Last year saw an important milestone in the history of the British Royal Family. Prince Charles, the eldest son and heir to the Queen, celebrated his 70th birthday.
This being a royal celebration, it was unlike most significant birthdays. The Prince reached 70 on November 14, but the initial celebrations were in May. The series of garden parties and speeches and other events were designed as part of the Royal family’s continuing strategy of public diplomacy, conveying to all that the heir to the throne is ready to take up his role as king whenever the time comes, without, of course, mentioning anything as distasteful as the death of the Queen.
