With a guest list of who’s who, Prince Charles celebrated his 70th birthday at Buckingham Palace with a black-tie dinner hosted by his mother, The Queen.
Photo by Chris Jackson/Clarence House via Getty Images
Surrounded by family, friends, and Europen Royalty, Queen Elizabeth gave a heart-warming toast where she called the Duchess of Cornwall by her first name in a significant moment.
She started by recalling memories of her own 70th birthday: “It is a privilege for any mother to be able to propose a toast to her son on his 70th birthday.
“It means that you have lived long enough to see your child grow up. It is rather like —to use an analogy I am certain will find favour — planting a tree and being able to watch it grow.
“My mother saw me turn 70, of course. And she was heard to observe that 70 is exactly the age when the number of candles on your cake finally exceeds the amount of breath you have to blow them out.”
Her Majesty gave the speech on behalf of her and her husband, Prince Philip.
“Over his 70 years, Philip and I have seen Charles become a champion of conservation and the arts, a great charitable leader — a dedicated and respected heir to the throne to stand comparison with any in history — and a wonderful father,” she continued.
“Most of all, sustained by his wife Camilla, he is his own man, passionate and creative.
“So this toast is to wish a happy birthday to my son, in every respect a duchy original.
“To you Charles. To the Prince of Wales.”
According to the Daily Mail, Prince Charles was ‘deeply moved’ by the warm words spoken by his mother.
Just some of those attending the private birthday party included the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Zara Tindall, The King and Queen of Belgium, Prince Nicholas and Princess Tatiana of Greece, Queen Sophia of Spain, Princess Irene, Crown Prince Frederick and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, The King and Queen of Norway and Prince Albert of Monaco.
As it was a private event, no pictures were released of inside the party and only photos of guests in their cars arriving or leaving were the glimpse of the glamour the evening brought.
