June 12th 2024.
Trooping the Colour is a very special day for the monarch. It is considered the "official" birthday, although it is not the real one. This is because, as monarch, King Charles III, just like his late mother Queen Elizabeth II, has two birthdays. It may seem like a luxury to have two birthdays, but for the rest of us, it's just a dream.
Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned for an impressive seven decades, celebrated two birthdays each year. She was born on April 21, 1926, but her "official" birthday celebration, called Trooping the Colour, took place in the summertime with a grand parade. King Charles has continued this tradition, but have you ever wondered why monarchs have two birthdays and how it all started? Let's delve into the history of this royal tradition.
The tradition of Trooping the Colour dates back all the way to 1748 and King Charles has carried on this tradition. As a result, he marks two birthdays - his official one, which falls on a Saturday in June, and his actual date of birth, which is November 14. Last year, King Charles celebrated his first Trooping the Colour as a sovereign.
The first monarch to have two birthday celebrations was King Charles' distant relative, King George II. He wanted to throw a big public celebration with a parade and all the grandeur that comes with it. However, being born in November, he knew the chances of good weather for an outdoor event in the UK were slim. So, he decided to combine his birthday celebration with the annual military parade held in the summer. This way, he would have two birthday celebrations - one in June for the public and one in November for himself.
Now, let's take a look at how King Charles celebrates his birthdays. This weekend, on Saturday, June 15, he will take part in Trooping the Colour. The event will be held at Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall and the King will review the Guardsmen and officers from an Ascot Landau carriage, with the Queen by his side. Last year, he inspected the troops on horseback, but due to ongoing cancer treatment, he followed his doctor's advice and chose to ride in a carriage instead.
During the ceremony, the Irish Guards' Number 9 Company will be the ones "trooping" their colour. Back in November 2023, the King celebrated his 75th birthday at the launch of the Coronation Food Project, which aims to address food poverty and waste. He toured a surplus food distribution centre with Queen Camilla and hosted a reception for nurses and midwives at Buckingham Palace. He also celebrated with his neighboring 75-year-olds and community champions by hosting live music and tea parties at Highgrove House. The day ended with a private family dinner at Clarence House.
Now, you may be wondering how old King Charles is. He turned 75 on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. In September 2022, he became the oldest monarch to ascend the throne, at the age of 73. This title was previously held by William IV, who was 64 when he became king in 1830. In contrast, Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles' late mother, was only 25 when she became Queen in 1952. The youngest British monarch at the beginning of her reign was Mary, Queen of Scots, who became Queen at just 6 days old in 1542. The youngest King was Henry VI, who was 8 months and 26 days old when he ascended the throne in 1422.
As King Charles' birthday also falls in November, it feels more connected to history to host Trooping the Colour in June. However, when the time comes for the nation to have Prince William as sovereign, the tradition of two birthdays may come to an end. This is because Prince William's birthday falls on June 21, so there would be no need for a separate celebration. Similarly, future king Prince George also has a summer birthday, on July 22.
In other news, did you know that a massive lifelike model of King Charles was actually just a cake? Or that King Charles III graced the cover of The Big Issue to launch The Coronation Food Project? Also, during a visit to a cemetery in Kenya, Charles almost took a tumble on artificial grass. What are your thoughts on this royal tradition? Share your views in the comments below.
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