Party fit for a King! Prince William and Princess Catherine depart Clarence House close to midnight after King Charles' glittering 75th birthday bash

The Prince and Princess of Wales were spotted leaving Clarence House close to midnight after celebrating King Charles' 75th birthday. Notably, Prince Harry reportedly made a significant gesture by calling his father to wish him a happy birthday, marking their first conversation in six months.

The Prince and Princess of Wales drive from Clarence House after 11pm last night

Prince William and Kate are seen leaving the event after celebrating the King's birthday 

Kate, aged 41, dazzled in an emerald Needle & Thread Alicia sequin-embellished gown made from recycled polyester. Prince William, also 41, looked sharp in a white shirt and jacket as he drove from the royal residence. The royal celebration included guests like Princess Beatrice, Lady Sarah Chatto (Princess Margaret's daughter), and Zara Tindall (Princess Anne's daughter) with her husband Mike Tindall.

William and Kate having a late night as they drive home from the party celebrations 

Princess Beatrice waves as she arrives at Clarence House for the King's birthday celebrations

Lady Sarah Chatto, 59, daughter of Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon, donned a dazzling display of jewellery when attending the King's birthday bash 

Zara, aged 42, made a striking appearance in an Australian designer Rebecca Vallance's £640 Eva dress, known for its figure-skimming silhouette and dazzling pearl embellishment.

Looking effortlessly elegant, Zara Tindall (pictured with husband Mike), 42, stunned in Australian designer Rebecca Vallance's £640 Eva dress, featuring a figure-skimming silhouette and dazzling pearl embellishment

Sources close to Prince Harry revealed to the BBC that he would be calling his father, who reportedly doesn't own a mobile phone, to convey birthday wishes. There are reports that King Charles also spoke with his daughter-in-law Meghan Markle during the call. The relationship between Charles and Harry has reportedly been strained, particularly since the release of Harry's memoir "Spare" in January and a Netflix series preceding that. Buckingham Palace chose not to comment, emphasizing attention on His Majesty's Coronation Food Project. MailOnline reached out to Harry and Meghan's organization Archewell for comment.

Additional notable guests at the birthday bash included Queen Elizabeth II's late racing manager John Warren and Sarah Troughton, one of the Queen’s companions and an old friend. Sarah, the Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire, shares a familial connection with King Charles as his second cousin through her maternal grandfather, who was a brother of the Queen Mother.

Sarah Troughton, pictured, who is one of the Queen’s six companions (a role which replaced the former lady-in-waiting position) and oldest friends. Sarah, the Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire, is a second cousin of King Charles via her maternal grandfather, who was a brother of the Queen Mother

Guests arrive at Clarence House in Central London, for the party. Pictured left, the late Queen Elizabeth II's racing manager John Warren

Penny Knatchbull made a glamorous entrance in a stunning blue gown upon her arrival at Clarence House. The Countess Mountbatten of Burma, who formed a close friendship with Prince Philip after meeting at a polo match in 1975, was also in attendance. Despite being 32 years his junior, she became one of Prince Philip's closest confidantes and was frequently pictured on walks with the Duke over the years.

Penny Knatchbull pictured arriving at the birthday party. The Countess Mountbatten of Burma befriended Prince Philip at a polo match in 1975 when she was 20, became one of his closest confidantes despite being 32 years his junior and was pictured on walks with the Duke over the years

Lady Susan Hussey, the 84-year-old former lady-in-waiting to the late Queen Elizabeth II, graced the event in an elegant blue shimmering gown. Accompanying her was Jools Holland, also making an appearance.

Lady Susan Hussey, the former lady-in-waiting to the late Queen Elizabeth II, was dressed in an elegant blue shimmering gown as she had her taxi door opened for her as she arrived at Clarence House

Jools Holland, pictured left, arrives at Clarence House to celebrate the King's 75th birthday

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and David Armstrong-Jones, the 2nd Earl of Snowdon (son of Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones), were among the family members attending Charles' birthday celebration. The event commemorated the King's 75th birthday with a gun salute and a sing-along at a food waste project, followed by a reception for the NHS.

The Duke of Gloucester (pictured alongside the Duchess of Gloucester) is the late Queen Elizabeth II's cousin and a full-time working member of the Royal Family

David Armstrong-Jones, pictured, the 2nd Earl of Snowdon, the son of the late Princess Margaret and celebrated photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones - the first Earl of Snowdon

Reports surfaced indicating that Prince Harry had declined an invitation to the birthday bash, opting to stay in California. However, a spokesperson for the Sussexes informed MailOnline that they were unaware of any invitation from Buckingham Palace. A source close to Harry and Meghan mentioned that they hadn't received an invitation and were unaware of the celebrations until the stories emerged. They expressed confidence that Prince Harry would privately wish his father a happy birthday, as he has done previously.

There were suggestions from a friend of the couple that the Palace might have leaked the 'snubbing' story to divert attention from a recent royal visit to Kenya, where King Charles faced calls to apologize for Britain's colonial past. The friend indicated that the narrative seemed designed to paint a picture of the Duke snubbing his father, which they argued was not the case. The timing of the leaked story, following an unsuccessful trip to Kenya, could potentially serve as a welcome distraction.

Queen Camilla's son Tom Parker-Bowles looks dapper as he arrives at Clarence House for the celebrations

Queen Camilla's sister Annabel Elliot (pictured left) arrives Clarence House for the birthday celebration

The King and Queen Camilla arrived in high spirits in Didcot, Oxfordshire, to launch the Coronation Food Project at a food waste distribution center. During this event, they met Kelvin, a vendor of the Big Issue magazine, which helps homeless individuals earn income.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla smile and wave during the launch of the Coronation Food Project and the visit to the South Oxfordshire Food and Education Alliance, a surplus food distribution centre, on November 14, 2023 in Didcot 

King Charles had a heartwarming and eventful birthday, starting with the launch of the Coronation Food Project. During the event, he interacted with Kelvin, a Big Issue vendor, and was captured handing him a £10 note to purchase a special edition featuring a black and white portrait of the King on the front cover.

The King bought a special edition of the Big Issue from seller Kelvin (right) with Lord John Bird,  (centre) the founder of the Big Issue, stood between them 

The King seemed to enjoy a lighthearted moment when guests serenaded him with a rendition of Happy Birthday. Despite the bashfulness, he humorously engaged with the volunteers, showing his jovial side. Queen Camilla joined in the celebration, donning an emerald green skirt suit and antique pearl drop earrings despite the inclement weather, highlighting the royal couple's support for the public outing.

London's Piccadilly Lights were lit up with a birthday message for Charles and the tourist attraction also displayed a quote from his Big Issue article.

The Coronation Food Project, spearheaded by King Charles, aims to address food waste and the cost of living crisis. With an emphasis on raising funds and collaborating with existing food waste projects, the initiative intends to save surplus food for social good. The project's goals include scaling up nationwide efforts, establishing warehouses, and acquiring necessary equipment like fridges, freezers, and refrigerated lorries. Baroness Casey and Dame Martina Milburn are leading the project, coordinated by the King Charles III Charitable Fund, which received high praise and gratitude from Baroness Casey during the launch.

The royal couple visited the kitchen at the food hub, meeting New Zealand chef Alex, far left, and admiring some of the dishes created from surplus food

King Charles had quite an engaging and interactive visit during the Coronation Food Project launch. Despite the pouring rain, the King and Queen Camilla met with warehouse staff and volunteers. The King showed a keen interest in the surplus food distribution process, even inquiring if the staff had taken their lunch break and expressing his interest in the food available.

He took a hands-on approach, peeking into freezers and engaging with the Fareshare food vans loaded with goods for distribution. The surprise engagement drew a small but enthusiastic crowd outside, who joyfully sang another rendition of Happy Birthday in honor of the King's milestone celebration.

Simultaneously, in different locations, traditional gun salutes were carried out to mark the King's birthday. The King and Queen then visited the kitchen, where chef Alex MacKay showcased a variety of delicious dishes made from surplus food, including fresh vegetables and lentil and black bean chili. Despite not being able to stay for a meal due to prior engagements, the King engaged in lighthearted banter with the chef, showcasing his friendly demeanor.

During the visit, the King also conversed with food influencers like Crystelle Pereira from Bake Off and top executives from major supermarkets and food suppliers. These discussions were part of the newly-created Food Alliance aimed at combating food waste and donating surplus produce.

The King's engagement continued with conversations with Lord Bird, the co-founder of The Big Issue, who launched the Coronation Food Project. During their chat, Lord Bird mentioned not having seen the King for a quarter of a century, to which the King expressed surprise, humorously noting that Lord Bird hadn't changed a bit.

Kelvin, who has sold The Big Issue intermittently for 25 years during bouts of homelessness, expressed admiration for the King's gesture, highlighting that it showcased his care and outreach to the general public. He praised the King's efforts, emphasizing the importance of unity and equality, noting that the King was utilizing his position to drive positive change. Kelvin also remarked that the King's mother, known for her benevolence and kindness, would be proud of his actions.

Before departing for another engagement, followed by a private dinner in London, the King unveiled a plaque to commemorate his visit. Alongside Queen Camilla, he bid farewell to four food distribution vans, concluding what appeared to be a meaningful and impactful day centered around addressing food waste and social initiatives.