PRINCE CHARLES celebrated his 64th birthday in Wellington while in New Zealand as part of the Queen’s Jubilee tour.
His birthday party was held at Government House, and hosted by Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae, who shares the same birthday.
Sixty-four Kiwis who shared the same date were also invited.
After humming The Beatles’ When I’m Sixty Four to himself, the Prince received a Maori version of Happy Birthday, followed by English.
He then cut the cake, featuring iconic New Zealand images such as a silver fern, jandals and hokey pokey ice cream, while a band played When I’m Sixty Four, Fairfax NZ reported.
Mussel fritters, whitebait and pavlova were also on the menu.
The Prime Ministers’ wife Bronagh Key also shares her birthday with the Prince.
One of the 64 guests travelled from San Diego.
‘‘I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. It was the coolest thing,’’ Lenny Cheah told Fairfax.
He spend several thousand dollars on flights to attend.
‘‘I didn’t know what to think when I found out I was coming here. It was like winning the lottery.’’
Mr Cheah, who turns 20 today, is a New Zealand citizen courtesy of his mother who is from Lower Hutt.
Napier teen Charlie Chittenden was planning a pool party with “plenty of double brown and Tui” for his 18th birthday.
However he was happy to swap it for a glass of champagne with Prince Charles and Camilla.
‘‘It was really cool. The prince was a really nice guy — a bit posh for me though.’’
‘‘I told him I’d be out having a few pints later on if he wanted to join. He laughed and said ‘‘um, maybe’.’’
The Prince also met Sir Peter Jackson and Sir Richard Taylor at Weta Workshop, while Camilla had afternoon tea with 25 female community leaders.
The royal pair also walked along the waterfront and were sung happy birthday by thousands.
