King Charles III and Queen Camilla hosted a special reception at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, 21 April 2026, to commemorate what would have been Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday.

The event, held in the historic Marble Hall, welcomed centenarians born on the same day as the late Queen, along with representatives from several of Her late Majesty’s favourite charities and senior members of the Royal Family.

Prince William and Princess Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales, joined Their Majesties for the occasion, together with other senior royals including the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra.

During the reception, King Charles personally presented centenary cards to the guests.

A celebratory cake was cut in a warm intergenerational moment shared by the King, Queen Camilla, and centenarian Joan Illingworth.

Photographs and video footage from the gathering have gone viral on social media, attracting millions of views and shares.

One widely circulated clip captured Prince William sharing a light-hearted exchange with a centenarian guest, joking that she looked far younger than 100 and asking her the secret to longevity.

She replied with a smile that her recipe was “clotted cream fudge and Liquorice Allsorts.”

The reception honoured Queen Elizabeth II’s extraordinary legacy of duty and public service.

Charities represented at the event included Cancer Research UK, the British Red Cross Society, the Jockey Club, the Royal Kennel Club, and the Army Benevolent Fund.

This gathering formed the centrepiece of the day’s commemorations, which also featured a personal video tribute from King Charles reflecting on his “darling Mama.”

The event underscored the Royal Family’s continued commitment to the values embodied by the late monarch throughout her historic 70-year reign.