King Charles is 74 this year, but it is a memorable birthday because it will be his first one as the new ruler of Britain following Queen Elizabeth's passing.
King Charles, who ascended to the throne two months ago following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, is getting ready to mark his first birthday as the head of the British monarchy. On November 14, King Charles will turn 74, and various special events will be planned to commemorate his first birthday as the UK’s monarch. After recently presiding over an emotional Remembrance Day service, the monarch celebrates his birthday.
King Charles will commemorate his birthday the day after deeply honouring the victims who gave their lives in the service of their country on Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph. After the passing of his mother, Elizabeth II, on September 8, 2022, King Charles, then 73, became the oldest monarch to ever ascend to the British throne. During the reign of his grandfather, King George VI, Charles was born at Buckingham Palace. When Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne in 1952, he was three years old. Between 1958 and 2022, King Charles held the title of Prince of Wales for 64 years. Here’s an overview of how the UK will mark the King’s 74th birthday as he gets ready for it.
Honoring the Changing of the Guard
According to Sky News, the Band of the Household Cavalry will sing “Happy Birthday” at the Buckingham Palace’s Changing of the Guard ceremony on the King’s 74th birthday. On her 96th birthday, which was commemorated in April of this year, the Queen’s Guard in Windsor had previously performed a rendition of Happy Birthday during the Changing of the Guard event.
guns salute
According to reports, gun salutes will be fired for the first time in the capital in honour of King Charles’ 74th birthday, with the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery firing 41 volleys beginning at noon at London’s Green Park. For those who are unaware, The King’s Troop is a ceremonial unit in the British Army that shoots salutes at important occasions like state visits and royal anniversaries. It also furnishes gun carriages for funerals of dignitaries and military personnel.
birthdays twice
It is not yet known if King Charles will also be announcing a separate Spring birthday. Queen Elizabeth II celebrated two birthdays, one in the summer and one in the spring. According to BBC, monarchs without a summer birthday have had to select a second one to coincide with the Trooping the Colour parade ever since the 1700s. King Charles hasn’t scheduled any public engagements for the day, so it appears that he will spend the important day privately with his family and close friends.
Birthday picture
In honour of King Charles’ 74th birthday, Buckingham Palace may unveil a fresh painting of him. He released a new portrait that was taken in the grounds of his Highgrove House to commemorate his last birthday as the Prince of Wales last year. The image showed him grinning at the camera while wearing a blue pinstripe suit at his official residence in Gloucestershire with Camilla, Queen Consort. Also anticipated are heartfelt birthday greetings from the King’s relatives, notably his son Prince William and his wife, Princess of Wales Kate Middleton. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry might potentially issue a joint statement wishing the new King well.
Even though King Charles came to the throne immediately following the Queen’s death, the new monarch still needs to be officially crowned. King Charles III will be crowned on Saturday, May 6, at Westminster Abbey, the Buckingham Palace revealed in an announcement made in October. Charles will be joined in the ceremony by Camilla, the Queen Consort, who will also be crowned. The event will include historic and modern elements, the Palace stated in its release, and it will be “based in long-standing traditions” while also “reflecting the monarch’s role today and look into the future.”
King Charles will be the oldest new king to be crowned in the UK when he takes the throne at the age of 74. Since it will also be the fourth birthday of his grandson Archie, the son of Prince Harry and Meghan, the date has additional significance for the royal family. Because Charles’ coronation and Archie’s birthday fall on the same day, there have been rumours that Harry and Meghan will forgo their trip to the UK in order to attend the coronation.
