Putin sends congrats to King Charles despite past Hitler jibe

Russian President Vladimir Putin leaped to congratulate King Charles III on his new royal role Saturday, becoming one of the first world leaders to do so in a two-sentence message from the Kremlin.

“Please accept my sincere sincere congratulations on Your Accession to the throne,” Putin wrote in a note posted by the Russian Embassy to the UK. “I wish Your Majesty success, good health and all the best.”

Charles was officially proclaimed the reigning monarch of the UK and Commonwealth at St. James’ Palace in London earlier in the day.

The well-wishes came 8 years after Charles, then Prince of Wales, caused an international stir when he reportedly compared Putin to Germany’s Adolf Hitler in a private conversation.

The comment, made as the future king was speaking to a woman whose family fled Poland before it was invaded by the Nazis in 1939, came in the wake of Russia’s forcible annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region.

King Felipe of Spain also extended congratulations to his fellow monarch.

The king, a cousin of the British royal family wrote, to “dearest Charles” to “convey my best wishes … for a fruitful and prosperous reign.”

“Queen Letizia and I would like to send Your Majesty and the Queen Consort our personal affection and the assurances of our deep friendship,” Felipe added.