Afternoon tea fit for a King! Charles celebrates his 75th birthday with a party at Highgrove Gardens hosted by The Prince’s Foundation

• King Charles III has commenced his 75th birthday celebrations with a tea party 
• READ MORE: 75 on Tuesday – and the King will celebrate at a ‘food bank’! 

King Charles III has started his 75th birthday celebrations with a tea party at Highgrove Gardens. 

His Majesty, 74, was greeted to an early gathering ahead of his milestone tomorrow, with applause from guests and a rendition of ‘Hallelujah’ playing in the background as he attended the event at his home in Gloucestershire.

The early birthday party, hosted by The Prince’s Foundation, was attended by a host of guests, including The Repair Shop’s Jay Blades – who was seen coming into the room behind Charles – as well as celebrity chef Raymond Blanc. 

Charles let slip a playful eye roll as guests sang him Happy Birthday ahead of cutting his white and gold cake. 

Monday’s early birthday bash comes ahead of the King’s main event tomorrow – which is set to take place at Clarence House.

King Charles III’s shares a joke with TV presenter Jay Blades and guests as he attends his 75th birthday party hosted by the Prince’s Foundation at Highgrove House

King Charles shares a laugh with a guest as he attends his 75th birthday party hosted by the Prince’s Foundation at Highgrove House

Guests at today’s event also included community stalwarts nominated by friends and family who are also turning 75 this year, as well as representatives from organisations marking the same milestone, from the NHS to members of the Windrush generation.

A local choir sang Happy Birthday for the head of state at the end of the cream tea party, and after debating which of the three tiers of the Victoria sponge to cut Charles opted for the bottom.

He was cheered and applauded after cutting a slice and holding up the knife in celebration and peering at the sweet treat.

Blades, an ambassador for the King’s Foundation, paid tribute to Charles, saying: ‘He’s the new King but he’s also about community, he’s always been about community, always been forward thinking about what we’re doing about the environment but also including community members.

‘So to have this group of people here, that’s just unbelievable – that’s part of him, that’s what he does.’

The King greeted his guests and was even seen taking selfies at the event – where tiers of afternoon tea were on display. 

His Majesty was greeted to an early gathering ahead of his main party tomorrow, with applause from guests and a rendition of ‘Hallelujah’ playing in the background

The cake designed by Jan Blackmore from Buttercup Pantry ahead of King Charles III’s 75th birthday party

The monarch let slip a playful eye roll as guests sang him Happy Birthday ahead of cutting his white and gold cake

The early birthday party was attended by a host of guests, including The Repair Shop ‘s Jay Blades (pictured with fellow guests)  – who was seen coming into the room behind Charles

The King entered the room to the sound of the song ‘Hallelujah’ and applause from his party guests

Charles smiles as he speaks to one of the guests at his 75th early birthday celebration

King Charles smiles as he holds a cup of tea while enjoying the early birthday bash

King Charles III’s laughs with a guest as he attends his 75th birthday party hosted by the Prince’s Foundatio

Among the guests in attendance was Jessie Stephens, sitter of the Windrush: Portraits of a Pioneering Generation.

The afternoon birthday gathering also featured a performance from the Rock Choir and a cake designed by Jan Blackmore from Buttercup Pantry.

The main celebration to mark the significant milestone is due to take place at Clarence House in London on Tuesday.

Charles’ gathering tomorrow with coincide with the announcement of an anti-waste initiative reflecting his growing concerns about food poverty in Britain. 

King Charles III’s shakes hands with guest Jessie Stephens, sitter of the Windrush: Portraits of a Pioneering Generatio, as he attends his 75th birthday party hosted by the Prince’s Foundation

King Charles III’s shakes hands with a guest as he attends his 75th birthday party

Charles laughs with a guest as she sits at a table with a tier containing afternoon tea treats

Jessie Stephens drinks from a tea cup at the King’s early 75th birthday celebration

The King’s tea party featured a performance by the Rock Choir – who donned their signature t-shirts

Charles will unveil the Coronation Food Project to coincide with his landmark day on November 14 after making an undisclosed substantial private donation to start the venture.

Eight food hubs will be launched across the nation with the first four opening in London, Liverpool, Glasgow and Northern Ireland.

Others will follow in Cardiff, Leeds, Birmingham and Milton Keynes. Dame Martina Milburn will oversee the project after finishing her tenure as chief executive of The Prince’s Trust, the charity Charles set up to help young people.

The King is focusing on the issue as Britain throws away more food than any other European country.

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