-selling series. Many fans are beyond excited for Pokémon Legends: Z-A, which follows what Legends: Arceus did but in a more futuristic setting. The game’s 2025 release window also has fans thinking it will be a cross-gen release for Switch and Switch 2.