Charles to share prince's birthday

His friends still don't believe him, but next month Napier teenager Charles Chittenden will be celebrating his 18th birthday with his namesake Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.

New Zealanders who share a birthday with the Prince of Wales - November 14 - were invited to apply for an invitation to attend a birthday party at Government House in Wellington, as Prince Charles' birthday falls during he and his wife's Diamond Jubilee visit to New Zealand.

More than 1500 applications were received and, with the exception of the oldest applicant, 64 people were chosen at random.

Although Mr Chittenden admits to not knowing a lot about Prince Charles, he is expecting it to be a posh "tea and scones" event and is looking forward to it.

"I'm really excited, I can't wait to go. Hopefully I get to speak with him, I actually don't know what I'll chat to him about. I reckon he will be quite nice, he just looks like a nice person," Mr Chittenden said.

His sceptical friends had requested proof of his attendance.

"They don't believe me yet. They told me to bring the letter to rowing and school because they don't believe me," he said.

His mother, Letitia Chittenden, originally put his application in after hearing about it on a breakfast TV programme, and she has already made herself his plus one, because, as she put it, the application had "required a bit of running around on my part".

"I couldn't believe that he'd made the ballot, so it's quite exciting for him," Mrs Chittenden said. "Charlie is pretty good with dealing with people, or talking to people, he's pretty laid back. I think I'll be the one to stammer and stutter."

Mr Chittenden is one of five people from Hawke's Bay who made the final list.