King Charles III Coronation
King Charles III
King Charles III – the man of the hour! Let’s face it - a lot is known about his love life but who actually is he as a man? On Thursday 8th September 2022, he ascended to the throne instantly and quietly after the death of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. His Royal Highness serves with his wife by his side – Camilla, the Queen Consort.
Early Life
King Charles III was born on November 14th 1948, at Buckingham Palace. He is the eldest child of the late Queen Elizabeth II and her late husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. As a child, young Prince Charles was described, by those who were close to him, as a sensitive and shy child. Years later, the now King said that he often felt lonely at boarding school and resented the amount of time his parents spent on their commitments overseas. He attributed a lot of this distress to his shyness but agreed he is also reserved by nature.
Education and Career
Having boarded at the prestigious Gordonstoun School in Elgin, Scotland, the former Prince later attended Trinity College in Cambridge. He was actually the first heir to the British crown to be awarded a bachelor’s degree in 1970.
His mother also requested that in preparation for his investiture as the Prince of Wales, he should spend a term at the University College of Wales in Aberystwyth to learn Welsh. He dutifully obliged.
Later in his youth, His Majesty attended the Royal Air Force College – and reports say that he became an excellent pilot.
Heirs and Family Life
On 29th July 1981, the then Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Lady Diana became ‘Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales’ and there was worldwide jubilation and immense excitement about the popular newly-weds. Charles and Diana had two sons together: Prince William born on 21st June 1982 and Prince Harry born on 15th September 1984. Following the death of the late Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William automatically became the next heir to the throne after the accession of his father, the King.
For a long time, the then Prince and Princess of Wales were a hugely popular couple. They carried out various overseas tours and attended numerous official engagements together. Often, they would be met with massive, adoring crowds. Hopes were high for the couple to enjoy a long and happy marriage – sadly however, it was not meant to be and their separation plans were announced in 1992.
Despite much speculation, in the mid-2000s, it was announced by Buckingham Palace that His Royal Highness would marry his lifelong friend, Camilla Parker Bowles. The ceremony took place on 9th April 2005 at the Guildhall in Windsor. After taking their vows, Mrs Parker Bowles was granted the title Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall.
Passion Projects
Since 1985, the King has actually been operating a working farm, namely ‘Home Farm’, from his 900-acre retreat ‘Highgrove’ in Gloucestershire. The former Prince describes the farm as ‘haven for wildlife’ and it supplies organic produce to a large well-known supermarket. King Charles III has often spoken out about his views on climate change and biodiversity loss. One of his more famous quotes is,
“On an increasingly crowded planet, humanity faces many threats - but none is greater than climate change. It magnifies every hazard and tension of our existence.”
The Monarch has also attended and spoken at numerous environmental conferences and forums. This desire to help the planet is something that he shares with his son and heir, Prince William. Apparently, the King hopes to make ‘Planet Care’ a central part of his reign as sovereign.
As well as caring for the environment, His Majesty established the ‘The Prince’s Trust’ in 1976 when he was still The Prince of Wales. The charitable organisation’s ethos is to support vulnerable children and young people by helping them to achieve qualifications. The charity also gives guidance on how to obtain long-term employment.
A New Royal Era
The now King Charles III was very close to his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. He often called her his ‘Dear Mama’ (pronounced Mar-Mah) and he now has to follow in the footsteps of her formidable legacy. He has reportedly said that he endeavours to acquire some of the same love and respect that the late Queen commanded effortlessly for decades. This destiny has awaited him since birth and he seems keen to set in motion the commencement of the next generation of royal roles. In his first official address as Sovereign, he confirmed that the much-loved Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would become the new Prince and Princess of Wales. This action has been extremely well-received already by royalists in the UK. We wish you the best of luck in your new role, Your Royal Highness. Rule Britannia, as they say! Three cheers for the new King!
A quick timeline summary:
1948 - King Charles III is born and at the time, his title is Prince Charles
1952 - Prince Charles’s mother becomes Queen and he becomes the heir to the throne
1958 - Queen Elizabeth II changes his title to The Prince of Wales
1962 - The Prince begins his first term at Gordonstoun School in Scotland
1969 - The Prince spends a term at The University College of Wales to learn Welsh
1970 - The Prince is awarded a university degree
1971 - The Prince commences his career in the Royal Navy
1981 - The Prince weds Lady Diana Spencer
1982 - Prince Charles’ son, Prince William is born
1984 – His second son is born – Prince Harry
1992 - Prince Charles and Princess Diana sadly announce their separation
2005 - The Prince marries Camilla Parker Bowles
2022 – Prince Charles becomes King Charles III after the passing of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II
2023 – King Charles III receives his Coronation