Jamaica’s socialites toasted King Charles at the local British High Commission’s office on Trafalgar Road earlier last week on his 77th birthday celebrations.

It was Kingston’s elegance meeting royal celebrations, as the UK and Jamaica came together to pay homage to the king and Jamaica’s reigning head of state.

It was a fitting salute to mark the birthday of King Charles and a demonstration of the UK’s modern, vibrant friendship with Jamaica.

It was glamour and prestige and an opportune moment to show off the latest British trends, with High Commissioner Judith Slater being the consummate host and the eye of the party. Interestingly, King Charles wasn’t even born in June but actually in November.

Though King Charles III was born on November 14, 1948, his official birthdate was set to June to
increase the chance of fair weather during the birthday celebrations in the United Kingdom.

In the Northern Hemisphere, June is the first month of summer, and is one of the driest and warmest months of the year in London. Up until 1936, the monarch’s birthday celebration, which is marked as a public holiday in the UK, was held on the actual birthday, but after King George V died, it was decided to keep the date on the second Monday in June.

King Charles celebrates his birthday twice a year, like previous monarchs. Just like his mother, Queen Elizabeth II before him, the kng marks his own birthday privately but also celebrates his “official”
birthday in June.