Charles III

King Charles succeeded to the throne on the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8th September 2022.

His life

The King was born at Buckingham Palace on 14th November 1948 and given the names Charles Philip Arthur George. He was the first child of Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth) and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His sister is The Princess Royal, and his brothers are the Duke of York and Edward, Duke of Edinburgh.

On the accession of his mother to the throne in February 1952 the young Prince Charles automatically became Duke of Cornwall and received various Scottish titles. He attended his mother's coronation on 2nd June 1953 and was created Prince of Wales on 26 July 1958, although his investiture did not take place until 1st July 1969 at Caernarfon Castle.

The King was educated at schools in London and Hampshire, and later at Gordonstoun in Scotland. He went on to Trinity College, Cambridge (studying archaeology, anthropology and history) and in 1971 joined the Royal Air Force, qualifying as a jet pilot. In the same year he enrolled at Britannia Royal Naval College in Devon. He served in several ships in the Royal Navy and took command of HMS Bronington in 1975.

On 29th July 1981 The King married Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul's Cathedral. They had two children: Prince William, now Prince of Wales, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. The couple later divorced.

The Prince was Great Master of the Honourable Order of the Bath from 1975 until his accession. He served as Patron for the appeal to create The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries at Westminster Abbey where he laid the foundation stone for the Weston Tower in 2016.

Camilla, The Queen Consort 

On 9 April 2005 The King married Mrs Camilla Parker Bowles, now The Queen Consort, in a civil ceremony at the Guildhall in Windsor followed by a service in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The Queen Consort was born in London on 17 July 1947 and was previously married to Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles.

Coronation

King Charles III will be crowned in Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6th May 2023. He will be the 40th reigning monarch to be crowned in the Abbey.

Further reading

HM The King's Commonwealth Day message 2023 (PDF, 80KB)

About Coronations at the Abbey

Queens Consort of Westminster Abbey

www.royal.uk