King’s birthday is a celebration in the United Kingdom that honors King Charles III. When the monarch is a queen, it is called the queen’s birthday. In the United Kingdom, the celebration takes place on the king’s official birthday, on a day in June instead of on the king’s actual birthday, November 14. June usually has better weather than November for trooping the colour, a ceremony that celebrates the monarch’s official birthday. Certain honors and awards are announced each year on the monarch’s official birthday.
Several other countries also celebrate the king’s official birthday as a public holiday. However, it may occur on a different day than in the United Kingdom. In New Zealand, it traditionally has been on a Monday in early June, giving people a long holiday weekend. Each Australian state or territory determines the day for its celebration. In Australia, the custom of honoring the monarch’s birthday dates from 1788. That year, Arthur Phillip declared a holiday to honor the birthday of King George III, June 4. Phillip was the first governor of New South Wales, a British colony in Australia.
