Full Title: His Royal Highness Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales, KG, KT, GCB, OM, AK, QSO, CC, PC, ADC, Earl of Chester, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland
Known as: His Royal Highness Prince Charles, Prince of Wales
Name at birth: HRH Prince Charles of Edinburgh
Date of birth: 14/11/1948
Did you know?... The Prince is the longest serving Prince of Wales
Prince Charles was born in Buckingham Palace, to the then Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, later the Queen and Prince Philip. He was born at the end of his grandfather, King George VI’s, reign. The young prince grew up at Clarence House, and when his mother ascended the throne, lived at Buckingham Palace. He attended his mother’s coronation at Westminster Abbey in 1953, at the age of 4, under the supervision of his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. The Prince enjoyed an especially close relationship with his grandmother. The Prince was, unusually, educated at school, rather than privately at home, including at Gordonstoun, where his father had attended, but where Charles was unhappy. In 1958 he was created Prince of Wales, but he was not formally invested until the age of 21, when a big ceremony took place at Caernarfon Castle. Charles became the first Heir Apparent to gain a university degree, studying at Cambridge. He spent some time studying in Wales too, in the lead up to his investiture.
The Prince spent time serving the Royal Air Force, and the Royal Navy. Until his death in 1977, his uncle Lord Mountbatten was one of Charles’s closest role models and confidantes. In 1981 the Prince married Lady Diana Spencer, who became Princess of Wales. They had two children, William, born in 1982, and Harry, born in 1984. The couple met because they were in the same social circles, and previously Charles had been friendly with Diana’s older sister, Sarah. Charles and Diana married in a big state wedding in St Paul’s Cathedral. Their marriage struggled, publicly, as Charles was still in love with an old girlfriend, Camilla Parker-Bowles, and Diana struggled with royal life. They separated in 1992, and divorced in 1996. Sadly, Diana died in 1997 in a car crash in Paris. Charles was now the sole parent to their two boys.
Charles was deeply unpopular in the public eye, who had loved Diana. Time has healed some of the wound however, and now Charles has a much better standing with the public. He married Camilla Parker-Bowles in 2005 in a small private wedding, and she became Duchess of Cornwall.
The Prince of Wales has created a role for himself. He officially serves the Queen, and represents her. Latterly, the Queen has passed on some of her duties to the Prince, such as the laying of her wreath on Remembrance Sunday. He is the patron and president of many organisations, and represents the Queen on tours abroad. Recently, he began to deputise for his mother at Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings. The Prince created The Prince’s Trust to help young people, and has long supported and championed the environment, including establishing organic practises on his estates, notably at his private Gloucestershire home of Highgrove. The Prince’s official residence is Clarence House in London, but privately he owns Highgrove in Gloucestershire, Birkhall and the Castle of Mey in Scotland, and Llwynywermod in Wales. The Prince purchased Dumfries House and saved it from destruction, and has built a model town, Poundbury, on his Duchy of Cornwall land.
Amongst other things, the Prince enjoys gardening, polo, and art as his hobbies. He has done many unusual engagements, such as giving the weather report on the BBC. The Prince has an interest in herbal medicine, and also in religions worldwide, encouraging different religions, faiths, and beliefs to work together.
As heir apparent, the Prince, when and if he assumes the throne, will be the oldest person to do so. I think the Prince is well prepared for his role as King. He has both supported the Queen, and prepared for his future role, and at the same time, he has found and created work for himself in his present role as heir apparent, that benefits the country and commonwealth. He has revealed his own personality and interests, and has used that energy for the greater good. He champions things high on the national and international agenda, such as the environment, young people, food supplies, and unemployment.
Of course, I must also add that he has received bad press, and made a few political moves such as writing letters to government ministers on issues that the monarch is deemed to be neutral on. He will need to renounce this should he become king (and personally I think he will, he won't abdicate in favour of William). He may find that transition hard. His, "professional," side has shown him to be excellent king-material, I think, for the most part. His, "personal," life may raise questions, but I choose to be positive and think it has made him able to empathise, and that he has learned from any past mistakes.