With the death of his mother on 8 September 2022, Prince Charles became King Charles III. On Saturday 6 May 2023, he will be crowned in Westminster Abbey. A memorable day… Will you watch it on television? I defintately will! But what do we really know about him?

Youth

King Charles III was born on the 14th of November in 1948 and his son of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He has three siblings: Anne, Princess Royal (1950); Andrew, Duke of York (1960) and Edward, the new Duke of Edinburg (1964). At age 3, his mother acceded to the throne at the death of his grandfather King George VI.

It is said that Elizabeth and Philip were quite distant parents and not always understanding Charles’s sensitive nature. For instance, he did not enjoy his time at school – Gordonstoun – which he found too rigorous. After his A-levels, he was admitted to Trinity College where he studied archaelogy and anthropology. He later switched to History. He spent also some time at the University College of Wales in Aberystwyth, studying Welsh history and language for a term. After his studies, Charles served in the Royal Air Force and Navy for five years, from 1971 to 1976.

Prince of Wales

Charles was created Prince of Wales at the age of nine, but his investiture was not held until 1 July 1969. The ceremony was held at Caernarfon Castle.

Bachelorhood

As the Prince of Wales, Charles was considered quite a catch and amorously linked to a number of women. The best known were Lady Sarah Spencer (Diana’s sister) and of course Camilla Shand. His relationship with Camilla had been quite serious, but apparently she couldn’t wait for him and married Andrew Parker Bowles instead.

In August 1979, Charles great-uncle Mountbatten was assassinated by the Irish Republican Army. As he had been his advisor and confidant for years, this was a big loss for Charles.

Marriage to Diana

While dating Lady Sarah Spencer in 1977, Charles met Diana at her home Althorp. first met Lady Diana Spencer in 1977, while he was visiting her home, Althorp. They met again mid-1980 and it’s said that she caught his attention when mentioning that she had watched the funeral of his great-uncle Lord Mountbatten (brother of Princess Alice) and found that Charles looked so sad. Soon after, she accompanied him on visits to Balmoral Castle and Sandringham House.

Charles finally proposed to Diana at the beginning of 1981. It became official on 24 February where Charles famously stated “whatever love means” when asked if they were in love.

The wedding took place in St Paul’s Cathedral on 29 July 1981. They lived at Kensington Palace and Highgrove House. The couple had two children: Prince William, in 1982, and Prince Harry, in 1984.

Unfortunately, within five years, the marriage was in trouble. Mainly due to different interest and the age difference. By November 1986, Charles had gone back to his previous love interest Camilla Parker Bowles.

Divorce

In 1992, Diana exposed Charles’s affair with Camilla in a book by Andrew Morton, Diana: Her True Story. But her affairs with for instance Major James Hewitt were also made public. The situation could not go on like this any longer.

In December 1992, British prime minister John Major announced the couple’s legal separation in the House of Commons. Still the War of the Wales went on, while Charles tried to get some public understanding in a television film with Dimbleby, Charles: The Private Man, the Public Role in 1994. He confirmed his own extramarital affair with Camilla, only after his marriage to Diana had “irretrievably broken down”. In 1995, Diana admitted her own issues on the BBC show Panorama during which she said, “well, there were three of us in this marriage. So, it was a bit crowded.” The couple finally divorced on 28 August 1996.

Their relationship got better after the divorce and when Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997, Charles flew to Paris with Diana’s sisters to accompany her body back to Britain.

After her death, Charles tried as good as he could to be a good and present father to William and Harry.

Camilla

After Diana’s death, Charles and Camilla decided to make their relationship public but slowly. Finally in 2005, their engagement was announced. As they were both divorced, they had a civil wedding which took place at Windsor Castle. A religious blessing did take place afterwards. As Supreme Governor of the Church of England, his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, did not attend the marriage ceremony.

Charles and Camilla are also doting grandparents to the children of William and Harry, though obviously being closer to George, Charlotte and Louis due to their close presence.

Finally King

At the age of 73, after the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022, Charles became King Charles III. His crowning is planned on 6 May 2023. Are you going to watch?