How the British royals celebrate their birthdays
A day off
According to Hello! magazine, royals traditionally get a day off on their birthdays. That means they don’t need to carry out their usual royal duties, like making public appearances and attending formal meetings.
Royal parties
Most of the time, their birthday parties are pretty modest. Although they have the means to throw the party of the century, they often take their birthdays as an opportunity to spend time with close friends and family out of the spotlight.
Royal children
These celebrations are kept private and no photos are shared on social media, with the exception of the yearly birthday photo!
Social media
The royal family aim to meet the demands of the 21st century and are on social media! They have family Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram pages that post on their behalf. A fuss is always made online when a royal birthday comes around, and they often post rare vintage photos of the royals.
Commemorative coins
Monarchs and heirs to the throne are honored with a commemorative coin on milestone birthdays. A commemorative coin was made for Prince George by the Royal Mint when he was born, and another on his fifth birthday.
Charles' 60th
Then-Prince Charles was gifted a cake with a pensioner bus pass on it when he turned 60, as he technically became eligible to use public transport for free!
Queen Elizabeth's 90th
Sometimes the cake is specially commissioned. For the late Queen's 90th birthday in 2016, 'Great British Bake Off' champion Nadiya Hussain was asked to create a special cake. She came up with a three-tier orange-flavored cake with purple and gold icing.
The Queen Mother's centenary
When the Queen Mother turned 100 in the year 2000, she showed her incredible stamina by appearing in full evening attire at the Royal Opera House after a day of public appearances. She celebrated by enjoying a performance from the Kirov Ballet with her daughters, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret.
Charles' 50th birthday
Charles' 50th birthday was marked with a rare bit of humor for a royal family member! He spent the days before his birthday in Sheffield, England, the setting of the 1997 comedy movie 'The Full Monty.' It tells the story of a group of unemployed men who become strippers to pay the bills.
Charles' 60th birthday
For Charles' 60th, there were multiple occasions to celebrate his birthday. He attended a charity concert in aid of the Prince’s Trust at Wimbledon Theatre, an official event at Buckingham Palace, and a more intimate party at his country home in Highgrove.
Charles' 70th birthday
For his 70th birthday, Charles organized a garden party, which was attended by members of the many charitable causes and foundations he supports. Prince Harry made a speech in his father’s honor, which was momentarily interrupted by a bee, where he expressed how inspired he was by Charle’s dedication to his causes.
Trooping the Colour
Historically, it was Queen Elizabeth who had the biggest party of all. As the reigning monarch, she was celebrated with an enormous ceremony every year called Trooping the Colour. Each regiment of the British and Commonwealth militaries takes part in marches, parades, and performances.
Trooping the Colour: the parade
The ceremony begins when the monarch travels down the Mall from Buckingham Palace, escorted by the Household Cavalry, to salute the troops of each regiment. Music for the parade is provided by hundreds of musicians from the various military bands.
Trooping the Colour: air show
The monarch makes their way to Buckingham Palace and the entire royal family gathers on their balcony to enjoy the rest of the display.
