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.
Source: Mirror
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