The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) confirmed on Friday that the timing of the holiday weekend in June, formerly known as Queen’s Birthday, will remain the same.
“But it will be known as King’s Birthday weekend,” said a DPMC spokesperson.
King Charles III was born on November 14th 1948 in Buckingham Palace. He ascended to the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday September 8th 2022.
And while King Charles will officially celebrate his birthday in November, now that he has taken the throne he receives the privilege of celebrating his birthday not once, but twice every year.
It was the same with Queen Elizabeth. Queen's Birthday Weekend was celebrated on the first Monday in June each year, even though the Queen's birthday was on April 21st.
The sovereign's birthday has been officially celebrated since 1748. It is a tradition that if a British monarch has a birthday that doesn't fall in the UK summer months, they can have a second official birthday.
This is because having a summer birthday means a higher chance of good weather during the Trooping the Colour parade for the monarch's birthday.
The King is the monarch of 15 countries, the United Kingdom and 14 commonwealth realms.
