King Charles III: A visual biography ahead of his coronation (2024)

Charles III became king the moment his mother died in September. On May 6, he will be crowned in a coronation ceremony that further formalizes the British royal transition.

Queen Elizabeth II took pains to stay out of politics. That may be harder for Charles, who lived a full life before ascending to the throne at 73, and developed strong opinions — about the environment, organic farming, architecture and homeopathic medicine, to name some of his passions.

A look back at his life, with its privileges and its tragedies, may offer clues about what sort of king he will prove to be.

Associated Press

Charles was born on Nov. 14, 1948 in Buckingham Palace. Bells tolled in Westminster Abbey and the Royal Horse Artillery fired a 41-gun salute in Hyde Park. He was 3 when his mother became queen and he became heir to the throne.

Associated Press

Associated Press

Charles was the first heir to be educated outside of the palace, attending a prep school in London and then Gordonstoun, a boarding school in Scotland that his father, Philip, had also attended. Charles — who was less athletic and more sensitive than his father and, as son of the queen, more of a target for bullying — described his time at the austere facilities as a “prison sentence.”

Associated Press

Charles inherited the title of Prince of Wales at a time of a growing Welsh nationalist movement. And so, ahead of his investiture, he left Trinity College, Cambridge, to undertake a crash course in Welsh history and culture, studying with tutor Edward Millward at Aberystwyth University.

Associated Press

At his investiture ceremony at Caernarfon Castle on July 1, 1969, Charles brushed off controversy, spoke in Welsh and charmed the nation.

“It is with a certain sense of pride and emotion that I have received these symbols of office, here in this magnificent fortress, where no one could fail to be stirred by its atmosphere of timeworn grandeur, nor where I myself could be unaware of the long history of Wales in its determination to remain individual and to guard its own particular heritage,” he said.

Associated Press

Charles was in many ways a typical wealthy Brit — albeit one with a certain set of princely duties. He spent his time skiing, playing polo and donating to charity.

As he grew older, tabloids long obsessed with the lives of royals became bolder, photographing family members outside of formal events.

At 31, after a stint serving in the Royal Navy, he married Diana Spencer, 19. Diana’s apparent warmth, beauty and sense of style made her a subject of adoration. Paparazzi often tailed the princess wherever she went. Masses of people gathered to celebrate her on international trips.

The couple had two sons, William and Harry.

Associated Press

Associated Press

John Redman/AP

Associated Press

But their marriage faltered, and then failed. In a 1994 interview, Charles admitted he had not been faithful. Diana followed that with a televised interview in which she said, “There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.” She was referring to her husband having continued his relationship with a previous flame, Camilla Parker Bowles. Charles and Diana divorced in 1996.

Associated Press

In August 1997, Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris. People mourned her death around the world. Her funeral at Westminster Abbey was viewed by more than 34 million. Some blamed Charles for such a tragic end to what had once appeared to be a fairy tale.

Associated Press

Associated Press

Associated Press

Charles and Camilla were cautious about appearing together, aware that public acceptance would take time. Their first — highly choreographed — public expression of affection came in 2001, when they briefly kissed each other on the cheek at an event she was hosting for the National Osteoporosis Society.

The couple moved into Clarence House together in 2003 and married in 2005.

Associated Press

Associated Press

As prince, Charles spoke out on issues important to him. He is an ardent conservationist who has been warning about the looming threat of climate change and species extinction for decades. In 2022, he was a prominent speaker at the United Nations Climate Conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

Associated Press

Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

In September, after seven decades as heir, he was proclaimed King Charles III.

“My life will of course change as I take up my new responsibilities,” he said in his first address as sovereign. He has reined in his activism.

Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

The Washington Post

Reuters

A majority of people in Britain continue to support the monarchy and many have a favorable view of Charles. But he is not as popular as his mother was. And a growing minority of people view the royal family as an expensive relic.

The family’s standing took further hit with the release of Prince Harry’s Netflix documentary and memoir, in which he inveighed against his father and brother and accused their staffs of actively feeing stories about him and his wife, Megan, to the media mob.

Martin Meissner/AP

Palace officials have been keen to promote the coronation as a “sustainable” event, with fewer guests and a shorter parade route than Queen Elizabeth II’s. But there will be no shortage of pomp.

Martin Meissner/AP

More from The Post

Queen Elizabeth II: A visual timeline of her 70 years on the throne

Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II, through the years

The latest from The Washington Post

Credits

Editing by Reem Akkad and Ann Gerhart.