King Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms... Head of the Commonwealth!

Charles was born during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, and became heir apparent when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, acceded to the throne in 1952.

Charles was created Prince of Wales in 1958 and his investiture was held in 1969... Charles was educated at Cheam School and Gordonstoun, and later spent six months at the Timber top campus of Geelong Grammar School in Victoria, Australia...

After completing a history degree at the University of Cambridge, he served in the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy from 1971 to 1976...

Charles married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981 and they had two sons, William and Harry... Charles and Diana divorced in 1996 after years of estrangement and well-publicized extramarital affairs...

Diana died the following year from injuries sustained in a car crash. In 2005, Charles married his long-time partner, Camilla Parker Bowles...

As heir apparent, Charles undertook official duties and engagements on behalf of his mother and represented the United Kingdom on visits abroad...

Charles founded the Prince's Trust in 1976, sponsored the Prince's Charities and became patron or president of more than 800 other charities and organizations...

Charles advocated for the conservation of historic buildings and the importance of traditional architecture in society, and in that vein generated the experimental new town of Poundbury...

An environmentalist, Charles supported organic farming and action to address climate change during his time as manager of the Duchy of Cornwall estates, earning him awards and recognition...

Charles has also been a prominent critic of genetically modified food, and has drawn scrutiny for his support of alternative medicine. He has authored or co-authored 17 books...

Charles became king upon his mother's death in 2022. At the age of 73 he was the oldest person to accede to the British throne, after having been the longest-serving heir apparent and Prince of Wales in British history...

Significant events in his reign have included his coronation in 2023; his cancer diagnosis in 2024, which temporarily suspended planned public engagements; and the removal of his brother Andrew's remaining titles, styles, and honors in 2025...

Reign ~ 8 September 2022 – Present

Coronation ~ 6 May 2023

Predecessor ~ Elizabeth II

Heir apparent ~ William, Prince of Wales

Born ~ Prince Charles of Edinburgh

14 November 1948 (age 77)

Buckingham Palace, London, England

Spouses ~ Diana Spencer (m. 1981; div. 1996)

Camilla Parker Bowles (m. 2005)

Issue Detail ~ William, Prince of Wales

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex

Names ~ Charles Philip Arthur George

House Windsor Father ~ Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Mother ~ Elizabeth II

Religion ~ Protestant

Education ~™University of Cambridge (MA)

Military career ~ Allegiance

United Kingdom Branch ~ Royal Navy ~ Royal Air Force

Years of active service ~ 1971–1976

Rank ~ Full list

Commands ~ HMS Bronington