King Charles III is celebrating his 77th birthday on Friday with a trip to Wales, where he and Queen Camilla will attend a reception at Cyfarthfa Castle near Merthyr Tydfil. The event will bring together homegrown stars from the worlds of art, heritage and culture.
Among the guests are actress Ruth Jones, TikTok creator Lewis Leigh, fashion designer Julien Macdonald, and representatives from the Laura Ashley Foundation. Also attending are representatives from the couple’s patronages, including The King’s Trust and the Royal Osteoporosis Society, alongside local businesses such as Cocos Coffee and Candles, and Enaid Wellness.
Cyfarthfa Castle, built as the residence of ironmaster William Crawshay II, is also marking its 200th anniversary this year. The King’s birthday comes after a period of significant personal and public events, including his ongoing cancer treatment, which began early last year, and the scandal involving his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York.
Charles also made a historic visit to the Vatican, becoming the first monarch since the Reformation to pray alongside the Pope in a public service, and hosted US President Donald Trump at Windsor Castle for a second state visit in September.
