Skip to main content

Royal fans know that King Charles celebrates his birthday in June with the Trooping the Colour parade. However, that’s not his actual birthday. He was born on Nov. 14, 1948.

The reason the monarch has two birthdays is due to a long-standing royal tradition that dates back to the 18th century, designed to ensure public celebrations can take place in good weather. 

So, is there another big party at the Palace on his real birthday? Here’s what two former royal employees just revealed about that.

King Charles’s former gardener says gift requests came in from people outside the family

Jack Stooks was King Charles’ senior gardener at the royal’s Highgrove estate for more than two decades.

Speaking on behalf of Smooth Spins Casino, Stooks told Showbiz Cheat Sheet, “In the run-up to the king’s birthday, the garden would often receive deliveries of gifts. The way it works is, if someone wants to buy him a present, they have to go through Clarence House and the official office. They’ll get in touch and say, ‘We’d like to get the King a gift, but we’re not sure what to choose.’

“Clarence House keeps a gift list, kind of like a wedding registry. The list includes things he’d actually like or need, maybe a specific variety of hydrangea, an oak tree, or some bulbs. People can call in, sometimes a secretary might ring on behalf of an actor or public figure, and say, ‘We’ve got a budget of £50,’ and then choose something from the list in that range.”

Stooks added, “There are gifts listed at all price points. It really depends on what someone wants to give. It’s not about being extravagant or expecting anything. It’s just a practical, thoughtful system. Like a wedding list, it ensures gifts are useful, appreciated, and won’t go to waste. Honestly, it’s a great idea.”

What a former Buckingham Palace chef says senior royals eat on their birthdays

Darren McGrady was a chef at Buckingham Palace for more than a decade, cooking for Queen Elizabeth II. He was later transferred to Kensington Palace, where he worked as Princess Diana’s personal chef up until her death in 1997. 

Related

King Charles’ Staff Wastes Over 3 Dozen Eggs a Week to Get His Breakfast Just Right

Queen Elizabeth II’s Former Employee Reveals How Living at Buckingham Palace Is Like ‘Downton Abbey’

Speaking on behalf of Heart Bingo, McGrady told Showbiz Cheat Sheet:  “When I joined the royal family, I thought birthdays would be over the top and elaborate. But in fact, it was completely the opposite. The late queen saw birthdays as just another day. The family would call the queen to wish her happy birthday, but they wouldn’t visit. She had a busy day and wanted to get on with her duties.”

McGrady expects that the king is the same and doesn’t care to make a big fuss about his actual birthday. However, the kitchen staff will still make him a birthday cake.

“Every member of the royal family would get a birthday cake sent up with afternoon tea,” the former royal chef shared. “It would be a chocolate genoise cake with chocolate ganache. It just said ‘Happy Birthday,’ there was never anything else written on there. The recipe dates back to Queen Victoria’s chef. It was the same family recipe used again and again and again. Every member of the royal family would have the same one. It was good, apart from on Christmas Day. In the early days, when everyone used to be at Windsor Castle, all the aunts and uncles. Princess Alexandra’s birthday was December 25, Christmas Day — so along with all the chocolates we would send up, we would send a birthday cake too.”

Best in News