King Charles III

King Charles News: British Monarch Diagnosed with Cancer

On February 5, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III has been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer and has commenced regular treatments. This diagnosis followed a medical procedure in late January for a benign enlarged prostate. The Palace clarified that the cancer diagnosis is considered a separate issue.

During his treatment, Charles will refrain from public-facing duties but will continue with administrative responsibilities and private meetings. He has served as the British monarch for nearly 18 months and was crowned in May 2023.

The Palace’s statement reflects the King’s positive outlook, noting, “He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.” The decision to disclose his diagnosis aims to mitigate speculation and foster understanding for those affected by cancer globally.

Who Is King Charles III?

King Charles III has been the monarch of the United Kingdom since September 8, 2022, following the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. He was crowned during his coronation on May 6, 2023. Under public scrutiny from a young age as the eldest child of Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Charles became the Prince of Wales at age nine, holding the title for over 60 years. In 1970, he made history as the first heir apparent to graduate from college, later embarking on a military career that culminated in his command of the HMS Bronington. Charles married Diana Spencer in 1981, garnering significant media attention; however, the couple divorced in 1996 amidst ongoing speculation. He married Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005 and is the father of Princes William and Harry, along with ten grandchildren. His philanthropic and environmental endeavors include the King’s Trust and the King’s Foundation.

Early Life: Name, Siblings, and More

King Charles III was born Charles Philip Arthur George on November 14, 1948, in London. He is the eldest of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s four children.

What Is King Charles’ Last Name?

As a prince, Charles did not require a last name; however, he is associated with the House of Windsor and can be referred to as Charles Windsor. His father’s surname was Mountbatten, and Queen Elizabeth decided that her descendants could use the name Mountbatten-Windsor, which could also apply to Charles if necessary. His sister, Princess Anne, utilized Mountbatten-Windsor as her last name upon marriage in 1973.

Royals sometimes use their titles as surnames; for example, Charles’s sons used Wales as a last name while attending school and serving in the military, reflecting their father’s title as Prince of Wales.

Siblings

Charles has been in the public eye since birth, ascending the royal hierarchy at a young age. His mother became queen when he was just three years old after the death of his grandfather, King George VI, in 1952. As Elizabeth’s eldest child, he became the heir apparent and received the title of Duke of Cornwall. By this time, he was also an older brother to Princess Anne. Two more siblings, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, were born by 1964. Today, both Anne, the Princess Royal, and Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, actively serve as members of the royal family. They attend official engagements and are authorized to act as Counsellors of State, temporarily fulfilling some of the monarch’s duties. Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, stepped back from royal duties in 2019 due to a scandal involving convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He was permanently sidelined in January 2022, losing his military titles and royal patronages shortly before settling a civil case for sexual assault. All three of Charles’ siblings remain in the line of succession: Andrew is No. 8, Edward No. 14, and Anne No. 17.

Education

Charles began his education at Hill House School in London in 1956, followed by Cheam School the next year. His responsibilities increased as he was made the Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester at the age of nine. In 1962, he attended Gordonstoun in Scotland and later studied in Melbourne, Australia, as an exchange student.

From 1967 to 1970, Charles pursued studies in archaeology, anthropology, and history at Trinity College, part of the University of Cambridge. He was actively engaged in campus life, participating in several activities, including polo. After graduating in 1970—the first royal heir apparent to do so—Charles began a career in the military.

Military Service

After completing six months of aviation training with the Royal Air Force, Charles joined the Royal Navy in 1971, serving on the HMS Norfolk and being promoted to acting lieutenant in 1973. During the mid-1970s, he underwent helicopter training at the Royal Naval Air Station and later served as a helicopter pilot for the 845 Naval Air Squadron aboard the HMS Hermes. His service on the Hermes included a tour of the Caribbean and Canadian waters, followed by further coursework at the Royal Naval College in Greenwich. Charles concluded his military service in 1976 as commander of the HMS Bronington.

In the late 1970s, he expanded his military skills with parachute training and took on the role of pilot for the Queen’s Flight, the monarchy’s official aircraft. He was promoted to Group Captain in the Royal Air Force in 1995 and further elevated to the rank of Air Chief Marshal in the new millennium.

Marriage and Children with Princess Diana

As a prominent public figure, Charles was perceived by many as intelligent yet somewhat aloof and awkward. His every move was subject to scrutiny by the press, but he could not have anticipated the media sensation surrounding his relationship with Lady Diana Spencer. The two had known each other in their youth but were reintroduced in the late 1970s. Despite a 13-year age difference and differing interests, the couple became engaged in February 1981. The public quickly embraced Diana, a shy former kindergarten teacher, finding her more relatable than the reserved prince at that time.

Charles and Diana were married on July 29, 1981, in a lavish ceremony broadcast worldwide, attracting millions of viewers. Diana became known as Diana, Princess of Wales, and was affectionately referred to as the “People’s Princess.”

Less than a year after their wedding, the couple welcomed their first child, Prince William, born on June 21, 1982. Two years later, Prince Harry arrived on September 15, 1984. From an early age, both sons were frequently in the public eye. However, the shared love for their children was insufficient to sustain what was initially billed as a fairy-tale marriage. Over the years, the union faced strain due to royal responsibilities, personal conflicts, media pressures, and collective infidelities. The couple officially separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996. Tragically, Diana died in a car crash in Paris in August 1997. Despite their divorce, Charles accompanied Diana’s sisters to France to bring her body back to England. During her funeral procession, he walked alongside their sons—then-15-year-old William and 12-year-old Harry—Prince Philip, and Diana’s brother, Earl Charles Spencer. The Prince of Wales took his role as a father seriously, requesting privacy for his grieving family from the media.

Today, Charles reportedly shares a close bond with William, who is first in line for the throne. However, his relationship with Harry has become more distant since Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped back from their royal duties and relocated to California in 2020. In 2021, Harry expressed feelings of being “let down” by his father’s lack of support during Meghan’s negative tabloid coverage. Harry is currently fifth in the line of succession.

Wife Queen Camilla

King Charles has been married to Queen Camilla, formerly known as Camilla Parker Bowles, for nearly two decades, although their relationship spans a much longer history. Charles first met Camilla Shand in the early 1970s, and they soon began a love affair. However, the possibility of marriage was unlikely at that time. Although Camilla hailed from the British upper class, she was not a member of the nobility, and her lack of virginity was seen as a detriment.

In 1973, while Charles was serving in the military, Camilla married Andrew Parker Bowles, but her friendship with Charles persisted. Following the deterioration of his marriage to Diana, Charles and Camilla reportedly resumed their romantic relationship around 1986. The affair gained widespread attention in 1993 when a leaked transcript of a private conversation between the two revealed intimate details, an incident later dubbed “Camillagate.”

In 1994, Charles publicly admitted to infidelity during a television interview. Camilla and Andrew, who had two children together, divorced the following year. After his own divorce, Charles sought to make his relationship with Camilla public, though this was delayed by Diana’s death. The couple made their first public appearance together in 1999.

Charles and Camilla married on April 9, 2005, opting for a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall followed by a religious blessing at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. Out of respect for Diana’s memory, Camilla chose not to take the title of Princess of Wales, instead using the title Duchess of Cornwall. Camilla has been an active member of the royal family, accompanying her husband on official visits and engaging in her own official duties. Initially, it was announced that Camilla would be known as Princess Consort when Charles ascended the throne, but Queen Elizabeth II later approved her becoming Queen Consort.

Becoming King and Coronation

On September 8, 2022, Charles ascended to the throne as King Charles III following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned for more than seven decades. At 73, he made history as the oldest person to assume the British throne. That day, he also became the head of the Commonwealth of Nations, a 53-country association of Britain and its former colonies formed in 1949. Elizabeth had nominated Charles to succeed her in the non-hereditary role in April 2018, which was quickly agreed upon by the group.

Charles’ coronation took place on May 6, 2023, at Westminster Abbey, where he invited over 850 community and charity representatives to participate, reflecting his philanthropic interests. He promised a multifaith coronation to acknowledge the religious diversity of the modern United Kingdom. This commitment was fulfilled through a preface to the coronation oath, stating the Anglican Church “will seek to foster an environment where people of all faiths and beliefs may live freely.” During the ceremony, Charles pledged to serve the country and vowed to protect the Protestant faith and preserve the Church of England, in accordance with the official coronation oath. The Archbishop of Canterbury placed St. Edward’s Crown, a solid gold and jewel-encrusted crown weighing nearly five pounds, on Charles’ head. This crown had not been used since his mother’s 1953 coronation and will not be used again until placed on the head of the next sovereign. Following the coronation, Charles wore the lighter Imperial State Crown, which had also been worn by his mother and grandfather during their coronations. Camilla was crowned Queen Camilla during the ceremony, and to avoid controversy, her crown did not include the renowned Koh-i-noor diamond, which has been the subject of disputes for its colonial history. Prince William pledged his loyalty to his father during the coronation, while Prince Harry attended but did not participate in the service.

Two months after the coronation, Scotland commemorated Charles’ elevation to king with a ceremony at St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh on July 5, 2023. He was presented with the Honors of Scotland, which include the Scottish crown jewels— a scepter, a sword of state, and the Scottish crown. A new sword of state was commissioned for the event to avoid damaging the original sword, which is not meant for public use. The Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone, was present during the ceremony, as it had been for Charles’ coronation.

Reign

Although Buckingham Palace serves as the official residence of the royal family, Charles has chosen to continue living in Clarence House, his London quarters since 2003.

As Prince of Wales, Charles was known for sharing his opinions on various issues, including architecture and climate change. However, as king, he is expected to maintain political neutrality. Consequently, he did not attend the COP27 climate change conference in 2022 after government advice against it, although he did speak at COP28 the following year. Charles also made a state visit to Germany to help mend relations following Britain’s departure from the European Union and expressed sorrow about the violent repression of independence movements during British colonial rule in Kenya.

After one year on the throne, Charles has gained popularity, surpassing his approval ratings as Prince of Wales. Nevertheless, the enduring legacy of his mother looms large.

Philanthropy

In addition to his royal duties, Charles has been a prominent philanthropist for decades. In 1976, he founded the Prince’s Trust, a charitable organization aimed at improving the lives of disadvantaged youth. This charity expanded its operations beyond the United Kingdom in 2015. In 1979, he established the Prince of Wales’ Charitable Fund to promote sustainable initiatives. Duchy Originals, an organic food company he launched in 1990, directs its profits to charitable endeavors.

In 1986, Charles founded the Prince’s Foundation, which focuses on enhancing educational services and supporting arts initiatives. One of its projects, The Granary Lodge, a bed-and-breakfast located in northern Scotland, opened in 2019 on the grounds of the Castle of Mey, formerly the retreat of Charles’ grandmother, Queen Mother Elizabeth.

An ardent environmentalist, Charles initiated the Prince’s Rainforests Project in 2007, a global effort to combat tropical deforestation, garnering corporate and celebrity support. His Charitable Fund eventually integrated the Rainforests Project into a broader initiative to protect marine environments and mitigate plastic pollution. However, this effort ceased operations in 2018, with the World Resources Institute assuming ownership of several projects.

Charles has faced scrutiny regarding some decisions related to his charities. In 2022, The Sunday Times reported that a former Qatari prime minister had donated 3 million euros to the Prince of Wales’ Charitable Fund between 2011 and 2015, with one payment of 1 million euros delivered in cash via a duffel bag. Although the payments were not deemed illegal, they raised questions.

His commitment to charitable causes remains steadfast as king. In 2023, the Palace announced that his charitable organizations would continue under new names: The Prince’s Trust became The King’s Trust, the Prince of Wales’ Charitable Fund was renamed the King Charles III Charitable Fund, and The Prince’s Foundation is now The King’s Foundation. Charles has also introduced new philanthropic initiatives, such as the Coronation Food Project, aimed at combating hunger through food waste reduction.

Grandchildren

In 2013, Charles embraced a new role as a grandfather with the birth of Prince George, the son of Prince William and Kate Middleton, in July. Following his grandson’s birth, Charles expressed his joy in a public statement: “It is an enormous joy to have my first grandchild. … I can’t wait to see him and hold him in my arms.” His second grandchild, Princess Charlotte, was born in May 2015, followed by Prince Louis in April 2018. After the birth of Harry and Meghan’s first child, Archie, in May 2019, Charles released another heartfelt statement celebrating the arrival of his grandson.

Charles continues to prioritize spending quality time with his grandchildren. For instance, during a summer vacation in 2023, he reportedly brought George and Charlotte to work at Kensington Palace, encouraging them to explore.