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King Charles is preparing for the annual Sovereign’s Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour, even though he was actually born in November – and the centuries-old tradition of dual birthdays for the monarch comes down to one very British reason

King Charles is busy preparing to celebrate his official birthday on Saturday with the annual Trooping the Colour, which will see the royal family and thousands of royal fans step out to join in the celebration. Trooping the Colour takes place every year in June, even though Charles’ actual birthday is in November.

He is not the only monarch to have two birthdays marked in the royal calendar, as Queen Elizabeth II, and many previous monarchs, also celebrated Trooping the Colour only to have their actual birthdays later in the year. But why does the monarch have two birthdays in the first place? And why isn’t Trooping the Colour celebrated on the King’s actual birthday? The answer comes down to two very British things: tradition and the weather.

Why does the King have two birthdays?

The reason why the King has two birthdays is a centuries-old tradition set in place by a series of past monarchs.

The very first Trooping the Colour is believed to have been performed during the reign of King Charles II, who was Monarch from 1660 to 1685. However, it wasn’t until 1748 that it was decided for the parade to mark the official birthday of the Sovereign, becoming an annual event after George III became King in 1760.

But it was King Edward VII, who reigned from 1901 to 1910 and was born in November, that began the tradition of holding Trooping the Colour in June. For the monarchs whose birthdays have fallen at different times during the year, they commemorate their ceremonial birthday in June, and their actual birthdays on the dates of their birth.

Why is the King’s offical birthday celebrated in June?

The King’s official birthday is celebrated in June due to a decision that was made a century ago that was largely inspired by the eternal British yearning for nice weather.

When King Edward VII was planning his birthday celebrations, he decided that November – when his actual birthday is held – is not the optimal time of year for a large outdoor gathering.

So instead, he moved Trooping of the Colour to May or June because there was less chance of it being cold and drizzly on the big day. The monarch after Edward VII – George V – helpfully had an actual birthday in June, but the Queen’s father, George VI, whose birthday was in December, reintroduced the tradition of an official birthday in summer, which Elizabeth II continued.

When is King Charles’ actual birthday and is it a bank holiday?

Despite his official birthday being celebrated in June, King Charles’ birthday is actually in November. Charles was born on November 14 1948, and will be celebrating his 77th birthday later this year. Neither his actual birthday nor his official birthday are bank holidays in the UK.

Will Prince William have two birthdays when he is King?

There is a possibility that when Prince William ascends to the throne, he will only have one birthday celebration, due to his actual birthday already being in June (June 21st to be exact).

Similarly, Prince George also has a summer birthday (July 22nd), and could opt to only have one birthday celebration when he becomes King, meaning the tradition of two birthdays could disappear for several decades.

Elevate your outdoor space this summer with a giant Tuscan olive tree that will add a Mediterranean flair to your patio or garden – and right now, it’s £250 less

This extra-large, heavy-duty Tuscan olive tree is currently available for £149.99, down from £399.99. This Gardening Express deal saves shoppers a whopping £250. It is perfect for planting in large containers in a sun-drenched courtyard or patio, and all you’ll need to complete your own Tuscan terrace at home is a nice glass of Chianti.

Also suitable to be planted directly into the ground in the garden, this giant Tuscan olive tree is sure to thrive in any well-drained, bright spot.

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Boasting elegant, grey-green leaves that remain all year, alongside tiny, fragrant, creamy-white flowers that are followed by edible, green fruits, this olive tree is an investment as it offers an immediate and impressive impact that lasts through the seasons.

Excellent for a sunny, Mediterranean-style garden, these olive trees are slow-growing with a nice stem and attractive silvery leaves. If you’ve ever admired olive trees on your holidays, the good news is you can now admire your own from your garden.

The olive tree flowers during the summer, providing ample green edible fruit that appears in the autumn, ripening to black. What’s more, this tree will last many years, even growing to a ripe old age of hundreds of years old. Each year, these olive trees will produce more and more succulent fruit, especially if you can provide a bright sunny position, ideally sheltered from cold winter winds.

If you’re planning on growing in containers, you can place the olive tree in the conservatory through the winter months, or sheltered against the house, where it will benefit from the warmth and shelter provided by a wall.

Shoppers who have added one of these gems to their outdoor space can’t stop gushing about the beauty of this tree. One 5-star reviewer raves: “All first class. The tree was well wrapped and in very good condition. I have been buying plants from Gardeningexpress for two years now, and I can say they are simply the best.”

Another shares: “Wonderful tree! The size is incredible and seem to be much more expensive elsewhere. The quality of the tree and condition is also fantastic.”

And this buyer beams: “Really big trees delivered in great condition. Exactly as advertised. I’m a regular customer and they never let me down.”

Loose Women’s Stacey Solomon has been updating fans from her solo trip to Italy where she’s been busy working, but also managed to find some time to soak up some sun

Award-winning TV presenter Stacey Solomon is currently soaking up the sun on a solo trip abroad as speculation swirls about the mum-of-five’s next big project. The Loose Women panellist looked sensational as she stepped out in an orange bikini as she enjoyed another day in Italy earlier this week.

Stacey, who is rumoured to be considering an offer to join the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing line-up, looked every inch the fashionista as she enjoyed some downtime by the pool at the luxurious Mandarin Oriental in Lake Como.

BBC bosses are said to be keen to get Stacey on the Strictly dancefloor later this year. Stacey has previously admitted she would love to do the show but has “two left feet.”

“I have rhythm with singing or listening to music, but when it comes to moving my feet, I’m left-footed, I have two left feet. I’d be one of those people who would go out in week one, and they’d be like, ‘Well, that was a waste of time!'” Stacey confessed in an interview in 2022.

But BBC bosses disgrace and think she “could surprise a lot of people, including herself”. Judging from the snaps of Stacey in Italy this week, the multi-talented star is in good shape and could clearly handle a stint on the dancefloor.

The former X Factor finalist, 35, cut a glamorous figure as she topped up her tan in a crocheted two-piece orange swimsuit on Tuesday, accessorising with chic sunglasses, gold hoops, a necklace and an orange floral hair clip.

Stacey has been updating her loyal followers on Instagram about her solo trip without husband Joe Swash and her brood of kids. The 35-year-old TV is in Italy for work commitments with Rehab Hair – a brand Stacey invested in after using it as a customer first.

The busy mum seems to be making the most of her scenic surroundings, embracing a well-deserved moment of relaxation amid her professional commitments. Any hint of marital issues with Joe didn’t appear to be on her mind as she proudly wore her wedding band on her ring finger during her break by the pool.

Eyebrows were raised recently when EastEnders legend Joe got candid about their marriage and admitted he and Stacey are stuck in “a constant battle”. Between them, Joe and Stacey juggle a bustling household with six children.

The couple share Rex, aged five, Rose, three, and two year old Belle. Stacey brings two sons from previous relationships into the mix, Leighton, 12, and Zachary, 17, while Joe, 43, is a dad to son Harry, also 17, from his past relationship with Emma Sophocleous. The pair split when Harry was just a tot, leading Joe to fight for access through the courts.

Yet, it’s the modern-day challenge of managing screen time that’s proving tough for Stacey and Joe, who’ve dubbed phone use as “a privilege”. They’ve set firm rules, allowing Rex just an hour of game time over the weekend, but only if he’s well-behaved at school and finishes his chores.

In a recent chat with Huffington Post, Joe shared insights into their “battle” over screen time and the reluctant concession they make for their son’s weekly gaming. He remarked: “But even that, me and Stacey begrudgingly let him have that.”

He continued, expressing their parental concerns: “It’s difficult, it’s a constant battle … And even then, when he’s playing the games, we’re constantly watching what he’s doing, what games he’s playing. It’s something that concerns us, you know?”.

Last week, Stacey hit back at a nasty online troll who cruelly likened her to a “horse” on social media. The reality star and ‘Loose Women’ favourite took to Instagram to address the unpleasant comparison made in her comments. Stacey explained that despite usually ignoring negative remarks, this particular comment was too prominent to overlook.

She admitted that although she generally brushes off negativity, this time she felt compelled to confront it as she “couldn’t get away from it.” With refreshing candour, Stacey told her multitude of followers: “I don’t usually read my messages, or reply to them. Well I read the nice ones, I don’t read the horrible ones.

“But this message is literally staring me in the face, it’s at the top of my comments on my last story. So I couldn’t get away from it.” Maintaining her composure, she mused: “I don’t know if I’m supposed to be offended or take it as a compliment. But I actually think horses are really pretty.”

Talking to her driver, Steve, Stacey narrated the incident and humorously shared his supportive response: “Steve’s not having it! Horses are quite pretty Steve,” with Steve adding, “Maybe it’s because of your nice teeth.”

In conclusion, Stacey expressed heartfelt gratitude towards her supporters for their positive responses: “Love you all,” she enthused. “Honestly I have the best family on here ever! Genuinely I don’t mind what people think of me. Truly I feel bad for mean people.”

Stacey then opened up about her gratitude for the support she’s received, saying: “But I think that’s mostly because I have the most amazing family, the most supportive friends (like Steve) and the nicest extended family on here. So thank you for being a massive part of my confidence and happiness. I love you all. And we must protect Steve at all costs.'”.

German sculptor and installation artist Guenther Uecker, best known for his mesmerising artworks using thousands of nails, has died at age 95.

His works, created from the 1950s saw him hammer nails into furniture, TV sets, canvases and a tree trunk, creating undulating patterns, the illusion of movement and intricate shadow plays.

While he became famous for using a hammer instead of a brush to “paint with nails”, Uecker, considered one of Germany’s most influential artists, later also used other materials, from sand to stones and ash.

Uecker was born on March 13, 1930, in Wendorf in what is now the eastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. He grew up on Wustrow, a peninsula north of the Baltic Sea port of Wismar, experiencing the horrors of World War II.

READ ALSO: China Has ‘Responsibility For Global Peace,’ Germany Says

A few days before the German surrender, the ship “Cap Arcona” sank near his hometown, with 4,500 concentration camp prisoners on board.

Uecker helped bury the dead who washed up on shore, a traumatic experience he addressed decades later in his work “New Wustrow Cloths”.

Fearing the advance of the Russian Red Army, a young Uecker nailed shut the door of his family home from the inside to protect his mother and sisters.

Uecker remembered that “panicked, instinctive act” in a 2015 TV documentary with public broadcaster Hessischer Rundfunk.

“That had a profound impact on me and was perhaps a key experience for my later artistic work.”

‘Intrusiveness and aggression’

Even as a child, Uecker was constantly drawing.

This displeased his father, a farmer, who thought his son was “a failure and not quite normal”, Uecker recalled in a 2010 interview with the Rheinische Post daily.

As a young man in East Germany, Uecker in 1949 began an apprenticeship as a painter and advertising designer, then studied fine art.

But Uecker, who wanted to study under his artistic idol Otto Pankok, fled East Germany in 1953 and transferred to the University of Dusseldorf.

Uecker, who created his first nail paintings in the late 1950s, later said that the nail attracted him for its “intrusiveness, coupled with a strong potential for aggression”, something he said he also carried within himself.

READ ALSO: China Has ‘Responsibility For Global Peace,’ Germany Says

In 1961, he joined the art group Zero of Otto Piene and Heinz Mack, who sought to counter the devastation of World War II with a spirit of optimism and lightness.

Zero aimed to return art to its absolute basics, they wrote in their manifesto: “Zero is the beginning.”

Uecker’s work often addressed contemporary issues. His ash paintings, for example, were a response to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident.

After xenophobic riots targeted migrants in a suburb of Rostock in 1992, he created a series called “The Tortured Man” which was exhibited in 57 countries.

Uecker’s works are exhibited in museums and galleries, but he also designed cathedral church windows and the prayer room of Berlin’s Reichstag building housing the lower house of parliament.

Prince Harry’s former girlfriend Cressida Bonas is said to have given birth to a daughter, her second child, and given her a name that is close to her heart

Prince Harry’s former girlfriend has given birth to her second child – and is said to have given her newborn a very poignant name. Cressida Bonas, who dated the Duke of Sussex for two years before they split, revealed earlier this year she was expecting a a second child with her husband, Harry Wentworth-Stanley.

She opened up about how she had used an embryo she had frozen following struggles to conceive her first child, two-year-old son Wilbur. And now it has been reported that Cressida has given birth to a daughter and given her a name that is a fitting tribute to her half-sister, Pandora Cooper-Key, who passed away last year.

According to the Daily Mail, the model and actress has named the newborn Delphina Pandora Wentworth-Stanley, with her middle name a sweet nod to Cressida’s late half-sister.

Pandora died last year aged 51 after being diagnosed with cancer as well as an inoperable brain tumour. Throughout Pandora’s life, she had always lived with the risk of developing certain types of cancer, due to being affected by a condition called Li-Fraumeni, a rare genetic disorder, according to The Times.

Cressida shared her pregnancy news in January and told the Spectator: “I am now well into my second pregnancy. Having conceived through IVF the first time, we were fortunate to have another embryo stored away in a freezer… I’ve been battling morning sickness. I’ve never had it before, and now feel like I’ve been swaying on a boat for months.”

She previously shared how she felt her “body was failing” her when she struggled to get pregnant. Yet, it is understood a specialist told the couple “there was nothing fundamentally wrong”.

Writing in The Sunday Times, Cressida had said: “I spent time and money on reflexology, nutritionists, acupuncture and psychics…Even a German healer who speaks to angels. I heard nothing, not a squeak.

“My mind was on a constant worry loop and my obsession with getting pregnant became overwhelming, No matter how many Mystic Megs I saw or expensive supplements I took, nothing was working, and I felt as if my body was failing me.”

But in July 2022, Cressida confirmed she was pregnant after undergoing IVF, and she gave birth to Wilbur in November of that year.

Cressida had dated Harry for around two years until they split amicably in April 2014. Harry had been introduced to Cressida, who has been in several West End plays including The Great Gatsby, by his cousin Princess Eugenie. Cressida was a guest at Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018.

They split when Cressida reportedly became overwhelmed with the spotlight that came with dating a royal.

A Loose Women presenter has opened up on the “humiliating” process of having to sell some of her belongings, as she prepares to downsize amid the uncertainty of the ITV job cuts

Loose Women’s Kaye Adams has opened up about the “humiliating” process of selling her belongings as she prepares to downsize amidst ongoing job cuts at ITV. She admits that while she had initially signed up for reality show The Yorkshire Auction House some time ago, the “humbling” experience has now become more of a pressing need.

The programme features expert auctioneer Angus Ashworth visiting people’s homes and appraising items for sale at auction. Occasionally, the experts have the unenviable task of revealing that family heirlooms may not be as valuable as hoped.

“It’s quite humbling, actually,” Kaye said in her How To Be 60 podcast. “I had earmarked the kind of things that I thought they could take, because I’ve got a lot of stuff that was in my mum and dad’s house that I’ve held on to.”

While her partner, tennis coach Ian Campbell, was rather nonchalant about what Angus and his team might cart away, Kaye admitted to being more sentimental about some of the pieces: “I wasn’t sure about the grand piano, because I love the baby grand piano,” she shared with her podcast co-host Karen MacKenzie.

There were also pieces of furniture that held deep sentimental value for Kaye: “My dad’s chair is the ugliest thing, but what I loved was the image of my dad sitting on that chair,” she reminisced. ” I liked the image of my dad sitting in it with a glass of whiskey, in front of a roaring fire.”

Some other items stirred a bit of disappointment as well, like a hefty desk that Kaye’s daughter had believed was meant for her, but that hiccup was swiftly resolved, Kaye said: “It was okay because the next day the guy said, ‘Nobody will give you anything for that.’ Nobody wants big dark furniture, apparently.”

Kaye also spoke about the necessity of being at the auction, a situation she found “humiliating”. She further complained that if the items fail to sell, “You just slink off with your tail between your legs in your hire van,” and then face the cost of having the auction house dispose of them.

However, some of Kaye’s belongings did pique the interest of the auctioneers, particularly because mid-century modern pieces – especially Ercol designs from the Sixties and Seventies – are currently sought after.

“I had these two leather chairs,” she revealed. “They look like they come out of a Los Angeles brothel in 1979…sort of tan colour. I bought them about 20 years ago in a shop in Edinburgh. He’s quite excited by those.”

Additionally, Kaye has a collection of Lladró ceramic figurines passed down from her mother. Certain unique creations from the Spanish brand can fetch upwards of £10,000.

Kaye has admitted she had a “few sleepless nights” after news broke of the major shake-up in ITV’s daytime schedule.

The popular daytime show Loose Women is set to air for only 30 weeks a year, a significant cut from its usual full-year schedule. Kaye expressed her concerns in a previous podcast episode, stating: “It’s going to have an impact,” and added: “Lots of people will lose their jobs completely, which is terrible.”

Kaye confessed that the drastic changes, affecting not just Loose Women but also Lorraine Kelly’s programme, caught her off guard: “I didn’t anticipate it, which is probably stupid in retrospect, but you get into a sort of rhythm of life..”

ITV is bracing for the departure of approximately 220 staff from its daytime lineup, including GMB, Lorraine, This Morning, and Loose Women. Rumours suggest that along with production crew redundancies, there might be fewer panellists.

Nadia Sawalha, a fellow presenter, remarked on the uncertainty of her position, saying she “could be let go tomorrow, [or] in five years.”

Despite the upheaval, Kaye is trying to stay positive, sharing her mindset: “I gave myself a talking-to and I listened to my own advice for once. Change is hard, but it can be good.