A Timeline of the Life and Times of His Majesty King Charles III
The Birth of a Prince
Born a direct grandchild of George VI, who was monarch at the time, Charles Philip Arthur George became a prince at birth. When his mother, Princess Elizabeth, acceded to the throne and became Queen Elizabeth II in 1952, Prince Charles became second in line to the throne, and later attended his mother’s coronation in 1953.
The Prince of Wales
Prince Charles became The Prince of Wales when he was nine years old and went on to become the longest-serving Prince of Wales in history, often taking on official engagements as a representative of Queen Elizabeth II. His Majesty’s investiture took place during a televised ceremony at Caernarfon Castle in 1969.
University
In preparation for his investiture, His Majesty studied Welsh language, history and culture for a term at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. A few years later, he studied Archaeology, Anthropology and History at the University of Cambridge and is therefore the first British monarch who has graduated from university.
A Naval Career and Military Titles
As a student, the former Prince of Wales served in the Royal Air Force, and later joined the Royal Navy after university. Throughout his life, he has held several military titles, amongst which were his appointments as Colonel-in-Chief and Commodore-in-Chief for more than 40 military regiments, including the Welsh Guards, the Blues and Royals, the Grenadier Guards, the Scots Guards and the Royal Regiment of Canada.
The Prince’s Trust
In 1976, His Majesty established The Prince’s Trust, a charity to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. In September 2020, The Prince’s Trust announced that it had supported more than 1 million young people in its time.
A Husband and Father
On 29 July 1981, he married his first wife, Lady Diana Spencer. The couple had two children, known as Prince William and Prince Henry, in 1982 and 1984 respectively. The royal couple separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996.
A Second Marriage
In 2005, the former Prince of Wales married Camilla Parker Bowles during a civil ceremony in Windsor. Following the wedding, the couple became known as Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall.
A Grandfather
In 2013, he became a grandfather for the first time when his eldest son and daughter-in-law, known as Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the time, became parents following the birth of Prince George. Since then, the couple have had a further two children together, Princess Charlotte, born in 2015, and Prince Louis, born in 2018.
In 2019 and 2021, he became a grandfather twice more with the births of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet respectively, the son and daughter of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
King Charles III
His Majesty acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022 after the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The coronation of King Charles III, the third Carolean king, will take place on 6 May 2023.
The Birth of a Prince
Born a direct grandchild of George VI, who was monarch at the time, Charles Philip Arthur George became a prince at birth. When his mother, Princess Elizabeth, acceded to the throne and became Queen Elizabeth II in 1952, Prince Charles became second in line to the throne, and later attended his mother’s coronation in 1953.
The Prince of Wales
Prince Charles became The Prince of Wales when he was nine years old and went on to become the longest-serving Prince of Wales in history, often taking on official engagements as a representative of Queen Elizabeth II. His Majesty’s investiture took place during a televised ceremony at Caernarfon Castle in 1969.
University
In preparation for his investiture, His Majesty studied Welsh language, history and culture for a term at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. A few years later, he studied Archaeology, Anthropology and History at the University of Cambridge and is therefore the first British monarch who has graduated from university.
A Naval Career and Military Titles
As a student, the former Prince of Wales served in the Royal Air Force, and later joined the Royal Navy after university. Throughout his life, he has held several military titles, amongst which were his appointments as Colonel-in-Chief and Commodore-in-Chief for more than 40 military regiments, including the Welsh Guards, the Blues and Royals, the Grenadier Guards, the Scots Guards and the Royal Regiment of Canada.
The Prince’s Trust
In 1976, His Majesty established The Prince’s Trust, a charity to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. In September 2020, The Prince’s Trust announced that it had supported more than 1 million young people in its time.
A Husband and Father
On 29 July 1981, he married his first wife, Lady Diana Spencer. The couple had two children, known as Prince William and Prince Henry, in 1982 and 1984 respectively. The royal couple separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996.
A Second Marriage
In 2005, the former Prince of Wales married Camilla Parker Bowles during a civil ceremony in Windsor. Following the wedding, the couple became known as Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall.
A Grandfather
In 2013, he became a grandfather for the first time when his eldest son and daughter-in-law, known as Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the time, became parents following the birth of Prince George. Since then, the couple have had a further two children together, Princess Charlotte, born in 2015, and Prince Louis, born in 2018.
In 2019 and 2021, he became a grandfather twice more with the births of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet respectively, the son and daughter of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
King Charles III
His Majesty acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022 after the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The coronation of King Charles III, the third Carolean king, will take place on 6 May 2023.