Prince Charles, Now King Charles, Through The Years: Photos Of The Royal From Childhood To The Throne

By:

Elissa Anderson

May 5, 2023 1:54PM EDT

The Queen’s death means King Charles has inherited the British throne. See photos of the royal from his childhood to now in this gallery.

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King Charles Through The Years

King Charles Through The Years — God save the King! Queen Elizabeth’s firstborn son and heir Charles is now the King of Britain, following the death of his mother on Sep. 8, 2022

He been one of the world’s most notable figures since the moment he was born Nov. 14, 1948, right in Buckingham Palace. The Prince Of Wales, birth name Charles Philip Arthur George, is Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip’s eldest child, making him the heir apparent to the throne. He was educated at the University of Cambridge and then served in the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy from 1971 to 1976 before taking on his official duties full time.

The King has been married twice, first to the late Lady Diana Spencer from 1981 to 1996 when they divorced. The pair had two sons together: William and Harry. King Charles wed longtime companion Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005.

Here, King Charles is seen during his visit to the Historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent on Feb. 2, 2022. He looked dapper in his grey suit.

See photos of King Charles throughout his life in the gallery here.

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Coronation Preparations

Coronation Preparations — King Charles III shakes members of the public’s hands as he did an impromptu walkabout on The Mall the day before his Coronation in London on Friday, May 05, 2023.Thousands of people from around the world are expected to arrive in London for the Coronation.

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King Charles attends the Coronation Rehearsal

King Charles attends the Coronation Rehearsal — Members of The Royal Family attend the Coronation Rehearsal at Westminster Abbey, London. King Charles kept it classy in a royal blue suit.

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King Charles III & Queen Camilla

King Charles III & Queen Camilla — King Charles III & his wife, Queen Camilla, posed for a new official portrait sometime in Mar. 2023. The photo was taken inside the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace, just months ahead of his coronation ceremony in May.

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King Charles III Visits Scotland

King Charles III Visits Scotland — King Charles III smiled as he greeted locals in Scotland in January 2023. He seemed like he was in a good mood in the first photos released after his son Prince Harry’s memoir ‘Spare’ was released.

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King Charles Visits Scotland

King Charles Visits Scotland — King Charles III laughs while speaking with locals at the Aboyne and Mid Deeside Community Shed in January 2023. He sported a brown suit with a green kilt.

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King Charles III and the Queen Consort’s reception for Heads of State and Official Overseas Guests

King Charles III and the Queen Consort’s reception for Heads of State and Official Overseas Guests — Handout image issued by Buckingham Palace, Camilla, Queen Consort, King Charles III, Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales pose for a photo ahead of their Majesties the King and the Queen Consort’s reception for Heads of State and Official Overseas Guests at Buckingham Palace, London, UK, on the 18th September 2022. 01 Oct 2022 Pictured: Handout image issued by Buckingham Palace, Camilla, Queen Consort, King Charles III, Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales pose for a photo ahead of their Majesties the King and the Queen Consort’s reception for Heads of State and Official Overseas Guests at Buckingham Palace, London, UK, on the 18th September 2022. Photo credit: James Whatling / MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342 (Mega Agency TagID: MEGA903251_001.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]

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Charles On The Throne

Charles On The Throne — King Charles III, accompanied by Camilla, Queen Consort, attends the Palace of Westminster to receive addresses from both Houses of Parliament following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. It was the first time that King Charles sat on the throne in public.

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King Charles III during a proclamation

King Charles III during a proclamation — King Charles III and Camilla Queen Consort during the Accession Council at St James’s Palace, London, where King Charles III was formally proclaimed monarch. Charles automatically became King after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

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King Charles Arrives At Buckingham Palace

King Charles Arrives At Buckingham Palace — King Charles III rides in his vintage Rolls Royce towards Buckingham Palace after the official Proclamation of Accession took place in St James’s Palace. King Charles III became the head of the British Monarchy due to the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on September 8th 2022 at the age of 96.

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King Charles & Queen Consort Camilla Back At Buckingham Palace

King Charles & Queen Consort Camilla Back At Buckingham Palace — King Charles III & Queen Consort Camilla arrive back at Buckingham Palace one day after the Queen’s death. King Charles’s arrival came just hours before he was set to address the nation for the first time after the Queen’s passing.

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King Charles At The Airport After The Queen’s Death

King Charles At The Airport After The Queen’s Death — King Charles III arrives at the airport in Scotland one day after The Queen’s death. He was headed to the United Kingdom to make his first official speech as King.

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King Charles In 2022

King Charles In 2022 — Prince Charles attends a seminar to discuss allergies and the environmen on Sep. 7, 2022. He wore a faded blue suit.

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King Charles In Scotland

King Charles In Scotland — King Charles makes a visit to Scotland on Sep. 7, 2022. His visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of New Lanark in Lanarkshire came a day before his mother’s death.

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King Charles Visits Team Jamaica

King Charles Visits Team Jamaica — King Charles poses with athletes and members of the team Jamaica as he visits the Athletes’ Village at the University of Birmingham during the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Jul. 28, 2022. Go team!

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King Charles With Camila & Kate Middleton

King Charles With Camila & Kate Middleton — King Charles, Camilla Duchess of Cornwall and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge visit one a royal project on Feb. 3, 2022. The Foundation’s Trinity Buoy Wharf is a training site for arts and culture.

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King Charles On Christmas

King Charles On Christmas — King Charles at Christmas Day church service on Dec. 25, 2014. He wore a smart, camel coat.

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King Charles & Camila Attend A Wedding

King Charles & Camila Attend A Wedding — King Charles and wife Camila, Duchess Of Cornwall attend the wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall in Scotland on Jul. 30, 2011. They were joined by Prince Harry.

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King Charles Talks To Servicemen

King Charles Talks To Servicemen — King Charles talking to serving members of the Regiment while visiting the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, near Cambridge, England on Dec. 8, 2008. There, the Prince of Wales opened a £4 million museum dedicated to the Parachute Regiment at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford. The Airborne Assault museum, which was created following an appeal launched 10 years ago, tells the story of British airborne forces from the Second World War to today. Exhibits in the museum include enemy weapons seized by the Regiment and the cockpit of a Horsa glider, which was used to ferry soldiers to Normandy for the D-Day landings.

After touring the museum Charles, who is Colonel-in-Chief of the Parachute Regiment, met with veterans from the Second World War, the Suez campaign and the current conflict in Afghanistan. In his speech he commented: “Your selflessness and moral and physical courage are values that continue today. I am very grateful to all those who have helped to make this museum possible.” The Parachute Regiment was formed in the early 1940s on the order of wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

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King Charles & Camila Parker Bowles

King Charles & Camila Parker Bowles — King Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles attend Sunday Service at Sandringham Church in Norfolk, England on Dec. 5, 2004. They wed the next year.

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King Charles In 1999

King Charles In 1999 — Having a field day! King Charles is seen standing in a meadon at Clattinger Farm in Wiltshire, Britain in 1999.

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King Charles & Family

King Charles & Family — King Charles and Princess Diana smile while with sons Prince Harry and Prince William during William’s first day at Eton College Public School in 1995. A sweet family moment.

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King Charles In 1990

King Charles In 1990 — King Charles circa 1990. He had a huge grin across his face.

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King Charles & Diana

King Charles & Diana — The 1981 wedding portrait of King Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. Though they looked happy here, the relationship was tumultuous, full of fighting and infidelity on both sides. They divorced in 1996 and she tragically died in a car crash the next year.

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King Charles Plays Polo

King Charles Plays Polo — All star! King Charles wears the colours of the Windsor Park polo team at Windsor Palace.

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King Charles In Flight Gear

King Charles In Flight Gear — King Charles wearing full flying gear with ‘Mae West’ as he leaves the briefing room for his aircraft at Yeovilton Flying Naval Base. He looked ready to go.

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King Charles In Royal Attire

King Charles In Royal Attire — A royal occasion. King Charles, in his robes and coronet, holding the prayer book after being created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, at Caernarvon Castle.

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King Charles In The 1960s

King Charles In The 1960s — British tradition. King Charles watches his father Prince Phillip play polo. He was in his mid-teens in the photo, which was taken sometime between 1962 and 1964.

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King Charles As A Young Boy

King Charles As A Young Boy — King Charles is seen heading off to boarding school in Sep. 1958. His family bid him farewell.

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King Charles At The Park

King Charles At The Park — King Charles gets wheeled around Green Park in a stroller by his nanny, Helen Lightbody. It was his 3rd birthday, making it 1951.

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King Charles As A Baby

King Charles As A Baby — Baby King Charles is seen with his mother, Queen Elizabeth, after his christening at Buckingham Palace in 1948. She looked positively elated.

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