King Charles III turns 77 today. He will be enjoying a typically packed day, with activities both ceremonial and personal. His Welsh association will be celebrated with a reception at Cyfarthfa Castle near Merthyr Tydfil, where he will be joined by guests including Gavin and Stacey ’s Ruth Jones and fashion designer Julien Macdonald, all of whom will surely be preparing lusty choruses of ‘God Save The King’ and ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow’ as well as more traditional birthday greetings. Cannons will be fired, bells will be rung, and the usual pageantry brought to bear. But will it actually be a happy birthday for the monarch?

Since he inherited the throne just over three years ago, Charles has watched the Firm spiral from one disaster to another. Many of those are, of course, not circ

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