The King has celebrated his 76th birthday by visiting a food distribution hub as part of his drive to support charities feeding the nation.
A smiling Charles appeared on good form as he arrived at the Deptford Trading Estate in south London for the engagement, without the Queen who is recovering from a chest infection.
Charles was opening the first Coronation Food Hub at the Deptford site, and a second one in Knowsley, Merseyside, virtually.
Volunteers from the Felix Project, who were dressed in the charity’s signature green, clapped and cheered the monarch and waved flags as he stepped from his Bentley.
The Royal Family wished the King a happy birthday, with the Prince and Princess of Wales sharing a candid photo of him in Samoa wearing sunglasses and a floral garland around his neck.
A congratulatory message with a more formal portrait of the King standing in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace was also unveiled online.
William and Kate’s account shared an image of Charles in the sunshine during his recent long-haul overseas trip to Samoa as he was opening The King’s Garden at the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum in Apia.
The message read: “Wishing a very Happy Birthday to His Majesty The King!”
Latest Royal Family News
- King arrives at Coronation Food Hub in south-east London
- Birthday wishes for the King from the royal family
- King Charles dons black tie on red carpet for world premiere of Gladiator II
- Kate’s carol concert to return on Christmas Eve as Kate hosts first event since cancer diagnosis
- Queen Camilla to return to public duties
Pictured: Gun salute to mark King’s birthday
14:10
Jabed Ahmed
Prince of Wales visits homelessness project during Northern Ireland trip
13:27
Jabed Ahmed
The Prince of Wales has arrived in Northern Ireland for a visit that will involve engagements focusing on homelessness and the region’s creative industries.
The trip was due to take place in May this year but was postponed because of the calling of the UK general election.
William’s first visit was to a project in Belfast aimed at helping to prevent homelessness for young people leaving care.
He was welcomed to The Foyer, a temporary accommodation and support service for young people experiencing homelessness operated by the Simon Community.
On arrival William was greeted by the Lord Lieutenant for Belfast Dame Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle.
South Belfast and Mid Down MP and SDLP leader Claire Hanna also welcomed the prince with Jim Dennison, the chief executive of the Simon Community, and Neil McKittrick, the Northern Ireland lead for William’s Homewards initiative.
The Simon Community is a member of the Northern Ireland element of the prince’s initiative to tackle homelessness.
New Balmoral tartan created at request of King
12:49
Jabed Ahmed
A tartan designed at the King’s request, which will be used at Balmoral, has been lodged with the Scottish Register of Tartans.
The Balmoral Glen Gelder tartan, designed by the Scottish Tartans Authority, uses the specific colours and shades of the King Charles III tartan which the authority presented to the monarch last year.
That pattern was created to mark the coronation and in recognition of the King’s strong support in preserving the culture and traditions of Highland dress and Scottish tartans.
The new tartan, announced as the King celebrates his 76th birthday, will be used for furnishings and staff uniforms at Balmoral and on a limited range of products that will be available to the public at Balmoral Castle next year.
Pictured: King meets members of the Felix Project as he departs after a visit to first Coronation Food Hub
12:17
Jabed Ahmed
Watch live: 41 gun salute to mark King Charles’ 76th birthday in London’s Green Park
12:05
Jabed Ahmed
King’s anti-food waste project saves equivalent of more than two million meals
11:36
Jabed Ahmed
The King’s Coronation Food Project has saved 940 tonnes of surplus food – the equivalent of more than two million meals, according to an impact report marking the first anniversary of the initiative.
Charles launched the drive a year ago and since then more than £15 million has been raised to design, build and run a future network of up to 10 Coronation Food Hubs across the UK.
Three more hubs are due open in the year ahead, the report revealed.
The project aims to bridge the gap between food waste and food need across the UK, by saving more surplus food, supercharging food distribution networks and delivering a flexible funding programme to support the wider sector.
The initiative, which partners with The Felix Project and FareShare, has made “significant and tangible progress towards achieving” its goals, the report said.
As well as saving 940 tonnes of surplus food in its first year – equivalent to 2.24 million meal portions, a further 1,900 tonnes – or 4.5 million meals – have also been donated by partners of the project.
King arrives at Coronation Food Hub in south-east London
11:17
Jabed Ahmed
The King has opened a Coronation Food Hub in south-east London to celebrate his 76th birthday.
Charles was greeted by Sir Kenneth Olisa, Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, and taken to the entrance of the Deptford hub where the King was greeted by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.
The opening of two centres on Thursday will mark the first anniversary of the Coronation Food Project.
Project chairwoman Dame Martina Milburn, Baroness Louise Casey and other representatives of the charities involved also met Charles.
Volunteers from the Felix Project, who will run the Deptford hub, waved flags and cheers as the King arrived.
Birthday wishes for the King from the royal family
10:57
Jabed Ahmed
The royal family has wished the King a happy 76th birthday, with the Prince and Princess of Wales sharing a photo of the relaxed-looking monarch wearing sunglasses and a garland during a recent royal tour.
The monarchy’s official social media accounts posted a congratulatory message with a more formal portrait of the King standing in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace.
William and Kate’s account shared an image of Charles in the sunshine during his recent long-haul overseas trip to Samoa as he was opening The King’s Garden at the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum in Apia.
The message read: “Wishing a very Happy Birthday to His Majesty The King!”
Pictured: King Charles dons black tie on red carpet for world premiere of Gladiator II
10:40
Jabed Ahmed
King holds audience with possible contender to be next archbishop of Canterbury
10:32
Jabed Ahmed
The King has held an audience with one of the possible contenders to become the next archbishop of Canterbury.
Charles welcomed the Right Reverend Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich, to Buckingham Palace on Wednesday to appoint him as Lord High Almoner and formally present him with his Badge of Office.
The role of Lord High Almoner dates back to the 12th century and involves attending upon, or representing, the sovereign at the Royal Maundy Service.
Mr Usher is an ecologist, a keen beekeeper and the Church’s lead bishop on the environment, while the King is known for his campaigning on green issues.
The bishop is one of those thought to be in the running to become the 106th archbishop of Canterbury, following the resignation of Justin Welby.
Hampshire tea company recognised for sustainability by Duke of Edinburgh
10:06
Jabed Ahmed
The Duke of Edinburgh has presented a Hampshire tea company with the King’s Award in Sustainable Development for its work helping to improve lives of people around the world.
Ahmad Tea, based in Chandler’s Ford, is one of 29 organisations around the country to be recognised with the honour in 2024.
During his visit to the company’s headquarters, Prince Edward, who was accompanied by Countess Mountbatten of Burma and the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, was presented with a box of tea called Royal Ceylon which had been blended especially for the King.
The British family-owned company which supplies teas to 65 countries worldwide, was presented with the award in recognition of its sustainability projects, philanthropic initiatives and ethical practices.
A spokeswoman for the firm said that it donates up to 20% of its profits to local and global initiatives ranging from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association to funding a cancer hospital in Sri Lanka as well as health programmes for women in tea-growing regions of Assam and Kenya.
‘Fairytale’ picnic cottage enjoyed by Queen Victoria is restored to its former glory
09:34
Jabed Ahmed
A “fairytale” picnic cottage enjoyed by Queen Victoria on her visits to Balmoral has been saved from ruin by a conservation charity.
Built by Queen Victoria’s granddaughter, Princess Louise, around 1850, the cottage had fallen into disrepair but has been restored to its former glory through work commissioned by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS).
Moxon Architects helped NTS develop the plans for the restoration work and contractors completed the work this autumn, having started in June this year.
They cleared rubble from inside the building, before repointing mortar and harling on the cottage walls, dismantling dormer windows and installing doors, windows and floors to make it watertight and accessible.
The cottage is situated in woodlands near Linn of Quoich on Mar Lodge Estate national nature reserve close to Braemar in Aberdeenshire.
King celebrates 76th birthday with day out on official duties
09:10
Jabed Ahmed
The King is celebrating his 76th birthday, marking the occasion with a visit to a surplus food festival.
Charles is treating the day as a normal working one and carrying on with his duties despite facing a personally challenging year in which both he and the Princess of Wales were diagnosed with cancer.
The monarch will open the first two Coronation Food Hubs on the first anniversary of the launch of his Coronation Food Project, designed to bridge the gap between food need and food waste in the UK amid the cost-of-living crisis.
He will head to Deptford in south London to formally unveil the first hub, tour the centre with London Mayor Sadiq Khan, and attend the surplus food festival being staged to celebrate the royal visit, before virtually opening another hub in Merseyside.
The event will be a solo one for Charles, with the Queen, who had hoped to join him, still recovering from a nasty chest infection.
Pictured: King celebrates film and TV industry at Buckingham Palace
09:04
Jabed Ahmed
Princess of Wales shares behind-the-scenes glimpse of Christmas carol concert arrangements
Wednesday 13 November 2024 18:01
Jabed Ahmed
Dame Imelda Staunton says she ‘absolutely adored’ playing Queen Elizabeth II
Wednesday 13 November 2024 17:02
Jabed Ahmed
Actress Dame Imelda Staunton has said she “absolutely adored” portraying the late Queen Elizabeth II as she received her royal title at Windsor Castle.
The 68-year-old, who earned Bafta TV and Golden Globe nominations for the role in Netflix’s hit drama The Crown, was honoured for her services to drama and charity by the Prince of Wales on Tuesday.
Asked if it felt surreal to be recognised with her damehood by Charles in the King’s Birthday Honours having played his mother, Dame Imelda told the PA news agency: “They’re two very different worlds and you have to sort of get serious about that and go, ‘We were on the television and this is for real’.
“[William and I] didn’t talk about that, but it was a huge privilege. That was two years of filming, and I absolutely adored it.
“It was of course devastating when Her Majesty died – we were filming as well, it was tricky.”
Dame Imelda starred as the former monarch in the fifth and sixth series of the royal drama, following in the footsteps of Claire Foy and Olivia Colman – who played younger versions of Queen Elizabeth II.
She said she was “inconsolable for quite some time” after the Queen’s death, and that subsequent filming of The Crown was “very strange”.
Pictured: Queen Camilla at Booker Prize reception
Wednesday 13 November 2024 16:01
Jabed Ahmed
ICYMI: ‘I think I’m on the mend’: Queen attends Booker Prize reception after illness
Wednesday 13 November 2024 15:02
Jabed Ahmed
The Queen said she is “getting much better” as she arrived at a Booker Prize reception in her first public engagement since falling ill with a chest infection.
Camilla congratulated shortlisted authors at Clarence House on Tuesday afternoon and the winner of the prestigious literary prize will be announced in the evening.
It is her first public engagement since she contracted the seasonal bug following her long-haul tour to Australia and Samoa two-and-a-half weeks ago.
The Queen was greeted in the Garden Room by chief executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, Gaby Wood, and chair of the 2024 judges, Edmund de Waal.
She shook their hands and told Ms Wood: “I’m obviously getting much better. A bit of sort of coughing going on.”
“I really wanted to come,” Camilla added.
Wednesday 13 November 2024 13:58
Jabed Ahmed
Rebecca Ferguson has said it is “so easy to forget yourself” in the entertainment industry as she was recognised with a royal honour at Windsor Castle.
The Liverpool-born singer-songwriter finished runner-up on The X Factor in 2010 but has turned more towards activism in recent years.
She was made an MBE by the Prince of Wales on Tuesday for her services to the music industry, having campaigned for the introduction of the new regulatory body for the sector to ensure artist welfare.
Ferguson likened her experience of finding her way in the music industry after The X Factor, where she finished behind winner Matt Cardle, with boy band One Direction third, to the character Pip in Charles Dickens’ novel Great Expectations.
The real reason why King Charles doesn’t own a phone
Wednesday 13 November 2024 13:01
Jabed Ahmed
Following her death, royal insiders disclosed that although the late queen detested smartphones, she did have one available to her.
King Charles, however, is not interested in carrying on the custom of royals using mobile phones.
The King doesn't have a phone, according to Hello!, since he has a vast army of staff members ready to connect him to anyone at any time.
Queen Elizabeth was also known for her fondness of classic landlines, however, it has been reported she only answered the phone when her daughter, Princess Anne, and racing manager John Warren called.
King to celebrate film and TV industry and meet stars at Gladiator II premiere
Wednesday 13 November 2024 11:47
Jabed Ahmed
The King is celebrating the UK’s film and television industry at a special reception in Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, before a night out at the star-studded Gladiator II premiere.
Charles will welcome directors, actors, TV presenters, stunt performers and costume designers to the historic royal residence in London.
At his side for part of the event will be the Queen, but Camilla is not expected to stay for the whole engagement with her diary adjusted this week to aid her recovery from a chest infection.
On the eve of his 76th birthday, the King will later make a solo outing to the glitzy global premiere of the highly anticipated Gladiator sequel at the Odeon Luxe in London’s Leicester Square after Camilla pulled out of attending the red carpet affair.
Charles will meet the film’s stars including Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen and Pedro Pascal, and director Sir Ridley Scott.
Watch: Queen opens up on tearful turning point that sparked domestic abuse campaigning
Wednesday 13 November 2024 10:51
Jabed Ahmed
Princess of Wales carol concert to return on Christmas Eve as Kate hosts first event since cancer diagnosis
Wednesday 13 November 2024 09:49
Jabed Ahmed
It’s time for the royal family to come clean on their finances
Tuesday 12 November 2024 14:00
Alexander Butler
What Donald Trump’s presidency could mean for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle amid US visa row
Tuesday 12 November 2024 12:48
Alexander Butler
Pictured: Imelda Staunton with royal honours
Tuesday 12 November 2024 12:17
Alexander Butler
Kate Middleton: A timeline of the princess’s year so far, from cancer diagnosis to royal return
Tuesday 12 November 2024 11:58
Alexander Butler
Queen to attend Booker Prize reception
Tuesday 12 November 2024 11:15
Alexander Butler
The Queen is attending a Booker Prize reception at Clarence House on Tuesday, but will meet guests for a shorter period than planned.
Camilla will also still attend a Palace reception with the King on Wednesday to celebrate the TV and film industry, but she is not expected to be present for the entirety of the engagement.
She has also pulled out attending the star-studded Gladiator II premiere on Wednesday evening. The changes to her diary are understood to have been made to protect and prioritise her continued recovery, with royal doctors keen to prevent any setback from a nasty seasonal illness.
Queen Camilla to return to public duties
Tuesday 12 November 2024 11:03
Alexander Butler
The Queen will return to public duties today after her chest infection but will miss the Gladiator II premiere on Wednesday to aid her recovery, a royal source said.
Camilla missed the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday, as well as Remembrance Sunday as she recovered from the illness.
Queen opens up on tearful turning point that sparked domestic abuse campaigning
Tuesday 12 November 2024 10:53
Alexander Butler
Beloved Harry Potter star and Duran Duran rocker to receive royal honours at Windsor Castle
Tuesday 12 November 2024 10:17
Alexander Butler
The beloved Harry Potter star Imelda Staunton and Duran Duran singer Simon Le Bon are among those set to receive royal honours at Windsor Castle.
Dame Imelda, who portrayed Dolores Umbridge in the fantasy series, as well as portrayed the late Queen Elizabeth II in Netflix drama The Crown, will receive her title for services to drama and charity on Tuesday.
Le Bon, whose hit songs include Rio and Hungry Like The Wolf, said he was “thrilled” to be made an MBE for his services to music and charity.
A list of Honours, recognising outstanding achievements, personal bravery and services to the UK and British Overseas Territories, is published twice a year by the Cabinet Office.
The presentation of the award insignia - or medals - however, happens at Investitures all throughout the year.
Health crises and conspiracy theories: How 2024 became Prince William’s ‘annus horribilis’
Tuesday 12 November 2024 08:00
Jabed Ahmed
William has spoken candidly about the royal family’s major health scares, saying 2024 has “probably been the hardest year in my life” and a “dreadful” experience.
Both his father, King Charles and his wife, Kate, were diagnosed with cancer this year - putting considerable strain on the royals both mentally and physically.
As he attended the awards ceremony for his Earthshot Prize in Cape Town, William was asked to reflect on the year as it comes to a close by reporters, in which he said: “Honestly? It’s been dreadful. It’s probably been the hardest year in my life.”
He added: “So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult.
“But I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it’s been, yeah, it’s been brutal.”
Kate Middleton: A timeline of the princess’s year so far, from cancer diagnosis to royal return
Tuesday 12 November 2024 06:00
Jabed Ahmed
Watch: Princess of Wales joins King at major Remembrance event
Tuesday 12 November 2024 04:00
Jabed Ahmed
King ‘cuts financial ties to disgraced Prince Andrew after refusal to move out of home’
Tuesday 12 November 2024 02:00
Jabed Ahmed
Charles and William face calls to dissolve private estates and back out of lucrative NHS deal
Monday 11 November 2024 23:59
Jabed Ahmed
King Charles is facing calls to dissolve his lucrative private estates and refund the cash-strapped NHS after it emerged he is making millions from renting out ambulance parking spaces and sub-standard properties.
The monarch and Prince William have sparked uproar after it was revealed they are benefiting from rental deals with public services – including the armed forces and state schools – on their private estates, the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall.
The two estates earned the royals upwards of £50m in the last financial year, with both being exempt from paying corporation tax or capital gains tax.
Charles has been asked to reconsider an £11.4m deal struck by the Duchy of Lancaster last year to store a fleet of electric ambulances, owned by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London, in one of the estate’s warehouses for 15 years.
Campaigners described the deal as “disgraceful” and a “money-grabbing activity” which ought to be reconsidered by the King.
Late Queen’s final diary entry written two days before death revealed
Monday 11 November 2024 23:02
Jabed Ahmed
Watch: Tom Parker Bowles gives his verdict on the cooking of his mother, the Queen
Monday 11 November 2024 22:01
Jabed Ahmed
Harry praises veterans for ‘vital role in defending the values of liberty, freedom, and security'
Monday 11 November 2024 21:01
Jabed Ahmed
The Duke of Sussex praised veterans’ for having played a “vital role in defending the values of liberty, freedom, and security”, saying: “These values bind us together and have shaped you as leaders and role models.”
He added: “As you continue to serve making valued contributions to communities, colleagues, households and all those we love my hope is that our communities will continue to serve your needs too.
“Your contributions do not stop because you no longer wear the uniform, and the collective sense of appreciation for what you have done for your countries should not stop either.
“Let today be a reminder that the true measure of gratitude is not in words alone, but in our actions and our ongoing efforts to build a world worthy of the sacrifices that those before us have made and to protect it for generations to come.
“To all those who have served – past and present – I offer my deepest respect and thanks. Your service has made a lasting, positive impact for our communities, our nations, and our shared future.
“I am honored to stand with you.”
Harry pays tribute to veterans in rare statement
Monday 11 November 2024 20:31
Jabed Ahmed
The Duke of Sussex has paid tribute to veterans, reaffirming his “lifelong admiration and appreciation” for their “service and sacrifice”.
Former soldier Harry released a rare statement on Monday, marking Remembrance Day in the UK and Veterans Day in the US.
He said: said: “My Fellow Veterans, As we mark both Veterans Day and Remembrance Day, I reaffirm my lifelong admiration and appreciation for the service and sacrifice you and your families have made – both in times of conflict and peace.
“You have played a vital role in defending the values of liberty, freedom, and security. These values bind us together and have shaped you as leaders and role models.
“At a time of global uncertainty, remember the unity and purpose that defined your service, and do not hesitate to put that into action in your communities. That same spirit should guide all of us in facing today’s challenges.
“Your example and morality demonstrate that true power lies in our ability to unite and confront the obstacles before us.”
What we know so far about the Queen’s chest infection
Monday 11 November 2024 19:31
Jabed Ahmed
The Queen has been forced to withdraw from her engagements and is resting at home after being diagnosed with a chest infection.
Chest infections – an infection of the lungs or large airways – are common, especially after a cold or flu during autumn and winter.
Most chest infections are mild and clear up on their own, others can be severe and sometimes even life threatening.
Camilla, 77, is understood to be under doctors’ supervision.
The main types of chest infections are bronchitis and pneumonia.
According to NHS Inform, most bronchitis cases are caused by viruses while most pneumonia cases are due to bacteria.
If The Queen has been diagnosed with a bacterial chest infection, then she will be treated with antibiotics.
Queen Camilla spotlights voices of domestic abuse survivors in powerful new documentary
Monday 11 November 2024 18:29
Jabed Ahmed
King Charles death plan codename upgraded to ‘Operation London Bridge’, claims biography
Monday 11 November 2024 17:31
Jabed Ahmed
The codename for the plan triggered in the event of King Charles’s death has officially been upgraded to ‘Operation London Bridge’, the same as his mothers, according to a new book.
While the plan for the immediate days following his death including how the public will be informed, the lying-in-state and the funeral service will long have been established under standard royal protocol, it is the codename that has now been upgraded.
In New King, New Court Charles III: The Inside Story, Robert Hardman gives new details of the plan. “The King’s own valedictory arrangements have now, officially, been upgraded to Operation London Bridge, mirroring those of Elizabeth II,” Mr Hardman said.
These arrangements, which began shortly after his coronation, were described by former Royal Protection Officer Simon Morgan as “inevitable” particularly given the monarch’s age, 75.
Health crises and conspiracy theories: How 2024 became Prince William’s ‘annus horribilis’
Monday 11 November 2024 16:46
Jabed Ahmed
William has spoken candidly about the royal family’s major health scares, saying 2024 has “probably been the hardest year in my life” and a “dreadful” experience.
Both his father, King Charles and his wife, Kate, were diagnosed with cancer this year - putting considerable strain on the royals both mentally and physically.
As he attended the awards ceremony for his Earthshot Prize in Cape Town, William was asked to reflect on the year as it comes to a close by reporters, in which he said: “Honestly? It’s been dreadful. It’s probably been the hardest year in my life.”
He added: “So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult.
“But I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it’s been, yeah, it’s been brutal.”
Pictured: Duchess of Edinburgh at National Memorial Arboretum Remembrance service
Monday 11 November 2024 16:14
Jabed Ahmed
What Donald Trump’s presidency could mean for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle amid US visa row
Monday 11 November 2024 15:30
Jabed Ahmed
Comment: It’s time for the royal family to come clean on their finances
Monday 11 November 2024 14:43
Jabed Ahmed
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle say ‘We are at a crossroads’ in video message
Monday 11 November 2024 14:01
Jabed Ahmed
Queen Camilla’s son reveals her kitchen secrets
Monday 11 November 2024 13:14
Jabed Ahmed
The hidden message in Kate’s Remembrance Sunday outfit
Monday 11 November 2024 12:31
Jabed Ahmed
The Princess of Wales wore a traditionally sombre black outfit as she appeared at the Cenotaph war memorial for Remembrance Sunday.
Kate’s diamond and pearl drop earrings belonged to the late Queen and she wore her silver Queen’s Dragoon Guards brooch – in a nod to her role as the regiment’s Colon
