With a packed schedule, meeting foreign leaders and community workers, it was business as usual for Prince Charles today as he celebrated his 70th birthday.
But the Queen will tonight host a lavish Buckingham Palace party for his milestone — as her son is not only the longest-serving heir to the throne in British history but also the oldest.
She has invited royals from across Europe and family and close friends for the black-tie banquet to cap a few days of celebrations.
But before tonight’s royal extravaganza, the Prince of Wales had a full day of engagements.
This morning, he was at his London residence Clarence House to meet the ex-president of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, who was his host when he visited the country in 2016.
After lunch he was meeting Cuban president Miguel Diaz-Canel, which demonstrates his statesmanship and regard on the world’s diplomatic stage.
Later this afternoon he was attending a tea-time reception where he and the Duchess of Cornwall were meeting 70 people aged 70 nominated for their work in local communities.
The day is typical for the workaholic prince, who often puts in 14-hour days and falls asleep at his desk, as Prince Harry told a BBC documentary.
Prince Philip has not been seen at a public engagement since Princess Eugenie’s wedding last month — missing last week’s Remembrance Day services — but the 97-year-old will make every effort to celebrate his son’s landmark birthday at tonight’s party.
Charles has a good relationship with many European royals, including King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway. They are likely to attend, and Crown Prince Haakon and his wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit have already accepted invitations.
Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde will also be there.
Danish Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary confirmed their attendance in a post on the Danish royal website. The couple have hit it off with Prince William and Kate, and Frederik also attended Harry’s Invictus Games in Sydney last month.
Representing the Netherlands will be Princess Beatrix, Holland’s former queen who abdicated in 2013. It is not known if her son King Willem- Alexander and wife Queen Maxima, who paid a state visit to the UK last month, will be there.
The British royals attending include William and Kate, Harry and Meghan, Prince Edward and wife Sophie, Princess Anne and husband Timothy Laurence, and the Duke of York and daughters Beatrice and Eugenie.
There will also be representatives from some of the 420 charities of which Charles is patron or president.
