Queen Elizabeth plans lavish 70th birthday party for Prince Charles 

• Invitations to hundreds of family and friends secretly sent out for private bash
• The party for milestone birthday will be held in the State Rooms on November 14
• Palace insiders say Queen will say a few fond but amusing words about her son

The Queen is to throw a lavish party for Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace to celebrate his 70th birthday.

Invitations to hundreds of family and friends have secretly gone out for the private bash, which will be held in the State Rooms on Wednesday, November 14, the prince’s birthday.

A series of events are already being organised to publicly celebrate the milestone but it is his ‘mama’s’ gesture that will mean so much to Charles – who in April 2011 became the longest-serving heir apparent in British history.

 ITV is broadcasting a one-off night of comedy and magic at the London Palladium, entitled We Are Most Amused And Amazed, with the proceeds going towards his Prince’s Trust charity. And plans are under way to release a birthday portrait and organise engagements involving members of the public and his charities on the day.

Details of Charles’s birthday party, organised by the Queen’s private office and paid for out of her own funds, are a closely guarded secret.

But guests will, of course, include Charles and Camilla’s families, as well as European royalty. It is anticipated Prince Philip will also make a rare public appearance, although he is unlikely to stay much beyond the speeches.

It is understood Charles’s right-hand man, his controversial former valet Michael Fawcett, is taking a role in overseeing proceedings too, even though it is a Buckingham Palace event.

It comes after a tumultuous year in the royal household, with a number of the Queen’s officials leaving in what one insider described as a ‘coup’ by Charles’s staff. But in recent months the squabbles have died down, and Charles is, insiders say, as content as he ever has been.

In particular, Charles’s bond with his younger son Prince Harry is warmer than it has been for many years – helped by the relationship he has built with his daughter-in-law Meghan.

It is also hoped that Prince William, who has not always had the easiest relationship with his father, may even pay a rare public tribute to him in the run up to his big day, although nothing has yet been confirmed.

UK MAIL