King Charles marked his 76th birthday on Thursday with a visit to open a Coronation Food Hub in Southeast London.
However, many might wonder why the King celebrates his birthday twice, given that a large parade, known as Trooping the Colour, already took place in June.
This tradition dates back to the 18th century, where the British monarch has both an official and an unofficial birthday.
For King Charles, his official birthday is celebrated during Trooping the Colour in June, while his actual birthday is on 14 November. The reason for this dual celebration lies in the unpredictability of British weather.
Historically, monarchs have chosen to hold the official birthday celebrations in summer months to ensure better weather for the public festivities.
For instance, King Edward VII, born on 9 November, held his official birthday parade in May or June to increase the chances of good weather. Similarly, the late Queen Elizabeth II, who was born on 21 April, always opted to celebrate her official birthday on a Saturday in June.
Trooping the Colour has been the official celebration of the monarch’s birthday for over 260 years. This year’s event marked Charles’s second appearance as King.
The grand ceremony involves over 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians parading with precision from Buckingham Palace down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, ending with a Royal Air Force fly-past.
Despite undergoing cancer treatment, King Charles attended this year’s Trooping the Colour, riding in a carriage with Queen Camilla.
During the ceremony at Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall, he reviewed the Guardsmen and officers from an Ascot Landau carriage, continuing the long-standing tradition.
