Prince Charles will celebrate his 60th birthday on Friday surrounded by young people helped by his charities, as he passes a milestone year with little sign of an end to his long wait to be king.
The heir to the British throne has been celebrating his birthday all week, with a star-studded comedy show one night and a black-tie gala the next, but will spend Friday meeting participants of a Prince’s Trust scheme in London.
By his side will be Camilla, his wife of three years who confidants say has brought Charles happiness, even if the role he was born for still eludes him.
His sons by Princess Diana, princes William and Harry, paid tribute to their father at a black-tie dinner thrown by the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Thursday night, saying he was ”an inspiration to us and so many others”.
The princes also joked that because of their father’s age they were having an electric chairlift installed at his country home in Highgrove, Gloucestershire.
Rock star Rod Stewart had been due to perform at the private event, attended by the queen and her husband Prince Philip and more than 400 European royalty, friends and members of Charles’ charitable organisations.
It will be followed by an informal party thrown on Saturday by Camilla.
The celebrations kicked-off on Wednesday with a comedy night at a south-west London theatre, with stars including Robin Williams, Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson and Monty Python veteran John Cleese.
”What better tribute to the heir to the throne of this formerly great country that we should bring him tonight to this cramped old theatre somewhere in the God-forsaken suburbs?” Cleese quipped.
Fellow Python Eric Idle, who performed his song Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, said afterwards: ”Charles is a lovely man and he loves being around comics and loves people who are funny.
”Just because he can be normal around us, I suppose.”
At an age when many are considering retirement, Charles is still waiting to succeed the queen, who remains on the throne at 82 years old and shows few signs of slowing down.
But he sounded philosophical about his position as he reflected on his landmark birthday.
”It is all in the hands of the good Lord as to whether I survive or am vaguely compos mentis,” he told a BBC documentary to mark his birthday. ”Our life is so short and insignificant in the great scheme of things.”
Asked if he enjoyed his role, he replied: ”I don’t know.”
”Well, there’s bits of it,” he added. ”It is something that I feel I must do to help as many other people as I possibly can and this country.”
Commentators dismiss suggestions he is frustrated, noting that he has found personal happiness after marrying long-time companion Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005 and focusing on his extensive charity work.
Charles divorced Princess Diana, who died in a car crash in Paris 11 years ago, in 1996.
The queen took the unusual step Wednesday of praising her eldest child’s work with the Prince’s Trust, which supports disadvantaged young people.
”Countless lives have been transformed by the Prince’s Trust to which the Prince of Wales has brought vision and conviction,” she said after meeting volunteers with the organisation.
”For Prince Philip and me, there can be no greater pleasure or comfort than to know that into his care are safely entrusted the guiding principles of public service and duty to others.” — AFP
