King Charles III has publicly wished his eldest son a happy birthday.
Addressing the world through the official Royal Family Twitter account, the King wrote: “Wishing the Prince of Wales a very happy birthday today!”
The tweet was complete with a photo that captured a heartwarming moment during the Coronation.
In an off script and personal yet symbolic moment of the Coronation, Prince William was on hand to fix his father’s Coronation attire slightly.
Prince William Birthday PKG 21 06 23
Prince William Birthday PKG 21 06 23
This caring and considerate act drew proud smiles from the monarch, as well as a hint of laughter as the reverence of the occasion was subverted for a moment.
The King’s tribute follows a precedent whereby only working royals now receive a public birthday message.
Over the last year, the likes of Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Princess Beatrice have been left off the public birthday message list.
The King’s choice of photo is significant, for it both conveys the personal affection between father and son, and the public paying of homage from heir to reigning monarch.
The Coronation cheek kiss
PA
Prior to kissing the King on the cheek, Prince William said: "I, William, Prince of Wales, pledge my loyalty to you and faith and truth I will bear unto you, as your liege man of life and limb. So help me God."
On June 21, 1982, the King and his first wife, Princess Diana, welcomed their first son into the world.
Williams stands next in line to ascend the throne, with his three children following behind.
To celebrate Father’s Day at the weekend, the Royal Family Twitter account posted a photo of the King and his two sons, while Kensington Palace also released photos of William and his three children.
The Order of the Garter service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
PA
On Tuesday, it was revealed that a portrait of Prince William and Prince Harry had been removed from the royal gallery amid growing tensions between the brothers.
Nicky Phillipps’ portrait of the royal brothers was taken out of the National Portrait Gallery just as Princess Kate reopened the 167-year-old institution yesterday following a three-year refurbishment.
The painting was first unveiled in 2010 and showed the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex looking at one another while wearing military uniform.
The portrait was painted ahead of the brothers’ fallout which reached a fever-pitch in the aftermath of Megxit.
Prince Andrew watched on from the sidelines for a second year running as his fellow Knights of the Garter paraded through the grounds of Windsor Castle.
Though the Duke was permitted to wear his Garter robes at the Coronation last month, the King deemed the colourful procession a step too far for the chequered past prince.
