Prince Charles has the title of the Prince of Wales, among other assorted titles. He is the eldest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip and is the heir apparent to the throne. He was born November 14, 1948 at Buckingham Palace and was named Charles Philip Arthur George.
Prince Charles’ formal education began at Hill House School in London, where Charles was encouraged to participate in soccer, as a way of being treated like any other boy at the school. Then he went to Cheam Preparatory School and then Gordonstoun, in Scotland. He hated Gordonstoun, much to his father’s disgust, and dubbed it ‘Colditz in kilts’ although he did become Head Boy. Unusually, Prince Charles also attended Geelong Grammar School in Australia for two terms. Achieving ‘A’ levels in History and French at Gordonstoun, he read Anthropology, Archeology and History at Cambridge University. He also studied Welsh at the University of Wales.
Prince Charles was created the Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester in 1958; there had not been a Prince of Wales since 1936. The investiture as the Prince of Wales happened in 1969 at Caernarfon Castle.
On 29th July, 1981, he married Lady Diana Spencer whom he had been courting for just over a year. Their wedding was attended by over 3,000 people and was televised all over the world.
The following year, on June 21, 1982, they had a son named Prince William. Two years later on September 15, 1984, Prince Harry was born.
During their marriage, Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer attended many overseas engagements together along with many also in the UK. Prince Charles has had a great many charitable events that he has assisted and sponsors the Prince’s Trust which helps young people, the Prince’s Regeneration Trust, and the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana were formally seperated in December of 1992. Within four years, on August 28th, 1996, they were officially divorced. Princess Diana was killed in a car accident in August the following year. Prince Charles defied royal protocol to stress that the mother of his sons should have a Royal state funeral.
Prince Charles married Camilla Parker-Bowles 9th April 2005. This marriage made Prince Charles the first member of the Royal Family to ever be wed in a civil ceremony.
Prince Charles has been very involved in environmental issues, even before this was fashionable, with a particular interest in organic gardening. As a result, he began his own organic brand called Duchy Originals which sells only sustainable harvested items with a wide array from food products to furniture. He has his own organic farm on his property in Gloucestershire from which Duchy Originals hails. All profits go to the Prince’s charities, which are a group of more than fifteen charities he is quite active in.
The Prince of Wales is a great supporter of the arts, particularly visual arts. He focuses greatly on watercolor in which he has not only produced and sold some of his artwork, but has also written book on the subject.
Prince Charles is well known as a royal patron of the arts and to have a great interest in alternative medicines. Prince Charles also has an interest in philosphy and many sports including polo and field sports.
- Full name: Charles Philip Arthur George
- Father: Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh
- Mother: Queen Elizabeth II
- Born: November 14, 1948
- Married: Diana Spencer, July 29, 1981; divorced August 28, 1996
Camilla Shand Parker Bowles, April 9, 2005 - Children: Prince William (b. 1982) and Prince Harry (b. 1984)
