King Charles III: A to Z of Quick Facts
King Charles III of Britain, who will be crowned on Saturday in London's Westminster Abbey, is profiled here from A to Z:
A man of action
Charles gained the moniker during his adventurous youth when he waterskied, played polo, windsurfed, and escaped from submarines.
B "black spider"
Prior to ascending to the throne, he pounded government ministers with letters known as "black spider memos" because of their sloppy annotations.
C Camilla
When Elizabeth married Andrew Parker Bowles in 1973 while he was serving in the navy, Charles was upset. After his marriage to Diana fell apart, Charles turned to Camilla. She will be crowned alongside him, and they got married in 2005.
D is for Diana
They were an ill-matched pair, and their "fairytale" marriage ended violently. They divorced in 1996, a year before her shocking death in a vehicle accident, after divorcing in 1992.
E environment.
Charles, a devoted environmentalist, dedicated his years as an heir to organic farming and environmental preservation. He was a vocal opponent of climate change long before it was widely accepted.
F Faith gets a
The leader of the Church of England sees his job as protecting everyone's right to practise their religion freely. In a novel move, Charles will be greeted by representatives of many religious communities at the coronation's closing performance.
G Gordonstoun.
Charles considered his years in the desolate Scottish boarding school to have been a lonely "prison sentence" and detested them. He had a reputation for enduring hardships out of loyalty to his cause.
H stands for Highgrove.
the cherished family property in Gloucestershire, southwest England, owned by Charles. The grounds and interior of the three-story Georgian neo-classical building were renovated in accordance with Charles's principles when it was purchased in 1980. Every year, 40,000 or so people visit the grounds.
I request investiture
He was invested as prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle in 1969 in a ceremony that served as a prelude to the coronation. He was 20 years old and spoke in Welsh, having studied it beforehand. The coronet was placed on his head by Queen Elizabeth II.
the Jubilee
Charles addressed his mother as "Mummy" in his speeches at the conclusion of Queen Elizabeth's diamond jubilee events in 2002, 2012, and 2022.
for King.
the one who escaped. Lord Mountbatten encouraged Charles to ask Amanda Knatchbull, his second cousin and Mountbatten's granddaughter, to marry him in 1979, but she declined.
L loyalty.
In his first speech as king, Charles vowed, "I shall endeavour to serve you with loyalty, respect, and love, as I have throughout my life."
M Mountbatten.
Louis Mountbatten, the prince's great uncle, served as his mentor and closest confidant during the formative years of his childhood. Charles was devastated by the Irish republican paramilitaries who murdered him in 1979.
N Navy
Charles served aboard the ships from 1971 to 1976, spending his final 10 months in charge of a coastal minehunter. He learnt to fly helicopters while serving in the Caribbean and the Pacific.
O offspring.
Compared to his own parents, Charles was a more involved dad with Princes William and Harry. He has, however, grown apart from Harry, who frequently criticises the monarchy, as a result of quitting his royal duties and relocating to California.
P Prince's Trust.
With his £7,500 navy severance pay, Charles established the Prince's Trust, and by the time he became king, the charity had aided more than a million underprivileged children.
Q the Queen Mother
Elizabeth, the queen mother, was the "darling grandmother" that Charles adored. In a heartfelt farewell following her passing in 2002, he added, "For me, she meant everything."
R residential.
Although Buckingham Palace is Charles' official residence, he frequently frequents the neighbouring Clarence House.
He received the exclusive Balmoral estate in Scotland and the Sandringham estate in eastern England as inheritances. Highgrove is still owned by him, despite William receiving the estate.
S style
Charles's sense of style is unwavering—old-fashioned for some, absolutely sophisticated for others—possibly because he always wears the same outfits: double-breasted suits in impeccable condition, shoes from 1968, and a coat from 1985.
T - Transylvania, or
In order to help preserve Romania's breathtaking natural beauty and distinctive rural traditions, the king, who claims lineage from Vlad the Impaler, purchased and repaired a number of homes there.
U university.
As the first heir to the throne to enrol in college, he chose Trinity College at the University of Cambridge. He earned a 2:2 and graduated in 1970. He changed his course of study from anthropology and archaeology to history.
V "Vision of Britain"
In his book from 1989, Charles discusses his most beloved architectural ideals and advocates for balanced, aesthetically pleasing development that adheres to regional heritage. In order to put his beliefs into practise, he built the model suburb of Poundbury.
W Wales.
When Charles was nine years old, Queen Elizabeth II made him the prince of Wales. Every summer he travelled throughout Wales, and in 2006 he purchased Llwynywermod to serve as his permanent residence. He still speaks Welsh with ease.
X X-Rated.
When tabloid reporters obtained a secretly taped 1989 phone chat with Camilla and released transcripts in 1993, it was extremely embarrassing.
Y. years,
From the time he was three years old in 1952 until his accession in 2022, Charles served as the longest-serving heir apparent in British history. In addition, he served as prince of Wales the longest.
Zaza
Likewise called a gin and Dubonnet. The favourite aperitif of the royals before lunch. They were referred to as "true rocket fuel" by former prime minister Tony Blair.
