Find out why King Charles III has two birthdays like Queen Elizabeth II did

As monarch, King Charles III has two birthdays – just like his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, did.

While a second birthday is something the rest of us could only dream of, the late Queen celebrated two birthdays each year throughout her seven-decade reign.

Her Majesty was born in 1926 on April 21, but an ‘official birthday celebration’ took place in the form of Trooping the Colour – a summertime parade.

Indeed, King Charles has carried on this tradition. You may be wondering why monarchs have two birthdays – and how this first began.

Here’s all you need to know.

Why does King Charles have two birthdays?

King Charles has carried on the tradition of Trooping the Colour, which dates all the way back to 1748.

As a result, he does indeed mark two birthdays – the official one, which traditionally takes place on a Saturday in June, and his actual date of birth, on November 14.

The first sovereign to have two birthday events was King Charles’s distant relative, King George II – who wished to throw a public celebration, complete with a parade and plenty of pomp and circumstance.

However, having also been born in November, the odds of the weather holding out for a huge outdoor bash in the UK were pretty slim.

Instead, the monarch decided to use the UK’s annual military parade held in the summer as his official birthday celebration.

He would therefore mark his birthday twice – once publicly in June, and once privately in November.

How does King Charles celebrate his birthdays?

This year, King Charles will spend his birthday working to support the Coronation Food Project – just like he did for his 75th birthday.

Last November, the King launched the Coronation Food Project, which aims to support the nation during the cost-of-living crisis by redistributing food destined for landfills.

On his birthday, he toured a surplus food distribution centre outside London with Queen Camilla and hosted a reception for nurses and midwives at Buckingham Palace.

The King also shared his birthday celebrations with neighbouring 75-year-olds and community champions by hosting live music and tea parties at Highgrove House, before ending the day with a private family dinner at Clarence House.

How old is King Charles?

King Charles is 76 years old, as of Thursday, November 14 2024.

In September 2022, Charles became the oldest monarch to accede the throne at age 73.

Previously, that title was held by William IV, who was 64 when he assumed the throne in 1830.

By contrast, Queen Elizabeth II, The King’s late mother, was just 25 years of age when she became Queen in 1952.

The youngest British monarch at the start of her reign was Mary, Queen of Scots, who became queen aged 6 days in 1542 – while the youngest King was Henry VI, who was 8 months and 26 days old at the time of his accession in 1422.

What will happen after King Charles?

As King’ Charles’ birthday is also in November, the decision to host Trooping the Colour in June feels more connected to history than ever before.

When the time comes for the nation to have William as sovereign, the tradition of two birthdays might come to an end.

This is because Prince William’s birthday falls on June 21 already.

Future king Prince George also has a summer birthday, on July 22.

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