King Charles III celebrates his 77th birthday today, Friday, 14 November, but the festivities will be markedly different from the legendary party he once threw for his 60th.
A Tale of Two Birthdays
Like his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, the King enjoys the unique privilege of two birthdays. His actual birth date is 14 November 1948, but his official birthday is celebrated with the grand Trooping the Colour parade in June, a tradition dating back to 1748.
This year, the Monarch and Queen Camilla are marking the occasion with a low-key visit to South Wales to engage with community members, continuing a pattern of more subdued celebrations since his accession.
The Unforgettable 60th Birthday Bash
The King's 60th birthday in 2008, masterminded by the then-Duchess of Cornwall, remains a benchmark for royal parties. It began with a lavish dinner at Buckingham Palace for 170 dignitaries, including then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
The celebration then moved to the King's private residence, Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, for an intimate yet spectacular gathering of 100 guests. The guest list was a who's who of British society, including Dame Judi Dench, Dame Joanna Lumley, and Rowan Atkinson.
The evening's entertainment was a highlight, with Sir Rod Stewart personally invited to perform. He treated guests to classics like 'Maggie May' and 'Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?'
Sir Rod's wife, Penny Lancaster, later recalled on Good Morning Britain how the then-Prince of Wales had asked her to lead the first dance to break the ice. "I was on the dance floor with Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, William, and Harry," she said, describing it as an "incredible family event."
A Royal Morning After
The champagne-soaked celebration was followed by a classic British morning after. Guests reconvened in the kitchen for a full cooked breakfast featuring bacon and eggs sourced directly from the King's Gloucestershire farm, accompanied by organic tea and freshly squeezed juice.
True to his principles, King Charles ensured all ingredients were locally sourced from Highgrove or nearby suppliers. He also made certain the 15-acre grounds were illuminated using solar-powered and energy-efficient bulbs, reflecting his lifelong commitment to environmental causes.
A New Chapter of Celebrations
This year's birthday sees the King and Queen in South Wales, where they are expected to visit Cyfarthfa Castle and meet Welsh cultural figures, including actress Ruth Jones and fashion designer Julien Macdonald.
Their visit aims to "highlight and celebrate the region’s rich heritage, vibrant arts, and culture," a far cry from the private knees-up of years past. This follows last year's similarly understated celebration, where the King opened a new food hub in Deptford, South London.
Whatever private moments mark the day, his brother Prince Andrew is unlikely to be present, having been stripped of his royal titles last month over the controversy surrounding his links to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
