Will King Charles III have two birthdays like the Queen and when would they be?
The UK and the Commonwealth welcomed a new royal leader, King Charles III, following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022.
On Saturday, May 6, the monarch was officially crowned alongside his wife, Camilla, who will become Queen Consort.
The King celebrated his 74th birthday in November 2022, and many people may be wondering if Charles will have two celebrations, too.
Here’s everything we know about what we can expect from King Charles III’s birthday going forward.
Will King Charles III have two birthdays, like the Queen?
While it hasn’t been formally confirmed, it is a long-standing royal tradition for monarchs to have two birthdays.
The Queen celebrated her actual day of birth on April 21 every year. This would often be spent with close family, with official gun salutes marking the occasion.
However, the big public gathering would happen on the second Saturday of June, known as Trooping the Colour or the Queen’s Birthday Parade.
It would involve soldiers, horses, and musicians producing a vibrant spectacle outside Buckingham Palace.
Given that the tradition has been a part of King Charles III’s family for centuries, he is likely to continue it.
After King Charles III, it will be up to the next monarch, the current Prince of Wales, William, to decide whether he would like to continue the tradition.
William’s birthday is on June 21, so it might prove slightly redundant to hold two celebrations in one month, unless the date of Trooping the Colour is changed.
Why does the monarch have two birthdays?
Simply put, the monarch traditionally has two birthdays due to British weather.
As the monarch’s birthday is typically celebrated with outdoor events, such as Trooping the Colour, it makes more sense to celebrate in the summer, when there’s a greater chance of nice weather.
But the Queen wasn’t the first monarch to celebrate two birthdays.
According to Royal Museums Greenwich, George II started the tradition in 1748. He moved his birthday celebrations to coincide with the annual military parade, as he thought the public wouldn’t be able to celebrate in November, his actual birth month.
Furthermore, Queen Elizabeth II’s great-grandfather, Edward VII, was born in November, but his birthday was celebrated in May and June throughout his reign.
When would King Charles III’s birthdays be?
His Majesty was born on November 14, 1948, and last year celebrated his 74th birthday.
Should he choose to continue his family’s tradition of having two birthdays, the second celebration would be in mid-June every year.
While it may still officially be called Trooping the Colour, it is likely to colloquially be named the King’s Birthday Parade.