King Charles’ birthday: Latest updates as gun salutes ring out across London for monarch who turns 76 as he spends day tackling food waste after Gladiator II premiere appearance

The Royal Family has posted a tweet wishing King Charles a happy birthday as he turns 76.

The King visits Oxfordshire to launch the project on his 75th birthday

King Charles will today open two centers that will distribute surplus food to food banks, schools and community centers as part of his Coronation Food Project, which aims to tackle food waste.

The plan seeks to close the gap between food waste and food need across all four nations of the UK.

It involves saving surplus food, creating a network of Coronation Food Centers and funding more food rescue initiatives.

Working with charities FareShare and Felix Project, the Coronation Food Project has so far saved around 940 tonnes of surplus food, equivalent to 2,240,000 portions of food.

£15 million has been raised to design, build and manage a network of up to ten Coronation Food Hubs across the UK.

King Charles made an entrance fit for a film star when he arrived at the world premiere of Gladiator II in Leicester Square last night in his state-run Bentley limousine.

The royal spent his birthday eve watching the long-awaited blockbuster, hot on the heels of a glittering reception he and Camilla hosted to celebrate the Film and TV Charity’s centenary.

He looked dapper in a black tuxedo, paired with a bow tie, on the red carpet where the monarch smiled for the cameras.

Earlier in the evening, Charles and his wife chatted with celebrities, including the film’s director Ridley Scott, as they welcomed a host of stars to Buckingham Palace.

Watch our video below of the King meeting the cast on the red carpet:

Good morning and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage as King Charles celebrates his 76th birthday.

Far from celebrating the occasion, the monarch will spend the day opening two centers that will distribute large volumes of surplus food to food banks, schools and community centres.

However, his birthday will be announced with gun salutes throughout London.

The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery will fire a 41-gun royal salute from 12:00 pm at Green Park and the Honorable Artillery Company will fire a 62-gun royal salute from Tower Wharf from 1:00 pm.

Join us for the latest updates on the King throughout the day, plus all the reactions and well-wishes for his birthday.