A brand new photo has been released of King Charles to mark his 74th birthday and to announce a new role he has taken over from his late father Prince Philip.
The King has officially become Ranger of Windsor Great Park, 70 years after the Duke of Edinburgh was appointed to the post, Buckingham Palace said.
The news was announced on Charles’' birthday, and a new photograph of the monarch in a tweed blazer, tie and corduroy trousers leaning against an ancient oak tree in the park was released to mark the occasion.
The role of Ranger offers oversight and guidance to the deputy ranger and his team in the day-to-day stewardship of one of the country's oldest landed estates.
Philip was the Park's longest serving Ranger, and his eldest son's appointment comes 70 years after he took on the post in 1952, holding it for 69 years until his death in 2021.
The duke took a very active role in overseeing the parkland and was fundamental to its upkeep, from designing gardens to introducing red deer in 1979.
The role traces its roots back to 1559 when Sir Henry Neville was appointed ranger during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Paul Sedgwick, The Crown Estate’s managing director, rural and deputy ranger of Windsor Great Park, said: "We are honoured to have His Majesty as Ranger of Windsor Great Park, continuing a long tradition of the Sovereign and members of the Royal Family holding this role.
"Windsor has a wonderful heritage with many precious natural habitats.
"His Majesty’s passion and commitment to the natural world will be invaluable as we seek to become a centre of excellence for environmental best practice, preserving and enhancing the Great Park for generations to come."
More than five million people visit Windsor Great Park, which is free to enter, each year.
The post of Ranger has often been held by the sovereign and other family members during the past 460 years, including Philip, who was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II, and George III, George IV, William IV, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and George VI.
When Philip died, the role was taken on by the late Queen during the final year of her life.
Charles is expected to mark his 74th birthday privately today. He became king after the death of the Queen on September 8 and has since had a busy period.
As Prince of Wales, he was sometimes away on official foreign tours during his birthday and would celebrate it overseas with a cake.
Charles spent the day before his 74th birthday leading the nation in honouring its war dead during the annual Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph.
His floral tribute to the fallen left at the memorial in Whitehall featured the words "In memory of the glorious dead. Charles R".
The King’s milestone today has been marked by the Band of the Household Cavalry performing Happy Birthday during the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
Gun salutes also fired across the capital in honour of his birthday for the first time, with the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery firing 41 volleys from midday at London’s Green Park, and immediately afterwards the Band of the Scots Guards performed Happy Birthday in the park.
The King’s Troop is a mounted ceremonial unit in the British Army that fires salutes on royal anniversaries and major events like state visits, and provides a gun carriage and a team of black horses for state and military funerals.
An hour later the Honourable Artillery Company fired a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London.
The Army’s oldest regiment has a demanding operational reconnaissance role in addition to its ceremonial responsibilities.
