King Charles III
 
Nov 14, 1948: Charles Philip Arthur George Mountbatten-Windsor, first child of Princess Elizabeth and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, born at Buckingham Palace

1952: Grandfather King George VI dies, Queen Elizabeth II ascends throne – Charles becomes heir apparent, aged three

1962: Attends Gordonstoun School in Scotland, where father was educated

1969: Studies Welsh language ahead of his investiture as Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle in north Wales

1970: Graduates in Anthropology, Archaeology and History at Cambridge – first heir to British throne to earn university degree

1971-76: Joins Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, qualifying as helicopter pilot

1976: Founds The Prince’s Trust to help young people into work. Dashing polo player, tagged “world’s most eligible bachelor”

1979: Charles devastated by IRA murder of great-uncle Louis Mountbatten, calling him “the grandfather I never had”

1981: At 32, Charles marries 20-year-old Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul’s Cathedral, London, watched by TV audience of 750 million. Archbishop of Canterbury calls it “the stuff of which fairy tales are made”

1982, 1984: Sons William and Harry are born, but marriage under strain amid intense press scrutiny and rumours of infidelity

1984: Attacks proposed extension to National Gallery as “monstrous carbuncle”, becoming outspoken critic of modern architecture

1988: Narrowly escapes death in avalanche that kills close friend during skiing trip at Klosters

1990: Establishes organic food brand Duchy Originals, challenging modern farming methods

1992: Charles and Diana separate

1995: In BBC TV interview, Diana describes “three of us” – referring to Charles’s long-standing affair with Camilla Parker Bowles

Aug 1996: Divorce finalised

Aug 1997: Diana killed in car crash in Paris, along with boyfriend Dodi Al-Fayed and driver

Philip, William (15), Diana’s brother Charles Spencer, Harry (12) and Charles at Diana’s funeral

As a single parent, Charles devotes himself to bringing up sons alone

2005: Eight years after Diana’s death, Charles and Camilla marry in civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall

2007: Known for his environmental concerns, creates Prince’s Rainforests Project to highlight deforestation. He is also president of World Wildlife Fund in UK

Passionate about gardening, Charles is famous for “talking” to his plants

2011: Prince William and Catherine Middleton marry. Charles becomes grandfather after birth of couple’s son, Prince George, in 2013

2020: Family suffers break up when Prince Harry and American wife, Meghan Markle, resign royal duties and move to U.S.

Jun 2022: Charles pays heartfelt tribute to “Mummy” at Platinum Jubilee party celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s 70-year reign

Sep 8: Queen dies at Balmoral, Charles at her side. After seven decades, Charles becomes king

May 6, 2023: Coronation of King Charles III is held at Westminster Abbey


Sources: Royal Family, BBC, Encyclopedia Britannica
Pictures: Newscom,Getty Images
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