The King turns 75

Published

His Majesty's birthday was marked with the launch of a new project to tackle food waste, as well as some special celebratory moments.

The King

The launch of The Coronation Food Project

Inspired by His Majesty's work with food waste and educating young people about food supply, The Coronation Food Project seeks to bridge the gap between food waste and food need across the UK, helping people and helping the planet.

The King and Queen in Didcot

The launch took place at the South Oxfordshire Food and Education Alliance (SOFEA), part of the FareShare network which distributes surplus food to charities. 

Since its launch in 2014, SOFEA has helped over 400 young people gain qualifications, skills and work experience whilst helping to transform their local communities through projects such as community larders and food surplus distribution.

Their Majesties met staff and volunteers, hearing about the ways food waste can be used for social good. Surplus food is redistributed to 120 community organisations in need across Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Wiltshire. 

With the help of The Coronation Food Project, food networks across the UK will be supported to reuse greater amounts of surplus food.

After a short conversation about the positive impact of SOFEA on the local community, The King and Queen will move to four packing stations where staff and volunteers will be packing surplus food which will be distributed to a range of community organisations. At this point, Richard Kennell will explain the type of surplus food that is normally received at the centre, the organisations and families which benefit from it and how The Coronation Food Project can make a difference.

Their Majesties viewed chillers storing fresh food, watched FareShare food vans being loaded with goods for distribution and visited a kitchen garden on the site.

Parties at Highgrove and Dumfries House

On the eve of The King's birthday, His Majesty attended a party held in his honour at Highgrove, at which guests were also either turning 75 or representing an organisation which was marking its 75th year, including the NHS and members of the Windrush generation.

A similar event was held at Dumfries House in Scotland, attended by guests nominated for work in their local communities.

The King at Highgrove

 

The Big Issue

Though The King's birthday marked the official launch of The Coronation Food Project, the initiative had been announced the week before in The Big Issue, featuring a new portrait by legendary photographer Rankin. 

#NHS75 Reception

In the evening, The King hosted a reception to celebrate nurses and midwives working in the UK as part of this year's events to mark 75 years of the National Health Service. 

#NHS75 Reception

Over 400 nurses and midwives attended from the multitude of backgrounds and cultures which contribute to the UK’s Health and Social Care Sector. In addition to British nurses and midwives, His Majesty met a selection of the 150,000 international nurses and midwives currently working in the UK, including those from India, Philippines, Poland and Kenya. His Majesty also met refugee nurses and representatives from International Nursing and Midwifery Associations.

#NHS75 Reception

The reception ended with a surprise birthday song, performed by the NHS choir. Throughout the National Health Service’s (NHS) 75 years, international staff have supported patients in their time of need, making the NHS one of the world’s most diverse workforces. Beyond nursing and midwifery, international recruitment has played a valuable role in helping grow the adult social care workforce.

Related content

News

Royal Maundy 2025

17 April 2025
The King and Queen at the Maundy Service in Durham

A message from The King to mark Easter

There are three virtues that the world still needs — faith, hope and love. “And the greatest of these is love”.

17 April 2025

The King’s speech at the State Banquet at the Quirinale Palace, Italy

It is also moving to think that my great, great grandfather, King Edward VII, and my great-grandfather, King George V, both spoke at State Banquets in this very Palace over a...

09 April 2025

The King delivers an address to the Italian Parliament

It has been one of the pleasures of my life to come to know this irresistible country, and from Turin to Palermo, Verona to Naples, Florence to Trieste, I have learned a...

09 April 2025

The King's message to the regional media industry in the UK

Your reporting, and the work of all those who support you, helps amplify and reaffirm the rights and responsibilities we all share.

27 March 2025
News

Commonwealth Day 2025

10 March 2025
Commonwealth flags

A speech delivered by The King during a visit to HMS Prince of Wales whilst at sea

I can only say that I take immense pride in you - the men and women who bring this vessel to life with such indomitable spirit - for your vital service on behalf of us all.

04 March 2025

The King's Commonwealth Day Message 2025

The Commonwealth’s ability to bring together people from all over the world has stood the test of time and remains as ever-important today.

09 March 2025
News

The King visits Staffordshire

24 February 2025
The King visits Tower Brewery
Press release 07 February 2025

The King and Queen will visit the Holy See and Italy

Read more

A speech by His Majesty The King to mark Holocaust Memorial Day and the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz

As the number of Holocaust Survivors regrettably diminishes with the passage of time, the responsibility of remembrance rests far heavier on our shoulders, and on those of...

27 January 2025
News

Holocaust Memorial Day 2025

27 January 2025
The King with Jewish leaders

A message from The King to the people of Glasgow celebrating the city’s 850th anniversary.

It goes without saying that people really do make Glasgow. As one of the most diverse cities in Scotland and beyond, it is entirely fitting that the celebrations to mark this...

13 January 2025

A message of condolence from The King following the South Korean plane crash

My wife and I were profoundly saddened to learn of the horrific air accident at Muan, which resulted in such grievous loss of life. As the people of the Republic of Korea...

29 December 2024

A message of condolence from The King to the people of Vanuatu, following the recent earthquake.

I am aware, from my visit to Vanuatu and Port Vila in 2018, of the extraordinary spirit of ni-Vanuatu, which has been called upon too often in recent years with repeated...

21 December 2024
Press release 16 December 2024

The King's Gold Medal for Poetry 2024

Read more

A message read by The Duchess of Edinburgh, on behalf of The King, marking the 50th anniversary of the Birmingham Bombings

Today we remember the twenty-one people who lost their lives so cruelly and all who were injured, many of them grievously. We also pay heartfelt tribute to those who rushed to...

21 November 2024

A speech by The King at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines in Lympstone, Devon

It is this operational excellence, underpinned by your unique skillset and training, which will ensure that all of you, as Royal Marines, will help to perpetuate our peace and...

15 November 2024
Press release 13 November 2024

Bishop of Norwich appointed Lord High Almoner

Read more

A message from The King to King Felipe VI of Spain regarding the ongoing floods in Valencia.

Our special thoughts, prayers and deepest possible sympathy are with all those who have lost loved ones and livelihoods this terrible week.

02 November 2024