Ace of diplomacy no mere stopgap

FOR MANY of us, going to work on your birthday is the last thing you want to do.

- with Royal Editor EMILY FERGUSON

But taking the day off, putting your feet up and raising a glass or two is not something that comes easily to the King, who turned 77 on Friday.

Instead, the workaholic monarch treats his birthday as an ordinary working day.

On Friday, he travelled to South Wales with his wife to undertake three engagements between them.

Despite the miserable weather thanks to Storm Claudia, Charles smiled and laughed throughout his appointments, which included a visit to Cyfarthfa Castle where he was joined by Gavin & Stacey star Ruth Jones and TikTok star Lewis Leigh.

Ever since his cancer diagnosis at the start of last year, the King has been absolutely determined to plough on with his duties.