The Prince and Princess of Wales have paid a birthday tribute to King Charles by posting an endearing photo of the monarch on their official social media platforms. The royal couple wished His Majesty joy on his 76th birthday, sharing an image captured during his visit to Samoa last month, which presents Charles donning stylish sunglasses, grinning heartily and wearing a garland.
They accompanied the image with the message: “Wishing a very Happy Birthday to His Majesty The King!” Today marks the King’s 76th birthday, rounding off an eventful year that has included a cancer diagnosis, with Charles still undergoing treatment.
Royal supporters were quick to show their appreciation for the light-hearted snapshot, commending William and Kate for their selection. Social media comments reflected the positive sentiment, with one user expressing on X: “Love the Daddy Cool photo, nice choice.”
Others chimed in with praises like “What a lovely picture” and commendations for the festive homage, saying: “Fantastic photo and fabulous celebration! Happy Birthday to YOU, King Charles.”
This news of the King’s illness was revealed shortly before an announcement that Kate had also received a cancer diagnosis earlier in the year, following significant surgery, reports the Mirror.
According to royal editor Russell Myers, Charles and Kate have grown closer through their personal health struggles. He revealed during her stay at the London Clinic after surgery last January: “They are very close and he thinks of Catherine as his daughter. There is no doubt there is a lot they can share and can use each other for support during their own deeply personal cancer battles.”
As Charles gears up to celebrate a significant milestone, he will inaugurate two food distribution hubs on the anniversary of the Coronation Food Project.
This initiative aims to combat food waste by supporting charities with surplus food supplies. At the hub the King plans to visit, a “surplus food festival” featuring dishes made from otherwise-wasted ingredients will take place.
During his tour of the new facility, Charles will engage with beneficiaries as well as representatives from various community groups. With the ambition to expand the network of hubs and enhance logistical operations, the Coronation Food Project is set to significantly boost its food preservation capabilities, evidenced by an industrial freezer that Charles is expected to inspect—an addition that promises to ramp up capacity by 400 percent.
King Charles was born Philip Arthur George on November 14, 1948 at Buckingham Palace, first child to the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. The birth, a landmark at the royal residence since 1886, prompted his father, the late Duke of Edinburgh, to drive to Caxton Hall to formally register the future king’s arrival.
Ascending the throne after his beloved mother passed away on September 8, 2022, the King faced health challenges earlier this year. January saw reports of the monarch being treated for an enlarged prostate, followed by the announcement of a cancer diagnosis weeks later.
Yet, following months of diligent treatment, last month brought heartening news: royal physicians have given him the all-clear to resume a packed schedule for the coming year, which includes two major international excursions. With a supportive approach to resuming his duties, the King is gearing up for extensive tours next spring and autumn, with Canada earmarked as one of the destinations.
In October, during a demanding nine-day tour of Australia and Samoa alongside the Queen, His Majesty exhibited signs of exhaustion. He had scaled back his regular engagements over the summer in order to prepare for the Antipodean journey.
Looking forward, a Palace spokesperson shared: “We’re now working on a pretty normal-looking, full overseas tour programme for next year, which is a high for us to end on, to know that we can be thinking in those terms.”
The royal tour in Australia saw hundreds coming out to welcome the royals, peaking with an astonishing 10,000 people gathering outside the Sydney Opera House on their final day. A palace official was quoted: “It is hard to overstate the joy that the King takes from duty and service, being in public and seeing those crowds.”
They added: “The idea of these tours always is to leave a trace behind, and that was why the King was very keen that those legacy projects should be launched while we were here. He has genuinely loved this tour. It has lifted his spirits, his mood and his recovery. In that sense, the tour –despite its demands – has been the perfect tonic.”
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