King Charles III marked his 77th birthday on November 14, 2025, with a mix of subdued celebration and public duty, as the shadow of his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s ongoing scandals continued to loom over the monarchy. The Royal Family released a new portrait of the King to commemorate the occasion, showing him standing tall and dignified. Yet, royal watchers and experts agreed that beneath the surface, Charles appeared weary, withdrawn, and burdened by the latest wave of controversy surrounding his younger brother.
According to ITV News, Charles and Queen Camilla spent the day in South Wales, where they attended a community reception at Cyfarthfa Castle near Merthyr Tydfil. The event brought together homegrown stars from the arts, heritage, and culture, including actress Ruth Jones, TikTok creator Lewis Leigh, and fashion designer Julien Macdonald, as well as representatives from the Laura Ashley Foundation. Also present were figures from the King’s patronages, such as The King’s Trust and the Royal Osteoporosis Society, alongside local business owners from Cocos Coffee and Candles and Enaid Wellness. The gathering was a testament to Charles’s ongoing commitment to public service, even as personal challenges mounted behind palace walls.
But the celebratory atmosphere was tempered by the absence of Charles’s brother Andrew. As reported by Fox News Digital, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly the Duke of York, was not expected to join the royal family for any birthday festivities. Royal expert Hilary Fordwich explained, “He’s actually made it worse for himself due to his pride and pervasively privileged attitude, thinking he’s still entitled.” She added that Charles is likely to further publicly distance himself from Andrew, who now lives as a private citizen after being stripped of his titles and evicted from Royal Lodge.
The catalyst for Andrew’s estrangement was his association with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. On October 30, 2025, Buckingham Palace announced that Charles had removed Andrew’s royal titles and residence privileges in response to renewed scrutiny about his relationship with Epstein and allegations made by Virginia Roberts Giuffre. Giuffre, who died by suicide earlier this year, accused Andrew of sexually abusing her on three occasions in 2001 when she was a teenager. Andrew has consistently denied these allegations, stating during a widely criticized 2019 BBC interview, “I have absolutely no memory of that photograph ever being taken.” He added, “From the investigations that we’ve done, you can’t prove whether or not that photograph is faked or not because it is a photograph of a photograph of a photograph.”
However, newly released documents in November 2025 have cast further doubt on Andrew’s denials. According to The Telegraph and Sky News, emails from Epstein’s estate referenced Andrew in connection with Giuffre and appeared to confirm the authenticity of the now-infamous photograph showing Andrew with his arm around Giuffre’s waist, with Ghislaine Maxwell in the background. In one 2011 email, Epstein wrote that “many” of his employees also took photos with Andrew, seemingly contradicting the prince’s public statements.
Behind closed doors, the toll of these ongoing scandals on King Charles was evident. During the Remembrance Sunday Cenotaph Parade on November 10, 2025, Charles was observed shedding a tear while standing in silence—a rare public display of emotion from a monarch known for his stoicism. Fordwich described him as “withered and withdrawn, with one able to observe the toll the Andrew nightmare had taken on him. He appeared to be somewhat resolute. He is also known to be wanting to double down on duty, rather than anything verging on a shallow or frivolous celebration.”
Indeed, the King’s birthday celebrations this year were notably understated. British broadcaster Helena Chard told Fox News Digital, “The king’s decision to keep his birthday celebrations low-key is a reflection of his philosophy that the monarchy should serve, rather than celebrate itself.” Instead of a lavish party, the day included official duties, a private celebration with Queen Camilla, and a public cutting of a birthday cake. Chard added, “The relationship between Charles and Andrew is strained. The king’s inner circle has also shrunk, with some now pushing for an even stronger stance against Andrew as he’s still making headlines for all the wrong reasons.”
Despite these personal challenges, Charles has demonstrated resilience and a dedication to his royal role. Over the past year, he has continued a regular cancer treatment program—believed to be weekly—after being diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in early 2024. According to ITV News, he also made history with a visit to the Vatican, becoming the first British monarch since the Reformation to pray alongside the Pope in a public service, a move widely seen as a symbolic gesture of unity between Anglicans and Roman Catholics. In September 2025, Charles hosted U.S. President Donald Trump at Windsor Castle for a second state visit, further solidifying his role on the international stage.
As the monarchy faces one of its most challenging periods in recent memory, Prince William and Princess Catherine have stepped up to support the King and provide a sense of stability. Royal experts say they are focused on succession planning, international engagements, and a more reform-minded, accountable monarchy—one that includes only a narrow inner circle and places a greater emphasis on service and transparency. “Prince William and Princess Catherine are stepping up, with her better health and his determination to move past his uncle,” Fordwich noted. “They project stability and are focused on the future of the monarchy.”
The ongoing saga of Andrew’s downfall has not only strained familial relationships but also put the monarchy’s reputation at risk. As royal expert Ian Pelham Turner put it, “King Charles may be choking on his birthday cake as more allegations over Andrew are revealed. There is little more the king can do to further punish his erstwhile brother. Andrew is sidelined. But the king wonders how he can preserve the monarchy from this latest twist, knowing that further recriminations may continue.”
For now, King Charles’s 77th birthday serves as a poignant reminder of both the burdens and responsibilities that come with the crown. Even as scandals swirl and the royal family’s inner circle tightens, the King remains steadfast in his commitment to duty and service, determined to chart a steady course for the monarchy’s future.
