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Members of the Royal Family have wished King Charles a happy 74th birthday as he prepares to celebrate the occasion for the first time since he acceded the throne.
Both the Royal Family and the Prince and Princess of Wales’s Twitter accounts wished the King many happy returns as it is thought he will be marking the occasion in private after the death of his beloved mother Queen Elizabeth II on September 8.
Posting a photo of the King smiling, the Prince and Princess of Wales wrote: ‘Wishing a very happy birthday to His Majesty The King!’ with the Royal Family posting a similar striking snap of Charles.
The new monarch, who yesterday led the nation in paying tribute to fallen members of the Armed Forces on Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, is not expected to make a public appearance today.
But there will be public celebrations with the Band of the Household Cavalry performing Happy Birthday during the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace later today.
Gun salutes will be fired across the capital, with the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery – which does salutes on major events such as state visits – firing 41 volleys from midday at London‘s Green Park.
This will be immediately followed by the Band of the Scots Guards performing Happy Birthday in the park, and an hour later the Honourable Artillery Company will fire a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London.
As Prince of Wales, he was sometimes away on foreign tours during his birthday and would celebrate it overseas with a cake.Â
In the two months since his mother’s death, His Majesty has been busy with his accession and leading the nation in mourning the late monarch, as well as fulfilling his royal duties.
His floral tribute to the fallen left at the memorial in Whitehall on Sunday featured the words ‘In memory of the glorious dead. Charles R’.
Happy birthday King Charles! The Prince and Princess of Wales posted a tweet containing a photo of the new monarch beaming as they wished him many happy returns on his 74th birthday
The Royal Family’s official Twitter account also wished the King a happy birthday as His Majesty prepares to celebrate his first birthday on the throne in private, following the death of his mother
The Band of the Household Cavalry perform Happy Birthday at the ceremony for the changing of the Buckingham Palace Guard in London to mark King Charles’s 74th birthdayÂ
Although the celebration was played out during the Changing of the Guard ceremony for the world to see (pictured), the King will not be making a public appearance today
While royal fans were able to see a fanfare fitting for a King to celebrate His Majesty’s 74th birthday, the man of the hour will not be seen in public today
The performance from the Band of the Household Cavalry performed Happy Birthday to mark the new monarch’s first birthday since acceding the throne
Eager royal fans gathered outside Buckingham Palace to catch a glimpse of the special Changing of the Guard ceremony to mark the monarch’s birthday
On Wednesday, Charles was targeted with four eggs during a visit to unveil a statue in honour of the late Queen at York Minster.
Yesterday he commemorated the nation’s war dead at the Cenotaph. Big Ben chimed eleven times at 11am, as it returns to service after years of maintenance and repair.Â
On Friday, the late Queen and her commitment to war veterans was remembered in an evening attended by members of the Royal Family including the Prince and Princess of Wales and Princess Anne.
Sunday’s service also marked the 40th anniversary of the Falklands war, in which 255 British personnel lost their lives. Similar services were held across the country, including at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
King Charles III, pictured at the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Sunday yesterday, is celebrating his 74th birthday today
King Charles III leads the honouring of the war dead at the Sunday Remembrance Service at Whitehall, followed by the Prince of Wales and Princess Royal
The new monarch, pictured here with Camilla, Queen Consort, in York, is expected to mark his birthday in private although there will be some public celebrations
It will be Charles’ first birthday since the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Here he is pictured with Camilla, Queen Consort, in York on November 9
King Charles III acceded to the throne after the death of the Queen on September 8 and has since had a busy period, already with a second Prime Minister
Charles III attends a vigil at St Giles’ Cathedral, in Edinburgh, on September 12 following the death of the Queen
King Charles III salutes the Cenotaph after laying his wreath as monarch for the first time, taking over from his late mother
The King was emotional as he stepped into the role Queen Elizabeth II counted as one of her most important public duties
King Charles led members of the Royal Family, including the Prince of Wales and Princess Royal, out to the Cenotaph service
The Prince of Wales was the second person to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph, which bore the feathers of the heir apparent
The Queen Consort (left), Camilla, and Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, stand on the Whitechapel balcony to watch the ceremony
A wreath is carefully laid at the Cenotaph, the first in the reign of King Charles IIIÂ
Sophie, Countess of Wessex and wife of Prince Edward, attends the ceremony from the spouse’s balcony alongside Kate Middleton and the Queen Consort
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak bowed his head after laying his wreath in a mark of respect for those who lost their lives
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (left) and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence (right) watch the ceremony to honour the war dead on Sunday
Sir Keir Starmer looks solemnly at the other wreaths as he steps forward to lay his down on behalf of the Labour Party
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive at the service at the Cenotaph, at which Prince William laid a wreath
Flowers and tributes across the UK and its overseas territories paid tribute to those lost in the Falklands war on its 40th anniversary
Kate Middleton looks reflective and the picture of grace ahead of today’s Remembrance service, which featured prayers and hymns
Ian Blackford, Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak (L-R) hold their wreaths in preparation as they wait for the arrival of King Charles
Seven former Prime Ministers lined up at the Cenotaph on Sunday, the most ever to watch the current PM lay his wreath
Huge crowds gathered along the streets of Westminster to watch the military parade on Sunday morning
People from all walks of life were involved in Remembrance Sunday, from religious leaders to Scout organisations
(Left to right) Spouses of former prime ministers at the Remembrance Sunday ceremony. Left to right: Sir Tony Blair’s wife Cherie, Rishi Sunak’s wife Akshata Murty, Liz Truss’ husband Hugh O’Leary and Theresa May’s husband Philip
The Cenotaph in London, pictured moments before the arrival of King Charles III and the two-minute silence
Crowds lined the streets, with war veterans including Chelsea Pensioners preparing to take part in the march.Â
At around 10:40am, the march past the Cenotaph paused while Scottish members of the UK’s armed forces, the Fourth Battalion of Highlanders, played the bagpipes, accompanied by drums.
At 10.58am, the parade was brought to attention as King Charles III arrived.
Big Ben rang eleven times to mark the beginning of the two minutes of silence, and a hush fell over the crowd.Â
After the two minutes of prayer and reflection had ended, in an emotional tribute to those killed during the wars of the last century, the Last Post was played.Â
King Charles then laid his wreath and saluted the Cenotaph on behalf of the nation. A wreath was laid on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen Consort.
The Queen Consort’s assistant equerry, Captain Edward Andersen, laid her tribute, the first laid on behalf of Camilla alone.Â
The Prince of Wales then proceeded to lay his wreath, complete with feathers of the heir apparent. This was the wreath previously laid by his father. It included the colours of the Prince of Wales and a new ribbon in Welsh red.
Deputy Labour Party leader Angela Rayner leading a parade for Remembrance Sunday in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, Greater Manchester on Sunday
A veteran was brought to tears during the Remembrance Sunday service at at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire
First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon lays a wreath during a Remembrance Sunday service and parade in Edinburgh
A national service of remembrance is held in Edinburgh, Scotland, under clear skies on Sunday
Wreaths at Edinburgh’s Stone of Remembrance from various government, forces and citizens’ organisations
Members of staff from the National Memorial Arboretum as well as members of the military lay wreaths after the Remembrance Sunday service in Staffordshire
Members of the public take in the National Memorial Arboretum, which bears the names of those lost in conflict
Veterans and serving members of the Armed Forces parade at the Royal Naval Memorial at Plymouth Hoe in Devon
Veterans on mobility scooters, some carrying wreaths, gather on The Mall in London before the start of the military parade
Birmingham also held a large parade today in the West Midlands, which included ex-service personnel, regular, reserve and cadet units from the Armed Forces
Some 10,000 veterans and military personnel are involved in today’s march in London, which ended at the Cenotaph
The UK and Ukrainian flags both flew at Remembrance events in Seaham, County Durham on Sunday
King Charles’ wreath had a ribbon which was a tribute to his mother and grandfather, incorporating their racing colours of purple and gold
Big Ben strikes back!Â
Big Ben struck 11 bells at 11am
Big Ben was struck 11 times at 11am to mark the start of the two-minute silence on Remembrance Sunday.
Over the past five years the Elizabeth Tower, and the clockwork and bell mechanism within it, have undergone the biggest repair and conservation project in its 160-year history.
The tower, at the northern end of the Houses of Parliament, which is also known as Big Ben after the bell inside, had been covered in scaffolding during the restoration work but that has now been removed.Â
The two-minute silence marked the official return of the Elizabeth Tower’s bells after they were silenced at the beginning of the conservation programme in 2017.
Big Ben joined bells across the country and worldwide to commemorate those who lost their lives in the two world wars and later conflicts.Â
The Earl of Wessex and Princess Royal then laid a wreath, before one was laid on behalf of the Duke of Kent.Â
The military parade then stood at ease as music played and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer led the rest of the wreath-laying. They were followed by leader of the SNP Ian Blackford and leader of the Lib Dems Ed Davey, and military representatives.
A short service including a hymn and the Lord’s Prayer was then led by the Lord Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Elisabeth Mullally. She has held the role since 2018.Â
The 10,000 veterans then began filing past the memorial after the final wreaths had been laid by those affected by military losses.
Mr Sunak shared a video paying his respects to war veterans on Twitter, adding: ‘On this day and every day, we will remember them.’
Sir Keir Starmer said: We will never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe. We will remember them.’Â
Services also took place at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire and the WW1 Memorial in Portsmouth, and local memorials in all four nations.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, speaking to broadcasters in Westminster, said: ‘Today is a reminder that we’ve suffered wars in Europe before and tens of thousands of British service personnel gave their lives as a civilian to defeat fascism.
‘Here we are again, tragically, decades later with a war on continental Europe in Ukraine, where a similar Russian regime is trying to impose its will on a sovereign state, costing tens of thousands of lives.
‘And, of course, what remembrance is about is recognising that freedom isn’t free – people make sacrifices and this nation made the ultimate sacrifice on two occasions in the great wars, but also (in) other conflicts, and remembrance is a time to reflect on that.’
Speaking about the King, Mr Wallace said: ‘I think he will obviously remember his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, because … for him, he’s been standing at this cenotaph for many, many years alongside her and, obviously, he is now the new monarch of this country.
‘I think he’ll reflect that she gave her service to the very end, she never stopped being the sovereign, she didn’t abdicate and all these other things that people used to speculate on. She was married to this country and her duty.’
Wreaths are laid at Sunderland’s war memorial after the two-minute silence was observed by those in attendance
Wreaths at the Royal Naval Memorial in Plymouth, Devon – the walls bear the names of those in the Royal Navy who have been lost in past conflicts
Service personnel and veterans from across Sunderland joined the Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor Alison Smith, as the city paid its respects at the annual Remembrance Parade and Service at the War Memorial in Burdon Road
Veterans amass on a chilly but dry morning in London as they get ready to march to the Cenotaph in the first Remembrance Sunday led by King Charles III
A Chelsea pensioner prepares to take part in today’s emotional Remembrance Day service, complete with a poppy-adorned blanket
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty leave 10 Downing Street as they head towards the Cenotaph
Labour leader Keir Starmer in Downing Street, London, photographed ahead of the Remembrance Sunday service
Former Prime Ministers Liz Truss and Boris Johnson appear to eye each other up as they pay their respects to the UK’s fallen
Some 10,000 veterans marched past the Cenotaph, watched by crowds which were ten-deep in some places
Hundreds of people arrived in and around Westminster as final preparations for the parade and service get under way
Current members of the British Armed Forces attend the parade in London ahead of two minutes of silence at 11am
The armed forces are watched as they parade past the Cenotaph by veterans and members of the public gathered for the occasion
Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle laid a wreath on behalf of the entire House of Commons.Â
Retired Brigadier Jon Mullin, who served as a Lieutenant in the 9 Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers during the Falklands conflict, marched with the South Atlantic Medal Association 82.
Reflecting on the sacrifices made to liberate the Falklands, he said: ‘I wanted to be part of a national commemoration to commemorate all those people who did this wonderful feat of arms and put it all together, and many have passed on in the intervening years. I think it’s important that the nation doesn’t forget the sacrifices.’
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