King Charles To Mark Birthday By Launching Two New Food Hubs
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7 days ago
How does the King spend his big day?
It’s a working birthday for King Charles III, who turns 76 today (14 November). The monarch is celebrating by opening two hubs, which will distribute surplus food to banks, schools and community centres.
Coronation Food Project: King Charles Launches Next Stage
This is the latest stage of the Coronation Food Project, an initiative which aims to bridge the gap between food waste and food need across the UK. Coordinated by The King Charles III Charitable Fund, it was launched a year ago to mark the King’s 75th birthday.
King Charles III at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023. © Oliver Dixon/RHS
Today, the King is heading to Deptford in south London to unveil one of the first food hubs, and tour the centre alongside London Mayor Sadiq Khan. He’ll also be attending a surplus food festival and meeting some of the people who have benefitted from the new project, before virtually opening another hub in Merseyside.
So far, the Coronation Food Project has rescued 940 tonnes of surplus food – estimated to make as many as 2,240,000 meals. The newly launched hubs will collect food from places like supermarkets and the catering industry, and distribute it to those in need via charities like the Felix Project and FareShare.
How Is The King Spending His Birthday?
Aside from the Coronation Food Project launch, it has been a busy birthday week for King Charles. On the eve of his birthday, King Charles hosted a celebrity reception at his house (Buckingham Palace of course) in honour of the UK’s film and television industry, which featured a starry guestlist of names like Damian Lewis, Claudia Winkleman and Sir Ridley Scott.
Later that evening, he attended the global premiere of Gladiator II, alongside the likes of Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal. Although Queen Camilla was in attendance for the afternoon event, she bowed out of the evening as she was still recovering from a chest infection earlier in the week.
The King’s birthday will be marked with gun salutes in Green Park by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and at the Tower of London by the Honourable Artillery Company. Bells will also be rung at Westminster Abbey.
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Why Does King Charles Have Two Birthdays?
Like his late mother Queen Elizabeth II, the King celebrates two birthdays: his actual one on 14 November, and his official birthday, which falls on the second Saturday in June. Why? In true British style, it’s all about the weather.
The two-birthday tradition dates back to 1748, when King George II was keen to throw a big public birthday bash. But, being born in November, the chances of an outdoor party weren’t looking too hopeful. So, instead, he decided to use the UK’s annual military parade – known as Trooping the Colour – as his official birthday celebration.
