The King was 'delighted' with a special gift from Prince Harry's children, which could potentially be a turning point in their previously frozen relationship.
King Charles III celebrated his 75th birthday with a mix of family greetings, a potential reconciliation with Prince Harry, and traditional royal ceremonies. The monarch, known as 'Grandpa Wales' to his grandchildren, received heartfelt messages from Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in a special video. Additionally, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle engaged in a 'warm conversation' with the King, marking a potential turning point in their previously strained relationship.
Why does King Charles have two birthdays?
On this special day, King Charles III celebrated his 'real' birthday, a tradition within the royal family that involves two birthdays each year, just like his mother - the late Queen. The official celebration, known as Trooping the Colour, takes place in June, and it has been a long-standing tradition since George II in 1748. This unique practice allows for both public and private celebrations, ensuring a grand military parade in the summer and a private acknowledgment of the monarch's actual birth.
Following King Charles III, the responsibility falls on the subsequent monarch, the present Prince of Wales, William, to determine the continuation of this tradition. Given that William's birthday falls on June 21, holding two celebrations within the same month could be considered somewhat redundant, notes The Telegraph.
Royal Family's celebration of the King's birthday
On Twitter and Instagram, the @RoyalFamily account posted a slew of photos of the monarch alongside the message 'Wishing His Majesty The King a happy 75th birthday.'
The official Instagram of William and Kate also extended warm birthday wishes to King Charles III. A three-photo carousel was posted, featuring an initial snapshot of William and his father sharing an embrace with arms slung over each other’s shoulders.
As per Town And Country, King Charles III spent his 75th birthday with a party at Dumfries House, followed by a lavish celebration at London's Clarence House. Notably, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle were reportedly not invited. In between festivities, the King launched The Coronation Food Project, an innovative initiative aimed at combating food waste and supporting those in need. The project, which operates across the United Kingdom, seeks to bridge the gap between food waste and food need, aligning with Charles's commitment to environmental sustainability, as per The Telegraph.
Prince Harry's olive branch call
Despite the reported exclusion from the birthday celebrations, Prince Harry ensured to extend his warm wishes to King Charles III. The Duke of Sussex had a lengthy phone call with his father, marking a potential turning point in their strained relationship.
The relationship between the King and Prince Harry had been notably tense, exacerbated by the publication of Harry's memoir, Spare, in January, which criticized the royal family.
Despite initial reports suggesting Harry's absence from the birthday gathering at Clarence House, the phone call hinted at a potential olive branch. A well placed royal source said:
'The King would like nothing more than for peace to play out within his family. The last few years have been particularly testing for the monarchy and the King appears to be very much focussed on the future, rather than things that have happened along the way.'
Heartwarming gifts from Archie and Lilibet
As per The Telegraph, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet also contributed to the reconciliation efforts by recording a special video singing 'Happy Birthday' for their grandfather. According to a source cited by the outlet, King Charles III - who has only met his two grandchildren on a few occasions, reportedly found the phone call to be 'delighting'.
The source also said the King's chat with Harry was likely to be a 'nice surprise' for the monarch, who had not heard from Harry 'for some time'.
Read more:
⋙ Prince Harry 'rejected' King Charles' birthday gift for Lilibet and requested this
⋙ Why the Queen didn't spend that much time with Lilibet
⋙ King Charles' first birthday as monarch could be a 'quiet' one, according to royal biographer
⋙ Will King Charles III also have two birthdays like Queen Elizabeth II?
