As Queen Elizabeth II passed, the eldest son of Britain’s monarch, Prince Charles III ascended the throne as the new king. He’s now known as King Charles III.
Additionally, King Charles III is likely to take up the throne officially this Saturday, at St James’s Palace in London.
Who’s King Charles III?
Picture: Jane Barlow
He’s the first child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. As a child, Charles is the perfect example of how the British monarchy has evolved. He was the first heir that did not get his education at home, the first to graduate with a university degree, and the first to grow up under the intense spotlight of the media as the respect for monarchy slowly diminished.
During his studies he has formally crowned Prince of Wales, the title traditionally held by the heir to the throne, at a grand ceremony in 1969, having spent nine weeks at a Welsh university where he said he faced almost daily protests from nationalists.
He enlisted in the military in 1971, first with the Royal Air Force and then with the Navy, rising through the ranks to take command of the minesweeper HMS Bronington before he left the military in 1976.
Also, he has a controversy in which he has divorced the most-loved princess, Princess Diana. He has breached the laws prohibiting the royals from involving in public affairs by having an affair with Camilla. In addition to that, he has been involved in heated debates on topics like environmental preservation and architectural preservation.
Love life
He married Lady Diana Spencer, in 1981. Lady Diana Spencer then became Princess of Wales. However, a biography authorized by Jonathan Dimbleby in 1994 revealed Charles felt pressured to marry Diana as he wasn’t even in love with her. He then had an affair with Camilla Parker Bowles in 1986.
In late 1992, Charles and Diana agreed to separate.
A shocking accident had happened that killed Diana. In 1997, Diana was killed in a car accident in Paris along with her boyfriend, Dodi Fayed, and the driver. The accident had caused many theories and controversies as Diana had written a note claiming that Prince Charles was planning for her car incident in order to marry his son’s former nanny, Tiggy Legge-Bourke.
“This particular phase in my life is the most dangerous — my husband is planning an accident in my car. Brake failure and serious head injury in order to make the path clear for him to marry Tiggy,” Diana wrote.
After 8 years of her death, Charles married Camilla in 2005. According to the royal family’s official website, they live together in Clarence House. A British royal residence on The Mall in London. But now that he’s a king, they’re expected to relocate to Buckingham Palace.
Charles’ initiatives and charities
Picture: Prince of Wales
He’s the longest-serving Prince of Wales and had been the driving force behind many projects and charitable work throughout the years that emphasized global sustainability. In 2007, he launched an initiative known as “Mosaic” that offers mentoring programs to young people that grow up in underprivileged neighborhoods. Moreover, he also launched the “Campaign for Wool” in 2010 to raise awareness of the environmental advantages of wool. This campaign assisted the struggling British sheep farmers to expand their market.
He carries out dozens of engagements every year in support of his charities. The Prince of Wales’s charities raise more than £100 million annually to support The Prince of Wales’s charitable work in the UK and overseas according to the prince’s official website.
Sources: ABC News, Prince of Wales, News Week, Boston, CBS News, Times of India
