King Charles: Will the new monarch also have two birthdays?

·Yahoo UK royal reporter

Updated 14 November 2022 at 11:05 am·3-min read

Britain's King Charles III attends the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in central London, on November 13, 2022. - Remembrance Sunday is an annual commemoration held on the closest Sunday to Armistice Day, November 11, the anniversary of the end of the First World War and services across Commonwealth countries remember servicemen and women who have fallen in the line of duty since WWI. (Photo by TOBY MELVILLE / POOL / AFP) (Photo by TOBY MELVILLE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) — Charles attends the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Sunday. (Getty Images)

King Charles is celebrating his 74th birthday — his first since becoming monarch following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September.

Elizabeth had two birthdays during her reign: her actual birthday on April 21st and her 'official' birthday in June, which was marked annually at Trooping the Colour — a parade that dates back over 260 years.

The two-birthday tradition began with King George II who made the military parade part of his official birthday celebration in 1748. He was born in October, but June generally can be relied upon for better weather. Any monarch with a birthday in the colder months normally opts to have two birthdays.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (wearing the uniform of Colonel of the Welsh Guards) and Queen Elizabeth II watch a flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 2, 2022 in London, England. Trooping The Colour, also known as The Queen's Birthday Parade, is a military ceremony performed by regiments of the British Army that has taken place since the mid-17th century. It marks the official birthday of the British Sovereign. This year, from June 2 to June 5, 2022, there is the added celebration of the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II in the UK and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne on 6 February 1952. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images) — Charles and Queen Elizabeth on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping of the Colour - marking the monarch's official birthday - on 2 June, 2022. (Getty Images)

With Charles being born in November, it is likely the tradition will be continued with.

However, it might be slightly for the Prince of Wales, whose birthday is in June.

Charles's 74th was marked across London with gun salutes and the performance of Happy Birthday by military bands, including the Household Cavalry, who performed the song during the changing of the Buckingham Palace Guard.

A new portrait of the King was also released, which accompanied the announcement that the monarch has been made Ranger of Windsor Great Park. The position was previously held by Prince Philip, who was given the role 70 years ago.

King Charles III standing beside an ancient oak tree in Windsor Great Park. (PA)

Over the years, Charles has celebrated his birthday in a myriad of different ways — and in 1998 attracted criticism for the extent and cost of events that marked his 50th birthday.

From commemorative stamps and coins to performances by pop stars at his parties, the Prince of Wales has enjoyed as he once put it "extremely enjoyably but incredibly embarrassing situations".

For his 21st birthday, Charles was given an Aston Martin DB6 by the Queen, he has since had the vintage car converted to make it more environmentally friendly. Now it partly runs on waste products from wine and cheese, which Charles has said "smells delicious".

CRIENCESTER, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 17: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Prince Charles, Prince of Wales accompanied by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall arrives, driving his 1969 Aston Martin DB6 Volante, to play in the Burberry Cup polo match at Cirencester Park Polo Club on June 17, 2005 in Cirencester, England. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images) — Charles and Camilla arrive at the Burberry Cup polo match, Cirencester, in his vintage Aston Martin, June 2005. (Getty Images)

It was as he approached his 21st birthday that Charles admitted in a radio interview that he acknowledged that realising he was heir to the throne was "something that dawns on you with the most ghastly, inexorable sense".

Another gift Charles has received came into use recently at the Accession Council: the ink pot and pen the new monarch used to sign the accession proclamation was reportedly given to him by his sons William and Harry.

The Royal Family are also known to partake in 'gag gifts' regularly, with Princess Anne giving Charles one Christmas a white leather toilet seat.

Prince Charles cuts his tiered birthday cake at his 40th Birthday party during the launch of his Princes Youth Business Trust in Birmingham, England, 11th November 1988. (Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images) — Charles cuts his birthday cake at his 40th Birthday party in Birmingham, England, 11th November 1988. (Getty Images)

However, Charles' birthdays have not always been entirely happy occasions. In 1998, when he turned 50, it was reported that the Queen and Prince Philip did not attend one of his birthday parties which had taken place at Highgrove and had been hosted by Camilla.

The BBC reported at the time that "to do so would be seen to publicly sanction her son's affair with Mrs. Parker-Bowles, the woman blamed by Diana, Princess of Wales, for breaking up the royal marriage".