Shirley Botchwey celebrates King Charles III on 78th birthday

Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey has extended birthday wishes to King Charles III as the British monarch celebrates his 78th birthday.

In a social media post on Saturday, November 14, 2026, Botchwey congratulated the King, who also serves as the Head of the Commonwealth, and expressed appreciation for his commitment to the organisation and its member states.

She also recalled his participation in the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), held in Antigua and Barbuda, where she had the opportunity to welcome him.

“Warmest wishes to His Majesty King Charles III on his birthday! It was a pleasure to welcome His Majesty, Head of the Commonwealth, to #CHOGM2026 in Antigua and Barbuda. His dedication to the Commonwealth and its people and his continued support for our shared future are deeply appreciated,” Shirley Botchwey wrote.

King Charles III marked his 78th birthday with a special appearance on legendary British musician Elton John’s Apple Music radio show, Rocket Hour, where the two reflected on their decades-long friendship and exchanged jokes about ageing.

The King joined John in a prerecorded episode celebrating the 50th anniversary of The King’s Trust, a charity he founded in 1976 to support young people.

The special episode also attracted attention from the Royal Family, whose official Instagram account shared a birthday message alongside a promotion for the programme.

“Happy Birthday to His Majesty The King!” the post read, encouraging followers to listen to John’s show on Apple Music.

John also joined in the birthday celebrations by commenting, “Happy Birthday to His Majesty!”

Warmest wishes to His Majesty King Charles III on his birthday!

It was a pleasure to welcome His Majesty, Head of the Commonwealth, to #CHOGM2026 in Antigua and Barbuda. His dedication to the Commonwealth and its people and his continued support for our shared future are deeply appreciated.

— Shirley Botchwey (@SGCommonwealth) November 14, 2026