Tauranga woman Helen Kiernan missed out on the chance to spend her birthday with Prince Charles but was thrilled to receive a birthday card from the royal.

The 43-year-old owner of Pluto on Devonport Road is one of 14,000 Kiwis sharing their big day with Prince Charles today.

Kim Bucknor, Faith Claessens, birthday girl Helen Kiernan and Sarah Dodd show off Helen's royal birthday card.

Sixty-four of those were accepted to attend a special New Zealand-themed party to celebrate the royal family member's 64th birthday in Wellington during the Prince and Duchess of Cornwall's six-day tour of New Zealand.

Applications were open to all New Zealands with the same birthday as the prince.

Helen applied but missed out.

However, the upset about missing out on a royal occasion was dulled when Helen received a birthday card from the Prince two days ago.

'Considering (there were) 1500 applicants, they would have sent out 1500 of these, so that's huge.”

Helen also shares her birthday with Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae and Prime Minister John Key's wife Bronagh.

'Even though it's Prince Charles' birthday, and there's a solar eclipse, let's not forget that it's my birthday.

'I have always grown up knowing I was born on his 21st birthday.”

Helen was hoping to go to the event with her father, who lives in Wellington.

'He suggested that, in good Kiwi fashion, if we just rocked on up with a dozen Tuis and a plate of sausage rolls we're not going to be turned away.

'I laughed when he said that - I thought that was brilliant.”