King Charles' birthday still comes with some royal rules!

When the time came to state Charles’ name, the group sang “Happy birthday, Your Majesty,” using thecorrect formal addressfor the monarch. King Charles raised his eyebrows at the “Your Majesty” mention, in what appeared to be a self-deprecating reaction to his royal role as sovereign.

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla pose for a photograph with staff during the launch of the Coronation Food Project and the visit to the South Oxfordshire Food and Education Alliance, a surplus food distribution centre, on November 14, 2023 in Didcot, England.

According to the royal family’sofficial website, which has yet to be updated in full following the death ofQueen Elizabethin September 2022, “there are no obligatory codes of behaviour when meeting The Queen or a member of the Royal Family.” The Royal.UK website outlines that the traditional form is a neck bow from the head for men and a small curtsy for women, though some people prefer to simply shake hands.

Queen Camilla and King Charles at the launch of the Coronation Food Project in Didcot on November 14.IAN VOGLER/POOL/AFP via Getty

Britain’s King Charles III and Britain’s Queen Camilla pose of pictures with members of staff during the launch of “The Coronation Food Project”, to mark his majesty’s 75th birthday, as part of a visit to The South Oxfordshire Food and Education Alliance, part of the FareShare network, in Didcot, western England on November 14, 2023.

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As for greetings, Royal U.K. states, “On presentation to The Queen, the correct formal address is ‘Your Majesty’ and subsequently ‘Ma’am,’ pronounced with a short ‘a,’ as in ‘jam’. "

While King Charles would be referred to as “Sir” on second reference as a male member of the royal family, the “Your Majesty” title can also be used. It would also be appropriate to call Queen Camilla “Your Majesty” because she is the Queen.

Meanwhile, royal family members likePrince WilliamandKate Middletonshould technically be addressed as “Your Royal Highness” and subsequently “Sir” or “Ma’am” from there, the royal family website states.

Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales (known as Baroness and Baron Carrickfergus whilst in Northern Ireland) meet members of the public during a walkabout on October 6, 2022

Prince William might have a more relaxed attitude around this protocol than previous royal generations, according to one anecdote.

During a visit to the charityCentrepointwith Princess Kate in 2018, fellow lunch guests weregiven a laminated cardwith a quick run-down of how to interact with the royal couple. The guidelines included that William and Kate would initiate handshakes and a “respectful lowering of the head” was appropriate over a bow or curtsy.

According to attendee Chelsea Jenkins, Prince William “just laughed” about the card. “He said something about updating it,” she said.

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King Charles and Queen Camilla, 76, spent his milestone birthday touring the South Oxfordshire Food and Education Alliance to learn more about how the offshoot of the King Charles III Charitable Fund (which was founded in 1979 as The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund and recently rechristened) will “bridge the gap between food waste and food need across all four nations of the United Kingdom, helping people and helping the planet," the palace said.

The King and Queen met staff and volunteers who bring in surplus food and redistribute it to 120 community organizations in need around the counties of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Wiltshire. The couple then checked out a packing station, chiller for fresh food, vans loaded for distribution and community kitchen.

Prince William and Princess Kate wished King Charles ahappy birthdayon social media on Tuesday, and will likely see him later today, as the royals are expected to privately celebrate the King’s birthday. Across London, royal tributes included gun salutes and the ringing of the Westminster Abbey bells.

Although Westminster Abbey (where King Charles and Queen Camilla were crowned on May 6) was known for ringing its bells to celebrate the birthdays of numerous senior members of the royal family, the tradition has shifted in recent years.

Prince George, Kate Middleton, Prince Louis, Prince William, Princess Charlotte, King Charles and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in June.Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty

Prince George, the Princess of Wales, Prince Louis, the Prince of Wales, Princess Charlotte, King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, to view the flypast following the Trooping the Colour ceremony in central London, as King Charles III celebrates his first official birthday since becoming sovereign. Picture date: Saturday June 17, 2023

Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty

Before 2020, the bells marked the birthdays of 12 royals. Queen Elizabeth,Prince Philipand their four children — then now-King Charles,Princess Anne,Prince AndrewandPrince Edward— all received the honor, as did Charles' wife, Camilla. Prince William, Kate and their kids —Prince George, 10,Princess Charlotte, 8, andPrince Louis, 5 — completed the list.

However, the bells have only rung for four royal birthdays in 2023: King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate.

source: people.com