Being the British monarch has several benefits, including the opportunity to celebrate your birthday twice: once on your actual birthday and once on your official one.

Official birthday festivities for the Sovereigns “have frequently been celebrated on a day other than the actual birthday, particularly when the actual birthday has not been in the summer,” according to Buckingham Palace. Even though King Edward VII was born on November 9th, his official birthday was celebrated all during his reign in May or June since those months had a higher chance of having favourable weather for the Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping of the Color.

Due to the fact that her birthday, which was on April 21, was outside of the summer season, Queen Elizabeth II retained that custom. Her actual birthday was normally celebrated in private at Windsor Castle, but it was regularly observed with gun salutes. And if it was a special event, like her 80th or 90th birthday, she would go outside for a quick stroll.

King Charles III’s birthday falls on a cold, gloomy winter day – November 14, to be exact – so it is generally believed that he will continue the custom of having two celebrations.

On Monday, we do know that there will be a lot of gun salutes.

The celebrations will begin at 11 a.m. (6 a.m. ET) at Buckingham Palace with a special performance of “Happy Birthday” by the Household Cavalry band. Charles was born there in 1948, when his grandpa King George VI was still in power.

The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery will fire a 41-gun royal salute in the adjoining Green Park at noon to conclude that performance. The next rendition of “Happy Birthday” will be provided by the Band of the Scots Guards.

The Honourable Artillery Company will salute the Tower of London with a 62-gun salute one hour later.

According to the British Army, gun salutes are typically delivered as a symbol of respect or welcome. The discharge of a cannon as a salute denotes the friendly intent of an empty chamber, just as an open hand salute in the past was used to demonstrate that no weapon was hidden in the palm. On notable royal anniversaries, guns are fired in the United Kingdom nowadays.

The location and situation determine how many shots are fired. The conventional 21 bullets constitute the basic royal salute. A further 20 rounds are added because the salute is taking place in a Royal Park in central London’s Green Park or Hyde Park. The rounds at the Tower of London increase to 62: the standard 21, plus an extra 20 because the location is a Royal Palace and Fortress, and then an additional 21 to demonstrate devotion from the City of London, which has its own jurisdiction apart from the rest of London.

Since King Charles still stays at Clarence House, anticipate well-wishers to swarm there in hopes of catching a glimpse of the monarch and perhaps even participating in a walkabout to commemorate his first birthday as a sovereign.

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