King Charles III is celebrating his 77th birthday today, with Buckingham Palace releasing a new official portrait to mark the occasion. The photograph, shared across the royal family's official social media channels, presents a relaxed monarch on the grounds of his Sandringham Estate.
A Birthday Portrait and Quiet Celebrations
The new portrait shows King Charles dressed smartly but casually in a cream coat, a pale blue shirt, and tan trousers. The image was captioned with a cheerful "77 today!" and a red balloon emoji, thanking the public for their well-wishes. The photograph was credited to Millie Pilkington.
In a departure from large family gatherings, the King is spending part of his birthday conducting official engagements with Queen Camilla in South Wales. Royal aides have described this choice as a "deeply symbolic" gesture, reflecting his enduring commitment to connecting with communities across the United Kingdom.
The Tradition of Two Birthdays
While today is his actual birthday, the monarch, in keeping with a tradition dating back to 1748, celebrates an official birthday publicly in the summer. This is marked by the grand Trooping the Colour ceremony on the second Saturday of June, an event initiated in the reign of King George II.
Despite his birthday being a quieter affair, it will still be honoured with gun salutes in London and other locations, as well as the ringing of bells at Westminster Abbey.
Duty Amidst Personal Challenges
The King's 77th birthday arrives as he continues to receive treatment for cancer. Nevertheless, he has maintained a busy schedule of royal visits, receptions at Windsor Castle, and state duties. Palace officials have noted that the King finds genuine joy in his role and public service.
On recent outings, Charles has even shown humour about his age. While comforting a cancer patient at a new hospital in September, he quipped, "the terrible thing, as I'm discovering already, bits don't work so well do they once you get past 70."
The birthday celebrations also unfold against a backdrop of ongoing scandal involving his brother, the Duke of York. King Charles recently took the unprecedented step of stripping Prince Andrew of his military affiliations and royal patronages, effectively removing him from his formal role within The Firm following the continued controversy over his association with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
