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Charles III

Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is currently King of the United Kingdom and of the 14 other countries consisting of the Commonwealth Realm. He is also the Head of the Commonwealth.[3] He was Prince of Wales between 1958 and 2022.[3]

Charles III
Head of the Commonwealth[note 1]
Photograph of Charles III
Charles III in 2023
King of the United Kingdom
and other Commonwealth realms
8 September 2022 – present
6 May 2023
PredecessorElizabeth II
Heir apparentWilliam, Prince of Wales
BornPrince Charles of Edinburgh
14 November 1948 (aged 77)
Buckingham Palace, London, England
Spouse
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1981; div. 1996)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 2005)​
Issue
Detail
Full name
Charles Philip Arthur George[note 2]
HouseWindsor
FatherPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
MotherElizabeth II
ReligionProtestant[note 3]
EducationGordonstoun School
Alma materTrinity College, Cambridge (MA)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branch
Years of service1971–1976
RankFull list
Commands heldHMS Bronington

Charles was born in 1948, when his grandfather George VI was King. He became heir apparent when his mother, Elizabeth II, became Queen in 1952.[4]

He created Prince of Wales in 1958 and his investiture happened in 1969.[5][6] He went to Cheam School and Gordonstoun, and went to Geelong Grammar School in Victoria, Australia. He got a history degree from the University of Cambridge; and then he was in the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy from 1971 to 1976.[7][8][9] After his 1981 wedding to Lady Diana Spencer, they had two sons, William and Harry.[10][11] After years of being apart and adultery, Charles and Diana divorced in 1996.[12][13] Diana died in a car crash in 1997.[14] In 2005 Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles (now Queen Camilla).[15]

Charles became King when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died in September 2022. She had been Queen since 1952. Charles was heir apparent for longer than any in British history, between 1952 and 2022.[16]

Early life

King Charles III was born at Buckingham Palace in London. He is the first son of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark. He is the grandson of George VI of the United Kingdom and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. He was baptised at Buckingham Palace.

Charles went to school at Gordonstoun and to university at Trinity College, Cambridge. He became the first British royal heir to earn a university degree.[17][18]

Prince of Wales

Portrait of Charles in 1972 when he was Prince of Wales

Charles was officially made the Prince of Wales in 1958. As Prince of Wales, Charles fulfilled many public engagements and charity work, such as creating the Prince's Trust. He has also spent time in the Royal Air Force. He has spent a lot of time advocating for the prevention of climate change.

As the heir to the throne, Charles also represented his mother on numerous occasions, such as the independence days of Fiji, the Bahamas, Papua New Guinea, Zimbabwe and Brunei, as well as the day Hong Kong was given back to China.

In 2021, Prince Charles attended the celebration of Barbados becoming a republic and removing Queen Elizabeth as their leader. It was the first time that a British royal attended the transition of a Commonwealth realm in a republic.

Reign

In October 2025, during his state visit to the Holy See, Charles became the first British monarch to pray alongside a pope since the Reformation, joining Pope Leo XIV for a church service in the Sistine Chapel of the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City.[19] Later that month, Charles had his first official engagement in support of the LGBT+ community, unveiling "An Opened Letter", the UK's first national memorial honouring LGBT armed forces veterans, at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.[20][21]

After his brother Andrew's arrest on 19 February 2026 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, he showed his "deepest concern" and said that "the law must take its course".[22]

In April 2026, during a state visit to the United States, Charles became the second British monarch to address the United States Congress]], after his mother Elizabeth II in 1991.[23] His speech received about a dozen standing ovations.[24] In May, he visited Golders Green after the previous month's stabbings, meeting the victims at a Jewish Care charity centre, the Chief Rabbi, and members of the community's medical and security response teams.[25]

Accession

Charles became king on 8 September 2022, after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Holding the titles Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, and Duke of Rothesay, Charles was the longest-serving British heir apparent, passing Edward VII's record on 20 April 2011. When he became monarch at the age of 73, he was the oldest person to do so.[26]

Charles in the Scottish Parliament (September 2022)

In an announcement after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Prime Minister Liz Truss called Charles "King Charles III". This was the first time anyone had used that name officially.[27] soon after Clarence House confirmed that he would use the regnal name "Charles III".[28] When a British monarch becomes king or queen, they are allowed to change their name if they want to. For example, Charles' grandfather changed his name from "Albert" to "George", and he was "King George VI".

Coronation

Charles' coronation took place at Westminster Abbey on 6 May 2023.[29] HM Queen consort Camilla was crowned at the same occasion. Charles' eldest son William, Prince of Wales attended and was the only noble to swear allegiance to The King.

Personal life

He was married to his first wife, Diana, Princess of Wales, from 1981 until they divorced in 1996.[3] They had two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. Charles and Diana's divorce attracted a lot of media coverage and attention. Charles has been married to his second wife, Camilla, Queen Consort formerly the Duchess of Cornwall, since 2005.[3]

On 25 March 2020, Charles tested positive for COVID-19.[30][31]

On 5 February 2024, it was announced by Buckingham Palace that Charles had been diagnosed with cancer.[32]

Titles

  • 14 November 1948 – 6 February 1952: His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Edinburgh
  • 6 February 1952 – 8 September 2022: His Royal Highness The Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles
  • 26 July 1958 – 8 September 2022: His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, Earl of Chester
  • 9 April 2021 – 8 September 2022: His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, Baron of Greenwich
  • 8 September 2022: His Majesty The King

Charles IIIReign Media

  • Christening of Charles (centre, wearing the royal christening gown) in 1948: (from left to right) his grandfather King George VI; his mother, Princess Elizabeth, holding him; his father, Philip; and his grandmother Queen Elizabeth

  • Charles at the Flint National Eisteddfod, several days after his investiture as the Prince of Wales.

  • (Front to back) HMS Norfolk, London, and Antrim in the English Channel following joint exercises with the RAF in December 1971. Charles was serving aboard Norfolk at this time.

  • Photograph by Allan Warren, 1972

  • Charles and Diana on their wedding day, July 1981

  • Charles with Diana and William at Government House, Auckland, April 1983

  • Charles and Diana with Dan Quayle and Marilyn Quayle, November 1990

  • Charles with Camilla during a visit to the US, November 2005

  • Charles and Camilla during a trip to Trinidad and Tobago, March 2008

  • Charles reads Queen Elizabeth II's message during Fijian independence celebration, October 1970

Notes

  1. ↑ Ceremonial and non-hereditary title conferred by the Commonwealth heads of government to symbolise the voluntary association of nations in the Commonwealth. Charles was chosen to succeed Elizabeth II at the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.[1]
  2. ↑ As the reigning monarch, Charles does not usually use a family name, but when one is needed, it is Mountbatten-Windsor.[2]
  3. ↑ As monarch, Charles is Supreme Governor of the Church of England. He is also a member of the Church of Scotland.

References

  1. ↑ "Charles 'to be next Commonwealth head'" (in en-GB). BBC News. 20 April 2018. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43840710. Retrieved 20 April 2018. 
  2. ↑ The Royal Family name. Official website of the British monarchy. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 . Moreover, Charles is next in line for the British Throne, direct successor and heir of Queen Elizabeth II. Prince of Wales' biography Archived 2009-01-09 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Elston, Laura (26 April 2023). "Charles made history when he watched the Queen's coronation aged four". The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/prince-charles-mother-princess-anne-buckingham-palace-british-b2326908.html. Retrieved 27 May 2024. 
  5. ↑ No. 41460. 29 July 1958. p. 4733. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/41460/page/4733 ; The Prince of Wales – Previous Princes of WalesPrince of Wales. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
  6. ↑ The Prince of Wales – InvestitureClarence House. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
  7. ↑ HRH The Prince of Wales | Prince of WalesClarence House. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  8. ↑ Brandreth 2007, pp. 169–170
  9. ↑ Military Career of the Prince of WalesPrince of Wales. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  10. ↑ "Royally Minted: What we give them and how they spend it". New Statesman 138 (4956–4968). 13 July 2009. https://books.google.com/books?id=VPdNAQAAIAAJ. Retrieved 7 May 2023. 
  11. ↑ Johnson, Bonnie; Healy, Laura Sanderson; Thorpe-Tracey, Rosemary; Nolan, Cathy (25 April 1988). "Growing Up Royal". Time. http://www.time.com/time/daily/special/diana/readingroom/8191/4_25.html. Retrieved 4 June 2009. 
  12. ↑ Griffiths, Eleanor Bley. The truth behind Charles and Camilla's affair storyline in The Crown (1 January 2020)Radio Times. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  13. ↑ "'Divorce': Queen to Charles and Diana". BBC News. 20 December 1995. http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/20/newsid_2538000/2538985.stm. Retrieved 12 October 2008. 
  14. ↑ Elser, Daniela. "The day the world stopped: Princess Diana’s death 28 years on from the Paris tragedy". news.com.au. https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/the-day-the-world-stopped-princess-dianas-death-28-years-on-from-the-paris-tragedy/news-story/834fc3ab269489e83044c339ffe7f4ac. Retrieved 29 September 2025. 
  15. ↑ Order in Council (2 March 2005)The National Archives. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  16. ↑ "Prince Charles becomes longest-serving heir apparent". BBC News. 20 April 2011. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-13133587. Retrieved 30 November 2011. 
  17. ↑ Prince Charles, Cambridge B.A. (With Honors)
  18. ↑ Prince Charles Fast Facts
  19. ↑ "Charles makes history as first British monarch to pray with a pope since Henry VIII split church". ITV News. 23 October 2025. https://www.itv.com/news/2025-10-23/king-charles-prays-with-pope-leo-in-vatican-in-historic-first. Retrieved 23 October 2025. 
  20. ↑ Parry, Josh (27 October 2025). "King Charles unveils LGBT+ veterans memorial at National Memorial Arboretum". BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr7m8kzgy77o. Retrieved 28 October 2025. 
  21. ↑ Davies, Caroline (27 October 2025). "King Charles lays flowers at national memorial to LGBT+ armed forces veterans". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/27/king-charles-lays-flowers-at-national-memorial-to-lgbt-armed-forces-veterans. Retrieved 28 October 2025. 
  22. ↑ A Statement from His Majesty The King. The Royal Family (19 February 2026). Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  23. ↑ Ceballos, Ana (28 April 2026). "King Charles is the second British monarch to address Congress, but tensions shadow the moment". Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2026-04-28/king-charles-to-address-congress-as-u-s-british-ties-face-rare-strain. Retrieved 28 April 2026. 
  24. ↑ Coughlan, Sean (28 April 2026). "King gets ovation for Congress speech warning of volatile world" (in en-GB). BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c87qglyjr44o. Retrieved 28 April 2026. 
  25. ↑ Manning, Lucy (14 May 2026). "King visits victims of Golders Green stabbings". BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crmp4pg0jdjo. Retrieved 14 May 2026. 
  26. ↑ Rayner, Gordon (19 September 2013). Prince of Wales will be oldest monarch crowned. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/prince-charles/10320264/Prince-of-Wales-will-be-oldest-monarch-crowned.html. Retrieved 19 September 2013. 
  27. ↑ Queen Elizabeth II has died. BBC News. 8 September 2022. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61585886. Retrieved 8 September 2022. 
  28. ↑ "Britain's new monarch to be known as King Charles III". Reuters. September 8, 2022. https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britains-new-monarch-be-known-king-charles-iii-2022-09-08/. Retrieved September 8, 2022. 
  29. ↑ "Coronation on 6 May for King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort". BBC News. 11 October 2022. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63172425. Retrieved 11 October 2022. 
  30. ↑ Prince Charles tests positive for novel coronavirus (25 March 2020)CNN.
  31. ↑ Coronavirus: Prince Charles tests positive but 'remains in good health' (25 March 2020)BBC.
  32. ↑ King Charles III diagnosed with cancer, Buckingham Palace says (5 February 2024)BBC.

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