The British royal family undertook separate public engagements on Thursday to mark significant occasions and continue their charitable work, despite unusually high temperatures across the country.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited London Zoo to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), which operates the institution. During their visit, the King participated in several interactive activities, including using a stethoscope to check the heartbeat of a Humboldt penguin named Lannister alongside the Queen. They also fed a 31-year-old Galápagos tortoise named Polly, presenting her with a decorative watermelon to honor the milestone. The royals engaged enthusiastically with the animals and spoke with zoo staff about ZSL’s ongoing scientific research and global conservation efforts. The King has been a patron of ZSL since assuming the throne, continuing a tradition dating back to 1828 when the first scientific zoo opened in Regent’s Park.

Meanwhile, Prince William spent the day in Hastings, East Sussex, where he celebrated the town’s fishing heritage and youth programs. His itinerary included playing a round of crazy golf as part of the visit, which highlighted local community initiatives and the region’s maritime culture.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry carried out a rare public appearance in Birmingham, attending an event at Birmingham Children’s Hospital to mark 20 years of the WellChild nursing program. The Duke, who has served as patron of the charity since 2007, met with nurses and families supported by the organization, which helps seriously ill children and their families to receive care at home. During the visit, Harry addressed the financial challenges facing the National Health Service and was warmly received by hospital staff. His engagement provided a moment of focus on his charitable work amid recent personal and legal challenges, including a court ruling against him in a privacy case earlier in the week.

Harry’s visit was his first public engagement since losing the High Court privacy claim against the publisher of a British newspaper. Ahead of Wednesday’s private Invictus Games event, organizers decided not to invite media representatives following the legal outcome. Harry is expected to be joined by his wife, Meghan, and their children later in the week.

While the King and Queen maintained a composed and cheerful demeanor during their outdoor appearance in London, neither Harry’s presence nor his current difficulties appeared to affect the tone of other royal family members’ engagements. The separate activities highlighted the continued commitment of the royal family to charitable causes and public duties across different parts of the country.