Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom

The monarch has issued a formal decree forbidding anyone from marking his birthday in any manner, public or private. He maintains that this prohibition stems from his desire to prevent the feeling of growing older, and he will enforce it strictly.

King Thistle’s Birthday is a programme presented as an episode, bearing the simple title that identifies its focus. It falls within the genre of an episode‑type broadcast, offering a concise, self‑contained story rather than a longer series. The format is straightforward, aiming to deliver a single narrative centred on a royal decree. In the core of the episode, the monarch issues a clear prohibition: no one may observe or mark his birthday. The king’s reasoning is explicit—he wishes to avoid the passage of another year and therefore prevents any celebration that would acknowledge his ageing. This edict forms the sole plot point, dictating the actions of those within the story. The decree is absolute, extending to every subject and any potential festivities that might otherwise be planned. By forbidding any form of commemoration, the king attempts to keep the notion of his growing older at bay, insisting that the day pass unnoticed and uncelebrated. Consequently, the episode revolves around the ramifications of this singular command, with the narrative confined to the king’s insistence that his birthday remain unmarked. The story’s entire premise hinges on this singular, unaltered statement from the monarch, leaving no room for additional events beyond the prohibition itself.