King Charles marks 75th birthday a day early with three-tiered cake

Britain's King Charles celebrated has his 75th birthday a day early after he was presented with a three-tiered cake at a party staged in his honour.

Charles joined a host of people, from community stalwarts nominated by friends and family who are also turning 75 this year, to representatives from organizations marking the same milestone and members of the National Health Service (NHS).

Among the famous faces at the event on the grounds of the king's Highgrove home in south-west England were celebrity chef Raymond Blanc and singer Leee John from the 1980s group Imagination.

A local choir sang Happy Birthday for the head of state at the end of the cream tea party, and after debating which of the three tiers of the Victoria sponge to cut Charles opted for the bottom.

He was cheered and applauded after cutting a slice and holding up the knife in celebration and peering at the sweet treat.

The king was born on November 14, 1948. Tuesday will be a normal working day for the monarch who will officially launch the Coronation Food Project with Queen Camilla, which aims to bridge the gap between food waste and food need.

Charles will also host a Buckingham Palace reception to celebrate nurses and midwives as part of the NHS 75 celebrations.

Gun salutes will also be fired across the capital and the nation to mark the king's milestone.