Who is Charles, Prince of Wales? Everything You Need to Know

Founder/Co-Founder: The Prince's Regeneration Trust, The Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health, Mutton Renaissance Campaign, The Prince's Trust, Duchy Originals from Waitrose, International Business Leaders Forum, Royal Drawing School

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education: Gordonstoun, Cheam School, University of Cambridge, Hill House School, Aberystwyth University, Trinity College, Cambridge, Royal Air Force College Cranwell, Geelong Grammar School, Britannia Royal Naval College

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Prince Charles, the oldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, is the heir apparent to the British throne. His mother is the queen of 16 of the 53 member states in the Commonwealth of Nations, and also the head of the Commonwealth and supreme governor of the Church of England. Charles became the heir apparent in 1952 when his grandfather King George VI died and Elizabeth ascended the throne. Being Queen Elizabeth’s oldest son, Charles became the heir apparent to the British throne and received the title ‘Duke of Cornwall.’ He was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester in 1958, making him the first Prince of Wales since 1936. As a student, Charles was good at academics and studied archaeology, anthropology, and history at ‘Trinity College,’ which is a part of the ‘University of Cambridge.’ Along with his studies, he also participated in various other activities and was known to be a smart young man. He embarked on a military career post his graduation and served as a helicopter pilot and even commanded a ship during his service years. Charles founded ‘The Prince's Trust’ in 1976, sponsors ‘The Prince's Charities,’ and is a patron, president, and member of over 400 other charities and organizations. As a public figure, his personal life has often been under scrutiny. His troubled marriage to Diana and his extra-marital affairs have often made it to the tabloids.

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Childhood & Early Life

He was born Charles Philip Arthur George on 14 November 1948, to Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His maternal grandfather, King George VI, was the king of the United Kingdom and the dominions in the British Commonwealth. Princess Elizabeth was King George VI’s eldest daughter.

King George VI died in 1952 and his daughter Princess Elizabeth became the queen. Prince Charles, aged three, became the heir apparent to the throne. His new status made him the Duke of Cornwall and he was also automatically given the Scottish titles ‘Duke of Rothesay,’ ‘Earl of Carrick,’ ‘Baron of Renfrew,’ ‘Lord of the Isles,’ and ‘Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.’

He started attending ‘Hill House School’ in West London in 1956, before moving to boarding school at the ‘Cheam School’ the following year. Charles then attended ‘Cheam Preparatory School’ in Berkshire, England. He changed schools again in 1962 and went to ‘Gordonstoun’ in Scotland. In 1966, he spent two terms at the ‘Timbertop’ campus of ‘Geelong Grammar School’ in Victoria, Australia.

He enrolled at the ‘Trinity College,’ Cambridge, to study anthropology, archaeology, and history in 1967. He attended the ‘University College of Wales’ in Aberystwyth for a while during his second year.

Prince Charles became the first heir apparent to earn a university degree when he graduated from ‘Cambridge’ with a Bachelor of Arts in 1970.

Prince Charles began his military career in the ‘Armed Services’ in 1971. He received his ‘Royal Air Force’ training and was awarded his ‘RAF’ wings at Cranwell in 1971.

He then embarked on a naval career and enrolled for a six-week course at the ‘Royal Naval College Dartmouth’ in September 1971. Over the next few years, he served aboard warships, such as the guided missile destroyer ‘HMS Norfolk’ (1971–1972), the frigate ‘HMS Minerva’ (1972–1973), and ‘HMS Jupiter’ (1974).

After he completed a lieutenant’s course at the ‘Royal Naval College,’ Greenwich, he went on to command his own ship, the minehunter ‘HMS Bronington’ for the final ten months of his active service in the ‘Royal Navy.’ His active service ended in December 1976.

In 1976, Prince Charles, along with Frederick John Pervin, founded the ‘Prince's Trust’ to help vulnerable young people. The trust runs a number of training programs, provides mentoring support, and offers financial grants to build the confidence and motivation of vulnerable young people. Over the years, Charles has established 16 other charitable organizations.

He founded the ‘Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund’ in 1979. It is one of the largest independent foundations in the UK. It supports a wide range of causes with areas of interest in ‘responsible business and enterprise,’ ‘young people and education,’ and ‘global sustainability.’ The foundation has three subsidiary companies, ‘PCF Social Enterprises Ltd’ – a holding company for ‘A. G. Carrick Ltd’ and ‘Duchy Originals Ltd,’ ‘Prince's Charities Events Ltd,’ and ‘Golden Jubilee Events Ltd.’

In addition to his own charities, Prince Charles is a patron of over 350 other charities and organizations. He supports humanitarian projects all over the world, leading to the establishment of the ‘Prince's Charities Canada’ and the ‘Prince Charities Australia.’

Charles has made frequent visits to Saudi Arabia in order to promote arms exports for companies, such as ‘BAE Systems.’

He announced that he had opened a new bed and breakfast called ‘The Granary Lodge’ in Caithness, Scotland. The B&B was built on the grounds of ‘The Castle of Mey,’ the former retreat of Charles' grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.

The heads of government of the Commonwealth of Nations decided during their 2018 meeting, that the Prince of Wales would be the next Head of the Commonwealth after the Queen.

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Charles, Prince of Wales Biography